1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: Prime Minister. Mean time is with us from the Islands. 2 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: Good morning Telly for Lava. Mike, how are you. I'm 3 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: very well. Indeed, did you request a title before you 4 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: left the country? 5 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 2: No? No, might have to be honest. 6 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 3: All that media reporting is pretty baffling to me because 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 3: my office and also the Ministry of Foreign Afairs and 8 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 3: Trade have been very clear it wasn't a request at all. 9 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 3: Obviously there's been some sort of miscommunication, but regardless, it's 10 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 3: a good honor for New Zealand and sammar And to 11 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,479 Speaker 3: underscore what we're trying to do here, which is, with 12 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 3: new leadership, make sure that we are a partner of choice. 13 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: So is this the second week in a row where 14 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: you've been baffled by the media's behavior. 15 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 2: I'm not going to comment on that, Mike. 16 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,599 Speaker 3: I think Goldsmith says it best when he says a 17 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 3: politician complaining about the media is like a farmer complaining 18 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 3: about the weather. 19 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 2: So I'll leave it there. 20 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: But if this is not true, how many weeks and 21 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: how many stories are you prepared to put up with 22 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: an election year before somebody does something or says something 23 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: and bangs a few heads together. 24 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 3: Well, I mean you've seen us come out, particularly that 25 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 3: story around the reduction serious violent crime and youth offending, 26 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 3: where we felt we did have to creet the record 27 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 3: there when there was poor reporting and it wasn't fair 28 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 3: and balanced in our view. But equally, you know, frankly, 29 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 3: you know, it's a challenging one, right because every time 30 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 3: I complain about something like that, it's a story that 31 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 3: we're not then talking about what we want to be 32 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 3: talking about, which is how we're growing the economy and 33 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 3: how we lower the cost of living for News Islanders 34 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 3: who are doing it. 35 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: Still a little bit tough. 36 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: Would we in any way, shape or form consider sending 37 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: a frigid or two to help Trump and the straight. 38 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 3: The hormones straight really important to New Zealand. But look, 39 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 3: we haven't been formally asked. I'm not sure we will be. 40 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 3: But if we were, then that would need to be 41 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 3: a cabinet decision and I just wouldn't want to get 42 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 3: ahead of that conversation. 43 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: What's your sense to them and do you think we 44 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: may be and what's your sense of it. 45 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 3: Look, again, there's been no formal conversations at all but 46 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 3: between any of the partners in the region, And as 47 00:01:58,120 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 3: I said, it would need, would have to have a 48 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 3: good componversation as a cabinet. 49 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 2: But the key thing here really. 50 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 3: Is with respect to this crisis is that we really 51 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 3: want it to end as quickly as possible and get 52 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 3: to a negotiated solution. But the thing is the Zealand's 53 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 3: well positioned with respect to fuel supply. But it's just 54 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 3: making sure that we're thinking ahead that should it be 55 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 3: a protracted conflict, what are the other things that we 56 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 3: need to be thinking about to make sure that we're 57 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 3: set up well to navigate them. 58 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: Let me come back in that moment those one thirties, 59 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: the one thirties, did they actually get there and have 60 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: they picked up anybody and taken the anywhere? 61 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,519 Speaker 3: No, they haven't been needed to do so, because there's 62 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 3: been a very good set of commercial flight options out 63 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 3: of the Middle East back to home again for those 64 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 3: that want to use those, and they have been doing that. 65 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 3: But we wanted them in the region just as a 66 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 3: backup and a contingency in case there were people that 67 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 3: were stuck in difficult places. And given it's a very 68 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,839 Speaker 3: fluid situation and it's constantly sort of evolving, it's good 69 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:52,399 Speaker 3: to have the optionality in place. 70 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: There, so they remain in the region on standby, so 71 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: to speak. 72 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 3: Yes, I think one may be coming home and one 73 00:02:58,280 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 3: will stay in the region at this point. 74 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: As far as I talked to Nicola Willis about this 75 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: last week, this line you're trying to walk at the 76 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: moment between Carlo stays. I mean, just you can't. You're 77 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: old enough to remember Carlos days. It was the stupidest 78 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: idea in the history of stupid ideas. 79 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 2: Surely you can just literally rule. 80 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: That out now. 81 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 3: Well, look, I mean the first thing I'd say is 82 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 3: having spoken to a number of leaders, I've spoken to 83 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 3: the leaders in the emir and Qatar. I've spoken to 84 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 3: NBZ who's the ruler in UAE. I've spoken to Anthony 85 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,239 Speaker 3: Albanezi twice again yesterday. You know again, New Zealand is 86 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 3: really well positioned. We just we've got a very good 87 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 3: dynamic going with our ministerial oversight, the group they're meeting 88 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 3: daily as our our officials. We've got a very good 89 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 3: feel for our fuel supplies and there's been no challenges 90 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 3: or no issues there. What we're trying to bend our 91 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 3: mind too, is well, if this thing did go on 92 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 3: for months on end what preparedness can we put in place, 93 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 3: And for New Zealand, it's considering things like what the 94 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 3: impacts might be on plastics or petrochemical source, packaging or 95 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 3: even fertile now even and what are the top ten 96 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 3: things of commodities that we would need to be focused 97 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 3: on for importation. So that's where a lot of the 98 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 3: attention of our team is going to now. But for 99 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 3: right here, right now, we're navigating it in good shape. 100 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: But the problem with it is over the weekend you 101 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: won't have seen it because you left the country. But 102 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 1: there are idiots out there buying jury cans at the moment, 103 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 1: and they're draining petrol stations dry at a time when 104 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: they don't need to. So if you've got panic on 105 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: day fourteen, lord knows what it's going to be by 106 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: day fifty two. 107 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, And that's the message I'm trying to say. I 108 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 3: want to reassure the Leanders that we have this script up. 109 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 3: We are in a well positioned We've got very good 110 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 3: cover and stocks. We had Simon wattson Japan yesterday meeting 111 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 3: with the Korean and Singaporean and Australian counterparts. The reason 112 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 3: is that we get about fifty one percent of all 113 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 3: our fuel out of South Korea and we get about 114 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 3: thirty one percent out of Singapore. And in both those cases, 115 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 3: you know we're confident and you know having met with 116 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 3: them and the supply that we can get from those places. 117 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 3: But it's just thinking further ahead to say, right, well, 118 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 3: it actually won't be the fuel supplies that will be 119 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 3: the problem. It will be the petrochemical related inputs that 120 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 3: are important for manufacturing and other things, where we just 121 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: want to keep an eye on those issues as well. 122 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: Is he bullish on supply going forward? So what you've 123 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 1: told us in the last week, we've got X number 124 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: of days here, We've got x number of days on 125 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: the water post. That is the confident it keeps flowing. 126 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 3: Well, you've seen the South Koreans they've limited their exports 127 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 3: to one hundred percent of what countries are took last year, 128 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 3: which I think is actually not a bad move because 129 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 3: it just means that countries can't stockpile and that's important. 130 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 3: And then with respect to Singapore, there's absolute confidence in 131 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 3: the Singaporeans that they'll be able to find alternative sources 132 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 3: of supply should it carry on as well. 133 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 2: So that's our read of things today. 134 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,279 Speaker 3: But again it's just making sure that I just want 135 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 3: us to have ahead in the game and actually be thinking, 136 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 3: you know, several months ahead. Should this become a protracted conflict, 137 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 3: which we don't really want to see it do so. 138 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 2: But if it does, we need to be prepared for that. 139 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: Trade they've launched the Americans under three oh one of 140 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy four sixty investigations. I'm assuming of the sixty 141 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,279 Speaker 1: countries investigated, we're one of them. 142 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think we are. 143 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 3: Again, our officials need to understand exactly what the objections 144 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 3: are and that's a process that we need to run through. 145 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 3: But again, I was looking at our trade numbers for 146 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 3: the last twelve months Mike to America. I think we're 147 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 3: up eight percent in exports when I last looked at it. So, 148 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 3: despite tariffs, despite challenges, our exporters are finding that the 149 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 3: consumers they need to sell to in that market at 150 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 3: good prices and are doing well. 151 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: Manufacturing, the numbers came out over the weekend. It's up 152 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: an expansionary territory. What would your observation of manufacturing generally 153 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: be in a week when what he's gave us to 154 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: yet more bad news. Are we okay in manufacturing or 155 00:06:58,160 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: are we not. 156 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 2: Know we are? 157 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 3: I think, you know, with the waddy is issue is 158 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 3: also linked to craft Times, which is the parent company. 159 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 3: They've had a nine billion US dollar restructuring that's been necessary, 160 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 3: and I knew that business pretty well from my time 161 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 3: in America. But so I think that's more linked to 162 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 3: the global challenges that their parent company has been dealing with. 163 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 3: But with respect to manufacturing, yes, we are actually growing 164 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 3: faster than many of our competitive countries around the world, 165 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 3: and I think things like investment boots, we're actually the 166 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 3: manufacturers I've spoken to have said, yeah, CRYS will if 167 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 3: I can write off, you know, twenty percent of a 168 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 3: U C and C plant that actually cuts dies and 169 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 3: cuts metal, that's all very helpful. And if I can 170 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 3: automate my operation and become more productive, that's been great. 171 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 3: So I think the investment boost incentive has actually helped 172 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 3: our firms invest in technology, and therefore that's what's giving 173 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 3: I think as helping manufacturing sort of move forward really well. 174 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: This trip over the next three days, is there anything 175 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: material out of it or is it glad handing? 176 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 3: Now it's really acknowledging we've got two new prime ministers 177 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 3: and some are and Tonga. We've obviously got a very 178 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 3: strong connection in our people to people links. You know, 179 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 3: we've got two hundred thousand somehow ins Kiwis and New 180 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,239 Speaker 3: Zealand similar numbers here and some our one hundred thousand 181 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 3: Tongue and Kiwis in New Zealand similar numbers. 182 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 2: Here as well. 183 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 3: It's really that it's also deepening up partnerships and particularly 184 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 3: on drugs. So I've got the Police Commissioner with me, 185 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 3: the Head of Customs with me because we really want 186 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 3: to and we've been working very well and constructively over 187 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 3: the last nine months, but we want to just continue 188 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 3: that work. And then you know, it's a delegation of 189 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 3: business leaders, community leaders and I've brought MPs from across 190 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 3: the Parliament as well. 191 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: Appreciate your time, have a good trip. Prime Minister Christopher 192 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 1: Luxen out of the Islands this morning. For more from 193 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks that'd 194 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.