Listen to The Country online: Todd McClay on Iran tensions, fuel prices and energy security

Trade Minister Todd McClay spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay today. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Today on The Country radio show, host Jamie Mackay catches up with Todd McClay, Minister for Agriculture and Trade, to discuss the conflict in Iran, and how it’s affecting New Zealand’s trade with other countries, and our energy security.

On with the show:

Todd McClay:

The Minister of Agriculture and Trade agrees that the disruption in the Middle East makes an FTA with India even more important. Does he have an update, and how much of our trade is currently stalled? Are there alternative trade routes and markets, and how bad could the cost of fuel and fertiliser get?

Do we have a Plan B for Kapuni and Marsden Point to make us more resilient?

And finally, what about Winston Peters slamming Miles Hurrell?

Mike McIntyre:

Jarden analyst reviews last night’s GDT auction, up 0.1%, the sixth consecutive rise.

While the result remained basically unchanged, “unders and overs” were all over the place.

Whole milk powder down 4%, skim milk powder up 5.2%, anhydrous milk fat up 6.4%, butter down 0.9%, and cheddar up 0.1%.

Todd Charteris:

Rabobank’s chief executive says that, following a dip in the final quarter of 2025, farmer confidence has reversed course and inched higher in the first Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey of the year.

The latest result extends a lengthy run of elevated farmer confidence, with net positive readings recorded across the past seven quarters dating back to September 2024.

Eric Gorlier:

We catch up with Nestle’s Swiss-based head of procurement commodities and sustainability, who’s in the country to visit Synlait, Fonterra and Open Country Dairy.

Hunter McGregor:

Our Shanghai-based correspondent updates the Chinese economy, which is faring better than many because of its closer ties to Iran for oil supplies.

Listen below: