Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

John MacDonald today on the show asked why the South Island didn't even get a mention in the press conference with the Prime Minister, and he placed that blame solely on local MPs not going in to bat for the south. He called on local MPs to make a stand, and fight for the South Island to figure in the conversation and be thanked and protected.  Nicola Grigg, who is National's Selwyn MP, called in...

John MacDonald spoke to Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel about the Local Government New Zealand interim report, and the suggestion of amalgamation between Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri Councils. They also discussed keeping the South Island Covid-free and discussed the news that the Wizard will have his funding from the Council cut from December. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

On today's edition of Politics Friday, John MacDonald was joined by Megan Woods and Gerry Brownlee. They discussed the idea of a South Island border, the interim report on Local Government New Zealand and the cancellation of the A&P show. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selwyn Sounds returns in March 2022 and today we were thrilled to talk to Jon Stevens, who will join the likes of Jimmy Barnes, Stellar*, Ardijah and Greg Johnson in next year's line up.  Jon talked us through the early days of his musical career in New Zealand, before he crossed the ditch to form Noiseworks, before stepping up as the lead singer of INXS with the passing of Michael Hutchence.  He'...

On today's weekly catch up with National Party leader, Judith Collins, John MacDonald asked what the National Party thought of a gang leader being given and essential worker status to travel between Waikato and Auckland, as part of an effort to increase vaccination rates within the gang.   They also discussed the letter from Pfizer last June, which allegedly saw a six-month delay in vaccination su...

Following the Mayors comments today on the show about five Christchurch City councillors calling for Nanaia Mahuta to resign her local government portfolio as "pot shots from the side", Sam MacDonald, who is one of those councillors, called Canterbury Mornings to discuss why he felt they had to make a stand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on our weekly chat with Christchurch mayor, Lianne Dalziel, John MacDonald asked how the mayor felt about five Christchurch City councillors calling for Nanaia Mahuta to resign her local government portfolio over the Three Waters reform. He also asked about coastal issues in Christchurch and how the Council is going to tackle rising sea levels going forward.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.co...

This week on Politics Friday with John MacDonald, he was joined by Labour's Poto Williams and National's Matt Doocey.   This week talking about the recent move by Timaru District Council to leave Local Government New Zealand over the proposed Three Waters Reforms, Local Body Election potential delays and Oranga Tamariki.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John MacDonald today spoke to Darrin Williams from Addington Raceway about the huge impact Level 2 is going to have on our biggest racing week in Canterbury, New Zealand Cup Week. If we remain in Level 2 for another three weeks, this will see the crowd of 20,000 reduced to just nine pods of 100 people for the nation's biggest harness racing event with the event being run behind closed doors. The f...

In today's Politics Friday interview, John MacDonald was joined by Megan Woods and Gerry Brownlee to discuss ICU capacity in New Zealand and the Proposed Public Finance Amendment bill, which would see a stop to public money being given to gangs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During his weekly chat with National Party Leader Judith Collins, John MacDonald quizzed her about an incentive to increase our vaccination rate, the National Party Leadership and staff departures. John also asked one of the most important questions of the week about her trip to a Queenstown Ice Cream shop.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Politics Friday, Canterbury Mornings host John MacDonald caught up with National's Gerry Brownlee and Labour's Duncan Webb, discussing the Sail GP cancellation, GDP and being left out of the AUUKUS partnership. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John MacDonald had his weekly interview with National Party Leader, Judith Collins. They discussed the Māori Party petition to rename New Zealand to Aotearoa, the Covid elimination vs. suppression strategies and Janet Wilson's recent public comments about her time working for the National Party. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Party leader Judith Collins joined John McDonald for her regular slot on the one year anniversary of her taking over the party leadership. She told John it's been a busy year with a lot of change, and that she's pleased with how things are tracking. "It's been a year of having to get a lot of things done, particularly around the caucus and the party, a time of change. But also, feeling ve...

National says the Human Rights Commissioner needs to resign. Leader Judith Collins says Jacinda Ardern needs to give Paul Hunt the boot, or he should choose to hang up his boots. She told John MacDonald the Newstalk ZB revelations of Hunt donating $200 to the Mongrel Mob demonstrate his complete lack of judgment. "Paul Hunt wants to give his own money, give his own money. But giving taxpayer money...

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel will not seek re-election, saying she would have needed her late husband by her side to stand again next year. Dalziel has held the mayoralty for three terms, being first elected in 2013. Her husband Rob Davidson died last year. Announcing her decision, she said it had been an absolute privilege to represent the city where she was born and lived all her life. LIST...

More than a quarter of Christchurch Girls' High School students say they've been sexually harassed more than 10 times and more than 20 students say they have been raped. The school commissioned the survey after concerns were raised around the rise in harassment towards students. Dr Dame Sue Bagshaw joined John McDonald to give her thoughts on the findings that have emerged from the survey. LISTEN...

The current Christchurch mayor has paid tribute to her predecessor, Sir Bob Parker. The former Christchurch Mayor - whose prominence boomed following the Christchurch earthquakes - has been paralysed on his left side by a brain bleed in October. In an interview with TVNZ's Sunday programme, the 68-year-old struggled to remember his mayoralty or broadcasting past. Current Mayor Lianne Dalziel told...

National Leader Judith Collins says there should not be a lockdown in Wellington despite the capital being on high alert after an Australian man flew into the city during the weekend and spent time at six locations of interest. The man flew back to Sydney on Monday. Collins says she's crossing her fingers Wellington won't go into lockdown. She told John MacDonald she'll support the Government's de...

The Government is investigating a proposal to see new KiwiSaver members increase their contribution from three per cent up to 10 per cent, in half a per cent a year increments. But it could hit workers in the pocket by reducing their take home pay packet. The union believes employers should shoulder some of the rise rather than just workers. Australia will next month lift its compulsory employer s...

A big maintenance bill stands in the way of keeping Christchurch's Wharenui Pool open. It's likely the 110 year old pool will be decommissioned when the new Metro Sports Facility opens in 2022. Wharenui Swim Club President Chris Averill told John McDonald they've been told by the council they have to go it alone. He says they will do a feasibility study to see if it can be saved. “If we simply can...

Judith Collins is warning any MPs anonymously bad-mouthing MP Harete Hipango that they're showing themselves up. The National leader is playing down speculation Hipango is not a team player. A Newsroom article quoted National party sources saying the incoming MP, who is returning to Parliament as a list MP to replace Nick Smith, is not well-liked within the Caucus. Collins told John McDonald she b...