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: Another kick in the guts for our volunteer firefighters
I’m glad I’m not a volunteer firefighter. Because, if I was, I would be brassed-off that an attempt to get volunteer firefighters the same ACC cover as full-time...
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John MacDonald: You won't get me liking any social media ban
Australia pressed go yesterday on the social media ban for kids under-16 and a Parliamentary select committee here thinks we should do the same. I don’t. Nor does...
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"Petty": Hipkins hits out at Willis, Taxpayers' Union over debate
Chris Hipkins is hitting out at the Taxpayers' Union as it prepares to launch a campaign against Finance Minister Nicola Willis. The lobby group is questioning...
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John MacDonald: Your house is going to be your castle again
There’s a lot to take in with these planning law changes. But what it comes down to is the Government wants people to be able to do more with their own property...
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John MacDonald: You can't put alcohol violence down to marketing
These researchers calling today for a ban on alcohol marketing and sponsorship sound to me like they’re living in the past. Maybe it’s the circles I mix in. But...
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John MacDonald: The Eagle has landed in Chch and should stay
The eagle has landed. One of the police Eagle helicopters from Auckland is in Christchurch for the next two months as part of a crackdown on these criminal kids...
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John MacDonald: Don't dismiss the Christchurch supercity idea
A couple of advisors at the Christchurch City Council have ripped into the Government’s plan for regional councils and have said to councillors that they reckon...
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John MacDonald: Rates caps are a placebo policy
You might recall a poll result that came out back in September which proved that 75 percent of us are idiots. It’s these idiots that the Government is pandering...
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John MacDonald: Is Christchurch ready for a red zone re-think?
Is 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 fair to say that mayor Phil Mauger thinks...
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John MacDonald: 46 years and we still can't get the Erebus memorial decision right
It’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 died in the Mt Erebus air disaster. It...
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John MacDonald: Who can we believe about nitrates in the water?
How interested are you in the quality of your drinking water? For example, would you like to be able to look up your address and get credible, reliable information...
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John MacDonald: The alternative to ditching regional councils
You know how at work you can get people leaving and, instead of hiring new people, they just dish out the work to other people? Then it gets to the point where the...
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Streamlining supermarkets: Christchurch City Council to become 'one-stop shop' for new developments
Christchurch City Council's been selected to act as a one-stop consenting authority for large-scale supermarket developments. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says...
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Intent behind regional council reform is "not clear", Hipkins says
Labour Leader Chris Hipkins says he's not clear what the Government's aiming for in its plans to change local government. It's proposing replacing the country's...
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John MacDonald: Reasons to be nervous about the Govt's building changes
This move by the Government to change who is ultimately liable for repairs to defective building work on new houses up to three-storeys high and renovation jobs...
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John MacDonald: We need to go further with Kiwisaver
I’m with the KiwiSaver providers who are saying we need to go further than just increasing contributions and we need to make them compulsory. This is after the announcement...
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Politics Friday: Lock them up or fix them up - are there enough rehabilitation measures for prisoners?
Labour says the Government shouldn't be celebrating record high prisoner numbers. Earlier this week Prime Minister Christopher Luxon declared it was a good thing...
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John MacDonald: Lessons for the future from the ferry deal
For me, one of the best things to come out of yesterday’s announcement about the Cook Strait ferries has nothing to do with the ferries themselves. There’s still...
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"Common sense": Christchurch Mayor suggests using Apollo Projects Stadium for housing development
Christchurch's Mayor is suggesting the city's temporary sports stadium could be redeveloped for housing. Addington's Apollo Projects Stadium opened in 2012 when...
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John MacDonald: I'm paying attention to BusinessNZ, I hope you are too
I hope people are sitting-up and paying attention to what BusinessNZ is saying today. Especially the people who have their heads in the sand about our ability as...
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John MacDonald: Is the EV bubble about to burst?
New Zealand is about to become a dumping ground for dirty vehicles. That’s what the electric vehicle people are saying today about the Government’s urgent changes...
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Canterbury A&P Show returns with royal status for first time in over a decade
The city is back mingling with the country at New Zealand's Royal A&P Show in Canterbury. Thousands are set to descend on the Agricultural Park over the next three...
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John MacDonald: In terms of scandals, this one is right up there
Whatever you thought of Andrew Coster as Police Commissioner, you probably felt you could trust him to do the right thing. To be upfront, honest, and certainly not...
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Hipkins 'disgusted' by IPCA report revelations on Coster and McSkimming
The Labour Leader is “absolutely disgusted” by the handling of complaints against Jevon McSkimming by former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. The Police Complaints...
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John MacDonald: Housing intensification is the future
Be careful what you wish for. That’s how I’m feeling about the Government giving Christchurch an exemption from the new housing intensification rules, which would...
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"It's the pinnacle": $1 million on offer as Cup Day kicks off at Addington
Just as punters hoped, showers have cleared in Christchurch in time to fling open the gates at Addington Raceway before the 122nd running of the New Zealand Trotting...
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John MacDonald: I'm meh about the meth plan. But at least it's something.
At least they’re doing something. But I don’t rate the chances of it working. That’s how I’m feeling about the Government’s declaration of war on methamphetamine,...
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John MacDonald: Money for restaurant reviewers, but not for Lifeline
Slightly ironic, don’t you think, that on the day people up and down the country are turning up at work and school wearing their gumboots for Gumboot Friday, we’ve...
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Mental Health Minister tells struggling Lifeline to 'talk to Health NZ' about funding
A reminder mental health crises don't follow timetables. Long-time support service Lifeline will now go unanswered between midnight and 7am. It's asking the Government...
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John MacDonald: Does taking more sick leave mean we're sicker or slacker?
There are two types of people in this world. There are the ones who have no qualms calling in sick, when they’re not. The ones who feel no guilt at all pulling...
