Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald
9am-12pm Weekdays
Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.
It’s all about the conversation with John, as he gets right into the things that get our community talking.
If it’s news you’re after, backing John is the combined power of the Newstalk ZB and New Zealand Herald news teams. Meaning when it comes to covering breaking news – you will not beat local radio.
With two decades experience in communications based in Christchurch, John also has a deep understanding of and connections to the Christchurch and Canterbury commercial sector.
Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings 9am-12pm with John MacDonald on 100.1FM and iHeartRadio.
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John MacDonald: $600M for rail is a good start, but it's just a start
In an ideal world, I would love us to have more trains. In an ideal world, I think it would be great if all our big cities had rail passenger services. Not...
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John MacDonald: Why no more after-hours funding for Christchurch?
Here’s a story someone told me this morning about what happened within the last six-or-so weeks, when a Christchurch woman took her teenage daughter to the after-hours...
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John MacDonald: Gun salutes and c-bombs don't belong in Parliament
"I've seen some bad times in this house, but this is one of the lowest I've ever seen. When you go to that sort of standard of language, nothing's beneath you after...
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John MacDonald: I support the truckies saying 'us too in the T2'
“It’s like making a silk purse out of a pig’s ear.” That’s a quote from the boss at Transporting New Zealand, which represents the transport sector, talking about...
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"The market will come right": An update on construction in Canterbury
Construction is booming in Canterbury – but what is the market doing? Construction Analyst Mike Blackburn joined John MacDonald to delve into the current situation...
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John MacDonald: What I would do if I was running the new truancy service
Well done to the Government for making all the right noises about dealing with truancy. It’s going to spend $140 million over the next four years with one aim:...
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"Credit where it's due": Hipkins backs investment into school attendance
The Opposition Leader's welcoming Government investment into school attendance. $140 million from this year's Budget will go towards a new system and better data...
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John MacDonald: I've got a solution for the power bill problem
This poll out today saying nearly half of us are more concerned about power prices than we were a year ago, is nonsense. Because I reckon we’re all concerned about...
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John MacDonald: There will always be cars and idiots
There are two things certain in this world. There will always be cars and there will always be idiots. That’s why this move by the Government to make it easier to...
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John MacDonald: The Pope won't change the world, but needs to be part of it
I don’t often quote Albert Einstein, but I’m going to today. “Those who believe that politics and religion do not mix, understand neither.” And if the new pope...
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Politics Friday: 'Hard decision to make' - Politicians butt heads over pay equity legislation
John MacDonald was joined this morning by Megan Woods and Vanessa Weenink, to delve into some of the biggest issues of the week. It’s been a big week for Weenink,...
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John MacDonald: The one problem I have with MMP
I’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 know it took some of us a while to totally...
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"May well be extended": Banks Peninsula's State of Emergency to be reviewed
Banks Peninsula's State of Emergency remains in effect, with warning of more severe weather on its way for much of the country. The emergency was declared a week...
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John MacDonald: Don't crow about giving women the vote and then do this
Next time I hear one of our government politicians banging on about New Zealand being the first country in the world to give women the vote, it will sound very hollow....
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John MacDonald: Do we all really need the pension at 65?
It was very clever of the Government announcing that it was going to pump $12 billion into defence before saying anything about where the money’s coming from. A...
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John MacDonald: What to do about the illegal tobacco trade
Here’s a stat for you: 25 percent of cigarettes sold in New Zealand are from the black market. They’re being smuggled into the country and criminals are making millions...
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John MacDonald: Less ministers and govt. departments? Yes please!
I love the way David Seymour is describing the size of cabinet and the number of government departments. He says the whole lot are "a big, complicated bureaucratic...
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John MacDonald: You thought it was expensive now to travel. Just wait...
If you think it’s expensive to travel around the country now, it’s about to get more expensive with KiwiRail ditching one of its ferries. But even though flying...
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John MacDonald: How does reducing revenue equal a business-like approach?
Get ready for what we now know will be a winter of discontent after the announcement by Nicola Willis that she is slashing government spending. Which shows us once...
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"Better than living in a car": Hipkins rebukes criticism of emergency housing motels amid increased OT reports
The Labour Leader is pushing back against criticism of emergency housing motels amid an increase in reports of concern to Oranga Tamariki. It estimates its seen...
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John MacDonald: A Cantabrian's perspective on govt building changes
I reckon a lot of us in Canterbury won’t be as excited as people elsewhere in the country about the Government’s plan to let builders, plumbers and drainlayers sign-off...
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John MacDonald: I'm not normally anti-bottle store, but...
I’ve surprised myself with my reaction to this plan to open a bottle store right across the road from the bus interchange, in central Christchurch. But I think it’s...
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John MacDonald: Here's why we need two practical driving tests
Is it ever-so-slightly ironic that, on the same day that the first highway in the South Island had its speed limit increased to 110 kph, we had the Government announce...
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John MacDonald: Was the Treaty Principles debate worth it?
The Treaty Principles Bill is history. Done and dusted. But ACT leader David Seymour, who came up with the bill in the first place, has no regrets. And it’s not...
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Politics Friday: Is a Wellington to Lyttleton ferry just a "romanticised idea"?
There's a lack of enthusiasm for a ferry service between Wellington and Lyttelton. According to Local Democracy Reporting, Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon believes...
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John MacDonald: Trump's economic vandalism is staggering
I saw a brilliant cartoon the other day which had America’s founding fathers sitting around a table writing up the country’s constitution - and they had agreed that...
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"A bloody nuisance": Christchurch struggles with bird poo problem
John MacDonald was joined today by Mayor Phil Mauger. They discussed the potential for Christchurch to be home to the delayed Erebus Disaster memorial – is Christchurch...
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John MacDonald: Do politicians' religious beliefs matter to you?
If the MP for Ilam, Hamish Campbell, thinks he’s going to get away with not saying anything more about his involvement with this underground religious group, then...
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John MacDonald: $12 billion on defence? I'm good with that
It 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 honest though, while we’d known the Government...
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John MacDonald: Is prison the wrong place for some offenders?
I’m liking what Sir Ron Young is saying about prison sentences today. He’s really challenging us, saying that we need to re-think what we do with people given sentences...
