The Country - Urgency edition

Today on The Country we catch up with Damien O'Connor to ask him why the law changes around NAIT compliance were so urgent?

On with the show:

Nathan Penny:

We talk to ASB's Rural Economist about a bull that keeps on running, falling interest and exchange rates, the prospects for tonight's key GDT auction and what is going to be the star of the primary sector in 2019?

Paul Kirby:

The QEII National Trust Acting CEO celebrates a victory for conservation on private land in New Zealand and a blow for those who think that they can overturn QEII legal protection of the land. The Supreme Court has reinforced that QEII covenants protect natural spaces against the people who buy a property to divide and develop the land.

Nick Webster:

We yarn to a high profile North Otago livestock and cropping farmer who moonlights as rugby referee in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Damien O'Connor:

We grill the Minister for Agriculture about the controversial law changes around NAIT compliance to support the eradication of M. bovis, particularly as it pertains to warrantless powers surrounding the 2012 Search and Surveillance Act. Can MPI search a farmer's private home without a warrant? Why not go a select committee? What was the urgency?

Steve Hollander:

The founder of the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games and Norwood Rural Sports Awards previews the 2019 event taking place in Palmerston North on March 8, 9 and 10.

Listen below: