Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

No new taxes in the Budget. No new taxes in the Budget. No new taxes in the Budget. Focussed on the cost of living. Focussed on the cost of living. Focussed on the cost of living. I’m reading there from the list of key messages Prime Minister Chris Hipkins left in the bin here in the studio after he dropped by on Friday. OK, I’m making that bit up. But that was what he was saying last week after t...

I found a student flat this morning where everyone in the flat was awake before eight o’clock. Which was very useful. Because it's been a long time since I was in my early 20s, and I wanted to run National’s idea of paying off student loans to keep nurses and midwives in New Zealand after their study and training, past people who are studying right now. And they made a very interesting point, whic...

Congratulations to the National Party because it will be over the moon that people are in the news today saying that it’s the political party for landlords. It’s come after National’s housing spokesperson Chris Bishop jumped on a plane yesterday and screamed down to Queenstown to announce the party’s housing policy - which would allow all sorts of things, one of them being the right for landlords...

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins joined John MacDonald in studio on Canterbury Mornings. They discussed tax and the IRD report, why are so many children not enrolled in schooling? And how will the Government's budget help the Christchurch Hospital situation? LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another day and news of yet more surgery delays at Christchurch Hospital. Maybe if the super-rich were paying their fair share of tax, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Because, in a nutshell, your typical rich-lister pays about half as much tax on every dollar of income they receive, compared to the rest of us. That’s the main message the Government’s been pushing from the IRD’s report on the tax affa...

If you’re a parent or a grandparent in Canterbury, chances are you’ll be familiar with St George’s Hospital - which runs a birthing unit and provides post-natal care. Not for much longer, though. Nine weeks from now, it will be all over because they can’t get enough midwives to run things safely. Which is going to be a real kick in the guts for the thousands who signed a petition to keep things go...

Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves after Australia’s announcement that it plans to make it easier for kiwis to settle over there. Because, the way some people are talking, it’s starting to sound like it did back in the 80s when everyone was banging on about ‘last one out, turn the lights off’. But I don’t think the lights will be going out anytime soon because us kiwis are great at threatening t...

I’ve always been very weary of how easily things can go pear-shaped when people are tanked-up on booze and other things. That’s because, when I was a teenager, I spent quite a bit of my time in and around pubs. Even before I was legal age, I was there because I played in bands. And most weekends I’d be playing somewhere - it could be two nights, or even three nights. And when you’re in a band play...

Hand on heart, I have never heard anyone say they'd love to go to the Commonwealth Games one day. The Rugby World Cup? Heard heaps of people say they'd love to go to that. Football World Cup? Who wouldn’t love to go to that? The Olympics? Absolutely. Wimbledon? A grand prix somewhere? Yes, yes, yes to all of the above. But I have never had someone look me in the eye and say: “Now John, if I only g...

John MacDonald spoke to Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger on Canterbury Mornings about the Government's thoughts to bid for the Commonwealth Games. Mauger has been a huge advocate for the Games returning to Christchurch, and put his thoughts forward as to why Christchurch could be a hub.  They also discussed water use rates going down in the city, excess water charges and the Mayoral Forum Transport...

John MacDonald today had the pleasure to chat to Kiwi rocker, Julia Deans. New Zealand’s finest rockers together with a smoking hot band are set to recreate Hollywood history, performing the soundtracks to Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs & Pulp Fiction live in concert in Christchurch on April 28. Fur Patrol’s rocker Julia Deans, dub-funk powerhouse Laughton Kora (Kora), Pluto frontman Milan...

I don't know about you, but when I went for my driver’s licence back in the day I reckon I would’ve been mortified if I failed. These days, though, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Because, these days, every second person who does their practical driving test fails. Which says to me that we’re doing a hopeless job of training drivers. The Government sees it differently, though, and it’s taking th...

National's Deputy Leader Nicola Willis joined John MacDonald on Canterbury Mornings. On the agenda was the policy National released today, and why they are determined to focus on the rural sector at this time? National have also indicated that a Free Trade deal with India is a priority for them, but what about the fact India is in talks with Russia? Does that concern them? LISTEN ABOVE   See omnys...

Today’s new money-making scheme is high-vis jackets for cats. Because that’s what cat lovers in North Canterbury might want to get if they’re worried about their feline friends getting caught in the crossfire during this year’s North Canterbury Hunting Competition, which is a fundraiser for Rotherham School. That’s because there’s a new category this year for kids under-14, who are being challenge...

When it comes to beggars and begging, I’m really torn. On the one hand, I’m not so heartless that I don’t feel very sad for these people. Because I do. Pretty much every time I see someone on the street asking for money, I think about how their life might’ve got to the point where they feel the only option is to ask strangers for spare change. It’s not the only option for some - because we know th...

So the question today is “are we being ripped-off big time by the Government’s latest version of its water reforms?” That’s the question. And my answer is a resounding “yes”. And it’s the rip-off bit of the “Affordable Water Reforms”. Until yesterday, they were called the 3 Waters reforms. Today, they’re known as the “Affordable Water Reforms”. You may already know my view on the money the Governm...

John MacDonald was joined by Gerry Brownlee and Duncan Webb for Politics Friday. The pair were asked about the new Affordable Water Policy and what it actually means. Is it a complete waste of money, and why are we being ripped off? Also what do they make of the retirement age? Is it time we changed the age in New Zealand? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes I think that when people take part in research, they’re told to just say whatever it is that comes into their head - without even thinking about it. And it looks to me like that’s what happened with this research by the University of Otago into how people feel about the age of retirement and the age someone should qualify for the NZ Super pension. Here’s how I reckon they did the researc...

John MacDonald was joined by JJ and Baz of UK Punk Rock band, The Stranglers.  The band is in Christchurch ahead of their Thursday night show, and discussed the rollercoaster history of the band, new music success and performing live. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I had Covid last year, I wouldn’t have known I had it if I hadn’t tested. And the only reason I did a test was because my wife was crook and under the rules I had to test negative to keep going to work. So, no symptoms at all, but still positive. So I was in Covid prison for seven days, as well. And every day - in fact, sometimes several times a day - I would get the RATs out just to double c...

It just doesn’t make sense in any way, shape or form for Christchurch City Council’s airport company to keep up this pipedream of building another airport in Central Otago. Tarras is the location. And you’ll remember how a few years back the airport company bought a fair bit of land down there - 750 hectares. But it wasn’t until media got a whiff of it that it announced - or was forced to announce...

What do you think we’re more likely to hear Dan the Weatherman say on TV when he’s giving us the weather forecast? Is he more likely to say: “And tomorrow it’s going to be a lovely sunny day in the Garden City”? Or he is more likely to say: “And tomorrow it’s going to be a lovely sunny day in the City of Play”? Well, if he was doing it right now - of course he would say “Garden City” because he wo...

Christchurch Mayor, Phil Mauger, joined John MacDonald on Canterbury Mornings for his regular catch up. The pair discussed the new branding for Christchurch as the 'City of Play', what will happen with the Adventure Park and has he had any response to his letter to the Health Minister regarding our hospital. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love a beer or a glass of wine –a nd I like to think that I know when I should or shouldn’t be driving after I’ve had a drink. Even so, it’s still a bit of a guessing game, isn’t it? Because no one ever really knows. And, let’s face it, once you’ve got a few drinks on board you’re probably not the most qualified person to make the call as to whether you should drive or not. And, today, there wil...

Last week, we wanted to canonise Judge Campbell Savage - the Christchurch judge who sent that 18-year-old to prison for just under three years. He was a real scoundrel that kid and, as I said last week, when I saw the story in the news I had to read it several times just to be sure that what I thought I saw was real. An 18-year-old sent to prison. Who would’ve thought? And, I’m picking you were li...