Articles by John MacDonald
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: The Pope won't change the world, but needs to be part of it
Friday, 9 May 2025, 12:58pmI don’t often quote Albert Einstein, but I’m going to today. “Those who believe that politics and religion do not mix,...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: The one problem I have with MMP
Thursday, 8 May 2025, 12:41pmI’ve always been a fan of MMP. And I still am, but there’s one thing about it that I do struggle with – the list MPs. I...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Don't crow about giving women the vote and then do this
Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 12:46pmNext time I hear one of our government politicians banging on about New Zealand being the first country in the world to give...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Do we all really need the pension at 65?
Tuesday, 6 May 2025, 1:00pmIt was very clever of the Government announcing that it was going to pump $12 billion into defence before saying anything...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: What to do about the illegal tobacco trade
Monday, 5 May 2025, 12:52pmHere’s a stat for you: 25 percent of cigarettes sold in New Zealand are from the black market. They’re being smuggled into...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Less ministers and govt. departments? Yes please!
Friday, 2 May 2025, 2:09pmI love the way David Seymour is describing the size of cabinet and the number of government departments. He says the whole...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: You thought it was expensive now to travel. Just wait...
Thursday, 1 May 2025, 1:11pmIf you think it’s expensive to travel around the country now, it’s about to get more expensive with KiwiRail ditching one...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: How does reducing revenue equal a business-like approach?
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 12:58pmGet ready for what we now know will be a winter of discontent after the announcement by Nicola Willis that she is slashing...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: A Cantabrian's perspective on govt building changes
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 1:02pmI reckon a lot of us in Canterbury won’t be as excited as people elsewhere in the country about the Government’s plan to...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: What do you think about most at pre-school drop-off?
Thursday, 24 April 2025, 1:09pmIf you’ve ever done a pre-school drop-off, what’s been the main thing going through your mind? Aside from ‘am I going to...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Here's where I'm torn on gender identity
Wednesday, 23 April 2025, 1:01pmThere’s a chance you'll think I sound like I’m contradicting myself with my views on NZ First jumping on the gender identity...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: What surprises me most after the Pope's passing
Tuesday, 22 April 2025, 12:37pmThere’s only been one pope’s death that has really shocked me – and I don’t think it was because I was only 10 years old...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: What's so bad about ex-MPs being on local councils?
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 1:26pmI’m starting to wonder who isn’t running for mayor in Wellington. Former Labour leader Andrew Little is the latest one...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Let's not go all misery guts over these crime stats
Wednesday, 16 April 2025, 1:23pmHow are you feeling about the world, now that we know the Government’s goal of having 20,000 less violent crimes by 2029...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: New sex ed curriculum is a great start
Tuesday, 15 April 2025, 12:36pmI’m liking the sound of Education Minister Erica Stanford’s approach to sex education. But it won’t be plain sailing, and...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Was the Treaty Principles debate worth it?
Friday, 11 April 2025, 12:44pmThe Treaty Principles Bill is history. Done and dusted. But ACT leader David Seymour, who came up with the bill in the first...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Trump's economic vandalism is staggering
Thursday, 10 April 2025, 12:44pmI saw a brilliant cartoon the other day which had America’s founding fathers sitting around a table writing up the country’s...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Do politicians' religious beliefs matter to you?
Wednesday, 9 April 2025, 1:06pmIf the MP for Ilam, Hamish Campbell, thinks he’s going to get away with not saying anything more about his involvement with...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: $12 billion on defence? I'm good with that
Tuesday, 8 April 2025, 1:16pmIt would be great if we didn’t have to spend $12 billion on our defence force. But we do, and I’m good with it. To be...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: I'm not going anti-America over the tariffs
Friday, 4 April 2025, 1:35pmAustralia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reckons people in Australia are going to feel dumped-on by the United States...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Greater housing density is the future Christchurch
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 1:10pmWe were all standing up and cheering the Christchurch City Council three years ago, when it flipped the bird at the Government...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Here's how to get big events to NZ
Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 1:15pmThe Prime Minister has lived up to his talk of being a great negotiator, saying “thanks but no thanks” to Team New Zealand....
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Duty of care? Do me a favour, Christian
Friday, 28 March 2025, 1:09pmSome people think a 90-day trial for new workers is tough, but what about a two-day trial? Which is what’s happened with...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Roadside drug testing? Great. Will the police cope? Mmmm
Thursday, 27 March 2025, 12:52pmI’m sure you’ll tell me if you think I’m stuck in the past, but I reckon that with the police now being expected to do roadside...
