Articles by John MacDonald
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Less government ministers and departments? Easier said than done
Monday, 16 February 2026, 12:07pmIsn’t David Seymour the guy who got himself into government at the last election and then went and set up a new government...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Everyone should pay their way at Chch's new stadium
Friday, 13 February 2026, 8:40amChristchurch City Councillor Yani Johanson thinks we should all pay a special levy when we buy tickets for all events at...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Reserve Bank inquiry not political? Pull the other one
Thursday, 12 February 2026, 12:36pmDo you think there is anyone in New Zealand who believes the Government’s line that it’s a coincidence the findings of its...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: It's not just students from India we should be talking about
Wednesday, 11 February 2026, 12:52pmIs there anything about the Government’s free trade deal with India that anyone likes? The prime minister and the trade minister...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Importing gas isn't great - but it has to happen
Tuesday, 10 February 2026, 12:30pmLabour leader Chris Hipkins has fallen into the trap that I could very easily find myself falling into if I didn’t think...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Would paying people more fix the jury system?
Monday, 9 February 2026, 12:24pmI’ve done a few things in my time. But one thing I haven’t done is serve on a jury. For a long time, I put it down to me...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: My question to you about the economy
Thursday, 5 February 2026, 12:25pmDo you feel better off than you did three years ago? With it being election year, that’s the question politicians are going...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: There's no way less testing will mean safer driving
Wednesday, 4 February 2026, 1:00pmI think the Government is making a terrible mistake ditching the second practical test for new drivers. I like some of the...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Who cares about a criminal's "good character"?
Monday, 2 February 2026, 12:34pmI am liking the sound of a law change being introduced in New South Wales, where they are no longer going to allow good character...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Christchurch's seven-year stench
Friday, 30 January 2026, 1:19pmTalk about déjà vu. The smell from the burnt-out wastewater treatment plant at Bromley has been a shocker this week and...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Why haven't we learned from our landslide history?
Monday, 26 January 2026, 12:50pmBefore the weekend, questions were already being asked as to why the campground at Mt Maunganui wasn’t evacuated before last...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: The ACC change that is long overdue
Friday, 23 January 2026, 12:35pmI reckon we should have signs up at our international airports saying: “Welcome to the people’s republic of pushovers”. Because...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Hey Labour, don't tell us you've changed - show us you've changed
Thursday, 22 January 2026, 12:46pmIf you bump into Chris Hipkins today, can you tell him he’s dreaming? Because, now that we know this year’s election is happening...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Rate caps won't make a difference
Wednesday, 21 January 2026, 1:21pmHats off to the Christchurch City Council. Which is telling the Government today that its idea of forcing a cap on council...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: What the PM should have said about the retirement age
Tuesday, 20 January 2026, 12:31pmIn his state of the nation speech yesterday, Christopher Luxon continued the great New Zealand tradition of kicking the retirement...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Pharmac funding weight-loss drugs is a no-brainer
Monday, 19 January 2026, 12:54pmThe personal responsibility brigade will be going ape over Pharmac looking into funding weight loss drugs. This wouldn’t...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Another kick in the guts for our volunteer firefighters
Friday, 12 December 2025, 2:48pmI’m glad I’m not a volunteer firefighter. Because, if I was, I would be brassed-off that an attempt to get volunteer firefighters...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: You can't put alcohol violence down to marketing
Tuesday, 9 December 2025, 1:02pmThese researchers calling today for a ban on alcohol marketing and sponsorship sound to me like they’re living in the past. Maybe...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: The Eagle has landed in Chch and should stay
Friday, 5 December 2025, 1:10pmThe eagle has landed. One of the police Eagle helicopters from Auckland is in Christchurch for the next two months as part...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Is Christchurch ready for a red zone re-think?
Monday, 1 December 2025, 12:56pmIs it time to have a re-think about what’s done with the residential red zone on the east side of Christchurch? I think it’s...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: 46 years and we still can't get the Erebus memorial decision right
Friday, 28 November 2025, 11:06amIt’s taken 46 years and we’ve still managed to stuff up the decision as to where to have a memorial for the 257 people who...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: We need to go further with Kiwisaver
Monday, 24 November 2025, 12:43pmI’m with the KiwiSaver providers who are saying we need to go further than just increasing contributions and we need to make...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Lessons for the future from the ferry deal
Thursday, 20 November 2025, 1:06pmFor me, one of the best things to come out of yesterday’s announcement about the Cook Strait ferries has nothing to do with...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: I'm paying attention to BusinessNZ, I hope you are too
Wednesday, 19 November 2025, 12:40pmI hope people are sitting-up and paying attention to what BusinessNZ is saying today. Especially the people who have their...
