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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"We have more than enough": Phil Mauger's committed to tackling debt if re-elected
Christchurch's incumbent mayor believes debt is the Council's biggest challenge. Phil Mauger says if re-elected he's committed to tackling the Garden's City's...
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John MacDonald: Isn't the Drug Foundation stating the obvious?
I support the NZ Drug Foundation’s push to decriminalise drug use and drug possession. The key point here is “use” and “possession”. It’s not saying let the dealers...
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John MacDonald: Keeping victims of crime in the dark isn't good enough
Is it good enough that the victim of a nasty assault in Christchurch has had to hound the police for four weeks to find out what’s going on with their investigation? This...
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John MacDonald: No protests outside homes? Yes, but where else?
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has had a gutsful. And I don’t blame him. I’d be the same if I had protesters outside my place and especially if I had a...
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"I've got a really strong track record": Sara Templeton unpacks bid for Christchurch Mayoralty
Christchurch mayoralty hopeful Sara Templeton says her Green values wouldn't define her leadership of the city. The three-term city councillor and former Green...
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"We do care": Govt is working to reduce ED pressures, MP reassures
Much has happened this week, so National’s Hamish Campbell and Labour’s Tracey McLellan joined John MacDonald to delve into the biggest issues. They discussed whether...
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John MacDonald: Is it the Govt’s job to make energy prices cheaper?
I got an email from the power company this week, telling me about my weekly electricity use and how much of that is used during my eight hours of free power on Saturdays...
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John MacDonald: What's your advice to the new Reserve Bank Governor?
What’s your message to the new Reserve Bank Governor? Dr Anna Breman is moving from Sweden to take up the job and will begin her five-year term at the start of...
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John MacDonald: Christopher Luxon's people don't even get him
You know how the Prime Minister does a very good job of batting away poll results and saying that his focus is fixing up the joint after the last lot and that he’ll...
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John MacDonald: Is the ED in our second-largest city up to scratch?
Is it good enough? When you hear a doctor at Christchurch Hospital say that patients are dying in the waiting room and car park because the place is so overloaded,...
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John MacDonald: Residential parking permits - yay or nay?
Would you be happy to pay $110-a-year for a residential parking permit, so you could get a park outside your place whenever you wanted? Some Christchurch City Council...
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John MacDonald: Still confident in and patient with the Government?
My confidence is shot and my patience is wearing thin. That’s my answer to the question I’ve got for you. Which is: How would you rate your level of confidence in...
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John MacDonald: Nitrate emergency? Do me a favour
I wonder if the person who called me a tofu-eating, sandal-wearing, treehugger yesterday will have a bit of a re-think when they see what I’ve got to say about Environment...
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Takuta Ferris' comments would have "no place" in a Hipkins-led govt, Labour leader says
Another warning from Labour for its potential coalition partner Te Pāti Māori. MP Takuta Ferris has twice attacked ethnic Labour party volunteers who sign-waved...
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John MacDonald: Don't let the fun police spoil the dance party
Get a grip. That’s my advice today to the people complaining about the music festival planned for the area near Bottle Lake Forest, in Christchurch, over the new...
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John MacDonald: E-scooters need to be classified as vehicles
If the amount of money spent on ACC claims over the past five years for e-scooter injuries doesn’t convince you that tighter laws are needed, I don’t know what will. And...
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Politics Friday: Are the new shoplifting laws a slippery slope?
Today on Politics Friday, John MacDonald was joined by Labour’s Reuben Davidson and National’s Matt Doocey to delve into the biggest topics of the week. On today’s...
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John MacDonald: Guilt until innocence proven would be a slippery slope
I’m no apologist for shoplifters. I think it is appalling that retail crime costs retailers $2.6 billion a year. And that more than half of them not only have to...
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John MacDonald: How important is it that Tom Phillips' enablers are found?
I’ve really surprised myself. Because, even though I think it’s totally shameful that people have been helping Tom Phillips keep his kids in hiding for nearly four...
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John MacDonald: I was wrong and the police were right
I was wrong and the police were right. After yesterday’s events, I’ll admit that I was wrong when I said over the last few years that the police were pussy-footing...
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John MacDonald: Compulsory KiwiSaver is a no-brainer
Winston Peters’ idea of making KiwiSaver compulsory is a no-brainer. It’s not a new idea. But it’s a great idea. It’s also something the NZ First leader has been...
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John MacDonald: What does kicking out overstayers actually achieve?
What does kicking overstayers out of the country actually achieve? With just under 21,000 overstayers in New Zealand, the Government is planning a crackdown. But...
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Politics Friday: Should there be amnesty for overstayers?
Today on Politics Friday, John MacDonald was joined by Megan Woods and Matt Doocey to delve into the biggest stories of the week. They discussed the tougher immigration...
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John MacDonald: Do heavy court workloads justify crims getting off lightly?
Sir Ron Young, who used to be a high court judge and used to be chair of the Parole Board, thinks shorter sentences could take the strain off the justice system....
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John MacDonald: We'd be mad to pull out of the Paris agreement
We would be mad to pull out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. ACT leader David Seymour thinks differently though, saying its emissions targets are "disconnected...
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"Show some leadership": Hipkins calls on Luxon to completely rule out leaving the Paris Agreement
Labour and National appear to be aligned on the Paris Climate Agreement. Yesterday ACT called for New Zealand to leave unless the terms of the deal change, but...
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John MacDonald: Who isn't talking to who at Christchurch City Council?
At one point after the earthquakes, I had the insurance company telling me that it wanted to replace the driveway before the sewer line that ran under it had been...
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John MacDonald: Do we really think the parties on the left would do better?
You know a Government is in trouble when you see a major news organisation running an online poll asking people whether they think the Prime Minister has had a good...
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John MacDonald: Who says we're drinking responsibly?
Associate Health Minister Nicole McKee is talking nonsense when she says most of us who drink alcohol do it responsibly. If she really believes that, then she needs...
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John MacDonald: The not-so-super rescue plan for shoppers
It’s just over four years since the Commerce Commission released its first report on the supermarket sector in New Zealand and, yesterday, the Government announced...
