A former accountancy student at Otago University and Lincoln College graduate in agriculture, Jamie Mackay farmed at Riversdale for ten years before a brief and undistinguished career as a house-husband.
In 1994, he negotiated the purchase of 4ZG from Radio New Zealand, the first and only sale of a state-owned Kiwi radio station to a private enterprise, which went on to become Hokonui Gold. From there, the Farming Show took root before going nationwide on Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport.
Jamie is involved in a wetland restoration project on his home farm, where he also enjoys duck shooting with a few old schoolmates.
He's also a former Southland B rugby rep, a member of TRN's Invercargill–based rugby commentary Scream Team, and he writes a weekly sports column in the Southland Times.
When he’s not talking farming, politics or sport, Jamie relaxes by enjoying a glass of chardonnay, Chinese takeaways, Coronation Street, and playing pretty average golf.