Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

I’m not going to deny things are tight. Because they are. And if there’s anyone out there who thinks things aren’t tight in New Zealand right now, then I’ll have some of what they’re having. Because it seems, doesn it, that everytime we go to the supermarket it's more expensive. Nip in to get a few things in-between the big weekly shop, and a hundred bucks can disappear like that. And so the news...

At 6:20 on Monday morning, a woman was out running in Fendalton, Christchurch. A man she didn’t know approached her and tried to drag her away. But he took off when someone who was driving past saw what was going on, pulled over and intervened. How much of a hero is that person? The Police are describing what happened as an attempted kidnapping and they’re on the hunt for this guy. They’re describ...

The Proclaimers have announced they will undertake their biggest tour of New Zealand in March of next year. Best known in this country for their hit, 500 Miles, John MacDonald spoke to Craig Reid on Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings to find out more about the music, the tour and their brand new album - Dentures Out. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The water sprinklers probably aren’t going to get that much action this week, with the storm that’s due to come through from late tonight. But, as night follows day, the storm will pass and we will eventually get to the point where there is less rain and you’ll start wanting to water the vege garden, water the lawn and maybe even strip off and run under the sprinkler. And, as of the weekend just g...

This week is set to be Chirstchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel's last week in office, as her replacement will be voted in during this current local body election. As such, she agreed to do an 'exit interview' here today, to reflect on her nine years as a public servant for the people of Christchurch.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend, there was an anniversary that I’m picking most people didn’t know about and certainly didn’t celebrate. On Saturday, GST turned 36. For 36 years, we’ve been paying that little bit extra on pretty much everything we buy. It started off as 10 percent extra when Roger Douglas kicked it off on the 1st of October 1986, and there’ve been increases along the way to get us to the 15 perc...

It’s school holiday time again and the Police are doing their usual ‘let’s be careful out there’ thing which, as we know with some people, falls on deaf ears and the last thing they are when they’re behind the wheel is careful. In the last week alone, eight people have died on the roads here in New Zealand. And there’ll be countless others who have been injured over the past week - we just don’t h...

John MacDonald was joined by Gerry Brownlee and Poto Williams for Politics Friday. They discussed the suggestion that the speed limit on open roads could be lowered to 80kmph, Phil Mauger's Hospital Car Parking plan, and should the parole notification policy review. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It wouldn’t be a local body election without hospital car parking coming up for discussion. And that’s what’s happened today, with mayoral candidate Phil Mauger announcing that he wants to use part of Hagley Park for a hospital car park in Christchurch. As you probably know, there’s a new 450-space car park being built but that isn't expected to be finished until the end of next year. The original...

One of the founding members and songwriters of Kiwi hit band Mi-Sex, Murray Burns, joined Canterbury Mornings. Murray joined John MacDonald to discuss and reflect on the band's history, some of the challenges and losses they faced, and how they came to continue the magic of live performance. Mi-Sex is part of the line up at Selwyn Sounds in Lincoln, to be held in March 2023. Tickets are on sale no...

Last night, Phil Mauger and David Meates fronted up to the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Christchurch mayoral debate. And, as you would expect, they talked about a whole lot of stuff and, inevitably, rates came up for discussion. Hard to avoid really. So Phil Mauger and David Meates talked about two very different approaches or ways of thinking about rates. David Meates' thinking is th...

If you think it’s taking you too long to get around Christchurch now, it’s nothing compared to how long it’s going to take you. That’s because, in its infinite wisdom, Waka Kotahi has come up with a plan to reduce the speed limit on most Christchurch roads to 30 kilometres per hour. It’ll be 40 km/h for some, but 30 km/h for most. It thinks it will make the roads safer and reduce emissions. And do...

John MacDonald spoke to Christchurch mayoral candidate David Meates. They discussed the key issues for Christchurch going forward, and why he feels he is the right person for the job.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

190 days. That’s how long it’s been since I first asked these two questions: Why is the Russian ambassador still parked-up at the embassy in Wellington? And when is the Government going to kick him out? That was on March 17 - 28 days after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine. It will be seven months ago tomorrow (Saturday) when Putin said “fire”. But despite all the death and carnage, Russia’s a...

John MacDonald was joined in Newstalk ZB's brand new studio by Labour's Duncan Webb and National's Gerry Brownlee for Politics Friday. On the table for discussion was the Russian ambassador, and if he should be sent packing, would that make a difference to the Ukraine situation? They reacted to the Mood of the Boardroom survey out this morning, does the business community reflect the mood of New Z...

Nanaia Mahuta won’t say it - so I’m going to say it for her. All this noise about her husband getting government contracts wouldn't be happening if she wasn’t Māori . She won’t say that, because, as well as being accused of letting her family milk the public purse, she’d also be accused of trying to defend the undefendable. But I bet - as she probably would privately too - that we wouldn’t have th...

Today on Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings, John MacDonald spoke to National leader Christopher Luxon. They discussed the safety of politicians off the back of Grant Robertson's concerns whilst visiting Northland recently. They also talked about the report into Sam Uffindell and if it should be released publicly, and how did Luxon react to the Christchurch City Council pushback on housing intensific...

Many years ago, I went to the loo one day in the building where I worked, walked into the mens toilet and Helen Clark was there. Turned out the men's loo was closer to the studio where she was doing an interview and so they told her just to use that. And I remember afterwards thinking ‘only in New Zealand' would you walk into the men's loo and find the female Prime Minister there washing her hands...

Can someone send some morning tea to the New Zealand Initiative please? Because we finally have an outfit calling out the disaster that is “the modern learning environment”. If you’ve had a child or grandchild go through school here in New Zealand anytime over the past 10-or-so years, you’ll know all about the modern learning environment. Massive, barn-like classrooms with bean bags and tents wher...

Phil Mauger, mayoral candidate is interviewed here today! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am really struggling with these two Mongrel Mob guys getting reduced prison sentences because they had a hard time growing up. That’s probably putting it mildly - one report I’ve seen describes one of them having an “horrific” upbringing. But you get what I mean. They were both high-up in a commercial methamphetamine operation which manufactured and supplied the drug in the Waikato area. Their n...

I wonder how the family and friends of Rachael Harris are feeling today. Rachael was the 62-year-old woman who died in August last year in a crash that happened in Christchurch after a man reeking of alcohol drove through a red light at more than 120 km/h and smashed into her car, pushing it 33 metres along the road. Rachael died instantly. It’s been reported that it’s thought she was on her way h...

Today on Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings, John MacDonald spoke to Labour's Poto Williams and National's Gerry Brownlee. They covered the big news of the week, including the Reshaping Streets movement, the recent Taxpayers Union poll which gives National and ACT positive news, and yesterday's GDP number. John also pressed them both on their reaction to the Christchurch City Council voting no to the...

It seems doesn’t it that the Government, at the moment, is hellbent on forcing change on us in so many parts of our lives. Yesterday, it was the housing intensification changes - which the Christchurch City Council snubbed its nose at. There’s another one, though, that I suspect the Christchurch council - in fact, all councils around the country - might be quite excited about. The Government’s “Re...

Today on Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings, John MacDonald discussed the Reshaping Streets plan currently being consulted on by Waka Kotahi. The Government wants to give local councils the power to change road lay-outs and road uses for up to two years, before consulting anyone. It wants to allow councils to stop parents from driving to the school gate to pick-up and drop-off their kids by closing s...