Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

How do you think I’m feeling about the Government's Māori wards bill passing its third reading in Parliament?   Which means any local councils which established Māori wards without asking residents first will have to hold a referendum if they want to keep them. The same for any other councils that might want to in the future, as well.   How do you think I’m feeling about that? I’m not feeling how...

Today on Canterbury Mornings John MacDonald was joined by Labour Leader Chris Hipkins for their regular chat.   Why does he feel the Māori Wards Bill is an embarrassment? Will National's Tax Cuts prove Labour wrong in the future?  And what does he make of the Green Party stating their ambition to be the major opposition party?   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you rather the police could only search a place for illegal firearms if they believed there were illegal guns there, or would you rather they could search a place for illegal firearms if they suspected illegal firearms were there?   There’s quite a difference. If you believe something, you’ve generally seen or heard information that gives you reason to believe.   But if you suspect something...

John MacDonald was joined by National’s Matt Doocey and Labour’s Reuben Davidson for Politics Friday.   They discussed whether the Government should intervene on the replanting regulations for pine trees on the Port Hills after the multiple intense blazes.   It’s been an emotional week in Parliament with the release of the Abuse in Care Report, so what needs to happen now? And, can we really get o...

“Pines are one of the most flammable plants on the planet.”   That’s a quote from a plant ecologist at Victoria University, Dr Nicola Day.   And it's why some Christchurch councils went to the Government wanting a change to the forestry rules, to try and stop pine forests being re-planted on the Port Hills after the big fire earlier this year.   The second big fire on the Port Hills in less than 1...

In some way, shape or form, every New Zealander is a victim of the horrific abuse laid bare in the inquiry report released yesterday. First and foremost - absolutely first and foremost - it is the 200,000 people who were abused while in the care of the state and religious organisations that we are most mindful of. As we should be. The Government appears to be, as well. The proof of that will emerg...

Irish comedian Ed Byrne joined John MacDonald on Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings, where he discussed his new show - Tragedy Plus Time.   He explained how he manages to talk about the death of his brother Paul in the show and balance the emotion with humour. Plus his special connection to Kaikoura and Christchurch.   LISTEN ABOVE     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger joined John MacDonald for their regular catchup.   The Mayor gives his thoughts on whether Orana Wildlife Park is in trouble, and how he feels about the council funding for it now.   And, what is the cost to council for the use of road cones in Christchurch? And will he be standing for Mayor in next year's local elections?   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener...

Let’s play a little bit of would-you-rather.   Would you rather the country faced a bill of $1 billion per year for the harm caused by drug use? Or $8 billion per year for the harm caused by alcohol?   I know what your answer is. I’m picking it’s the same as mine. I’d rather we had neither.   But that’s the comparison in front of us with these new stats out today in relation to what drug use is co...

One headline I’ve read about President Joe Biden quitting the presidential race is describing it as “a shock decision”.   It’s no shock to me. But it was, apparently, to some of his campaign staff.   According to reports, some of them had no idea their man had made-up his mind and was pulling the plug. Which I think is too little, too late for the Democrats. They are toast - just as much as they w...

Do you know what the most pointless piece of road safety advice is? Drive to the conditions.   I get it and it’s well-meaning. But it’s pointless. A waste of breath. Because some people are incapable of doing it.   And it would seem from some of the reports in the past 24 hours about those two buses which went off the road yesterday on the Twizel-Tekapo highway after hitting black ice, that perhap...

It seems our local councils are in the Finance Minister’s line of sight.   She’s been saying since the latest inflation numbers came out yesterday that, yes, it is somewhat positive that inflation is at 3.3 percent —just outside the Reserve Bank’s target— but she’s saying it’s not time to take the foot off the pedal.   And she’s made it very clear who she is expecting to go heavier on the pedal, a...

Not that long ago, I was talking to a guy who said it was perfectly fine for him to use some old floorboards he’d ripped up out of his kitchen for firewood, because China and India are polluting the atmosphere and so what difference can he make?   These boards were coated in a dark, shiny varnish and they just screamed out “poison” to me.   But, you know, until China and India lift their game and...

The 2024 Olympics are less than two weeks away, our athletes are selected and ready to go.   Kiwi High Jump star Hamish Kerr has indicated he was more than ready to challenge for gold at the Games in Paris, with a compelling win in Monaco at the Diamond League.    Hamish joined John MacDonald on Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings from France, revealing that he's still got some competing to do before...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is unwavering on making Treaty considerations an expectation for Pharmac.   His Government required Pharmac to commit to embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.   Associate Health Minister David Seymour's removed it in his newly-released letter of expectation, calling it a distraction.   Hipkins told John MacDonald Pharmac was engaging more with Māori to improve health outcomes...

It can be very tricky sometimes getting to grips with who’s twisting the truth, who’s exaggerating things, and who really are the victims and the villains when it comes to industrial disputes.   And this dispute between the Government and the police over pay and conditions is no different. Although it is in a way. And I’ll get to that.   But, for all intents and purposes, this particular pay dispu...

Joe Biden can’t win. In two ways. The first one’s obvious. After yesterday’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump, and the imagery and defiance and sheer strength Trump showed, Joe Biden can’t win this year’s presidential election. Nor can anyone else who might replace him as the Democratic nominee between now and November’s vote. Trump’s campaign has got money shots coming out of its ears, so to...

In Canterbury we talk about things happening pre-earthquake and post-earthquake. And I’ve been trying to remember what things were like pre-earthquake when it comes to road cones.   Because after the quakes there were road cones everywhere and, on the first few anniversaries, we had people putting flowers in road cones around town.   I remember on the first anniversary, driving to work and seeing...

This week on Politics Friday John MacDonald was joined by Labour’s Tracey McLellan and National’s Matt Doocey to wrap the week that was.   The hot topic of the morning was the comments from Transport Minister Simeon Brown regarding the extreme overuse of road cones in New Zealand. Do we have an obsession?   John asked Matt if he still feels he didn’t need to read a report into abuse in care before...

I think we’ve reached the point where people are going to be asking themselves not only “if I book a ticket on the Interislander, how confident can I be that they won’t cancel on me?” I think we’re at the point now we’re people will also be asking themselves how safe they feel using the service.   I was talking to someone who said after this news about the autopilot on the Aratere the other week,...

I bet if you drive a petrol vehicle and you’ve said anything about how much cheaper it must be to have a diesel, anyone who does have a diesel has jumped down your throat and started banging-on about road user charges. Or RUCs, as they’re known.   Because when you buy petrol you pay a fuel tax. When you buy diesel, you don’t. But you have to —or you’re supposed to— pay road user charges.   And, as...

There is a very fine line between being highly principled and high-and-mighty. And I think the Green Party has crossed that line.   Even though the Greens think their now-ex list MP Darleen Tana is so bad that they want her out of Parliament altogether, and even though there is legislation that would enable them to make that happen, we’ve got this circus and the public pleading for her to resign....

I don’t love the idea, but I’m willing to accept it. That’s how I’d describe my stance on paying a toll charge to use a piece of road. Just like when pay TV became a thing in New Zealand. I didn’t like it, but I accepted it. So what’s happened, is that NZTA and the Government have announced that they expect work on the new Belfast to Pegasus motorway - which includes the new Woodend Bypass road -...

Even though the air temperature was down around the minus-4 mark in Canterbury this morning, there would have been no shortage of muppets driving as if it’s the middle of summer.   You know, the speed limit’s 50kph or 80kph or 100kph and that’s the speed I’m going to go.   Don’t worry about the fact that there’ll be some other clowns driving around with their windscreens still frosted over. Or peo...

Today on Politics Friday John MacDonald was joined by Labour’s Megan Woods and National’s Hamish Campbell to dig into the biggest topics from the week.   With Newshub airing its final broadcast tonight, they reflected on the media landscape and discussed the new Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill.   Who is responsible for speed limits, local councils or the central government? And Megan offers a ne...