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: We should be shouting from the rooftops about solar
Isn’t it amazing that, after all the time spent wringing our hands over the price of electricity, we still haven’t bitten the bullet and gone full boar with solar...
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John MacDonald: This could be exactly what the monarchy needs
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor tells me several things, one of which is how much the late Queen really dropped the ball on this one. And that’s putting...
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Politics Friday: Doocey and Woods on Infrastructure, Intensification, and 15 years on from Earthquake
National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Megan Woods joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week. They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from the...
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"A long time between drinks" Bic Runga on her new album, recording in Paris, and empty nesting
Bic Runga is back with her first new album in fifteen years. She spoke with John MacDonald about her new album, Red Sunset, and touched on what genres inspired the...
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John MacDonald: Spend more money? Tell him he's dreaming
How do you feel about being told you need to spend more money? That’s what the Reserve Bank’s chief economist wants you to do. As expected, the bank’s governor announced...
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John MacDonald: The Infrastructure Commission is talking my language
One of the problems with politicians is that they often stake their political survival on big infrastructure projects. Which is why we’ve got Waimakariri MP Matt...
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"Take the politics out of it" Hipkins on Infrastructure Commission's National Plan
Chris Hipkins says we need to take the politics out of the Infrastructure Commissions National Infrastructure Plan. The Leader of the Opposition told John MacDonald...
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John MacDonald: The rise and rise of NZ First
NZ First is on the up, according to the latest 1News Verian poll. The result out last night had Winston Peters’ party on 10 percent - its highest rating in that...
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John MacDonald: Less government ministers and departments? Easier said than done
Isn’t David Seymour the guy who got himself into government at the last election and then went and set up a new government department? But, despite the irony, I...
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Politics Friday: Vanessa Weenick and Tracey McLellan on Māori Electorates, Stadium Levies, and more
This week on Politics Friday John MacDonald was joined by National MP for Banks Peninsula Vanessa Weenick, and Labour List MP Tracey McLellan. They covered the latest...
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John MacDonald: Everyone should pay their way at Chch's new stadium
Christchurch City Councillor Yani Johanson thinks we should all pay a special levy when we buy tickets for all events at Christchurch’s new One New Zealand Stadium. And...
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John MacDonald: Reserve Bank inquiry not political? Pull the other one
Do you think there is anyone in New Zealand who believes the Government’s line that it’s a coincidence the findings of its inquiry into the Reserve Bank’s COVID-19...
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John MacDonald: It's not just students from India we should be talking about
Is there anything about the Government’s free trade deal with India that anyone likes? The prime minister and the trade minister love it. Winston Peters doesn’t....
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Finders keepers: Former cop believes couple should keep $200k found in their ceiling
A lawyer believes the Christchurch couple who found $200,000 in their ceiling space should keep the cash that they found in their property. However, the High Court...
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John MacDonald: Importing gas isn't great - but it has to happen
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has fallen into the trap that I could very easily find myself falling into if I didn’t think a little bit more carefully about this plan...
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John MacDonald: Would paying people more fix the jury system?
I’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 working in the media. But I was out of the...
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John MacDonald: My question to you about the economy
Do you feel better off than you did three years ago? With it being election year, that’s the question politicians are going to be asking you. It’s the question I’m...
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John MacDonald: There's no way less testing will mean safer driving
I think the Government is making a terrible mistake ditching the second practical test for new drivers. I like some of the changes it’s making to the driver licensing...
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John MacDonald: When did toilet-trained 5-year-olds become too much to expect?
How on earth did we get to the point where we’ve got schools saying today that kids are starting school without some of the most basic skills? And when they say...
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John MacDonald: Who cares about a criminal's "good character"?
I am liking the sound of a law change being introduced in New South Wales, where they are no longer going to allow good character references to be factored into...
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John MacDonald: Christchurch's seven-year stench
Talk about déjà vu. The smell from the burnt-out wastewater treatment plant at Bromley has been a shocker this week and people have had a gutsful. City councillor...
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John MacDonald: Why haven't we learned from our landslide history?
Before the weekend, questions were already being asked as to why the campground at Mt Maunganui wasn’t evacuated before last week’s devastating landslide. That will...
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John MacDonald: The ACC change that is long overdue
I reckon we should have signs up at our international airports saying: “Welcome to the people’s republic of pushovers”. Because of our crazy ACC system which, a...
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John MacDonald: Hey Labour, don't tell us you've changed - show us you've changed
If you bump into Chris Hipkins today, can you tell him he’s dreaming? Because, now that we know this year’s election is happening on 7 November, Chris Hipkins is...
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'Easy target': Phil Goff thinks rate caps are not the answer
Phil Goff agrees with the Christchurch City Council's response to a Government proposal of capping rates to no more than 2 to 4 percent per year. Goff says the Government...
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John MacDonald: Rate caps won't make a difference
Hats off to the Christchurch City Council. Which is telling the Government today that its idea of forcing a cap on council rates increases is “unrealistic and unworkable”. Which...
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John MacDonald: What the PM should have said about the retirement age
In his state of the nation speech yesterday, Christopher Luxon continued the great New Zealand tradition of kicking the retirement age can down the road. He said...
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John MacDonald: Pharmac funding weight-loss drugs is a no-brainer
The personal responsibility brigade will be going ape over Pharmac looking into funding weight loss drugs. This wouldn’t be for anyone wanting to lose a few kilos...
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John MacDonald: Are we ready to accept the truth about NZ Super?
After yesterday’s half-year fiscal update from the Government, the canary in the mine is gasping for air and the elephant in the room is walking all over everything. And...
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John MacDonald: What needs to happen because of our terrorism complacency
You would think that, having had a major terror attack here, we’d be the last people that needed to be told after what happened in Bondi on Sunday night that we’re...
