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: The haka is more than just pre-match entertainment
Anyone who thinks we can still stick to that pipedream of sport and politics not mixing probably got a hernia or had kittens yesterday morning before and after the...
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John MacDonald: Jetty restoration group's zero-interest pipedream
I don’t know if I’m going to make any friends in Governors Bay, especially with the people involved with the Governors Bay Jetty Restoration Trust. Because I think...
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Politics Friday: Stanford "well overstepped the mark" in Parliament - Labour MP
John MacDonald was joined by National’s Vanessa Weenink and Labour’s Duncan Webb this morning for Politics Friday. They discussed whether the new gang patch law...
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John MacDonald: Here's how to really make life difficult for gangs
Today’s the day when one of the most ridiculous laws we’ve ever seen in this country starts being enforced by the police. As of midnight last night, it is illegal...
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John MacDonald: Cowboy hats and feathers? Yes. Bad behaviour? No
I can’t accuse NZ First MP Shane Jones of being pale, male, and stale. But he is male, and he is stale with these comments of his about the way some MPs are dressing...
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"Lead by example": Hipkins says 'Parliament's hall monitors' should check their leaders' behaviour
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he had no problem with Te Pati Māori's haka in the House last week, during the vote on ACT's Treaty Principle Bill. David Seymour,...
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John MacDonald: Don't point the finger at David Seymour for Treaty Principles mess
An absolute circus is one way to describe David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill. Or you could say that the thousands at Parliament today to protest against it...
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John MacDonald: No mention of money doesn't make today's apology hollow
When it comes to apologies there are generally two types: a sincere apology and a hollow apology. And survivors of abuse in state or religious care are saying that...
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John MacDonald: Should the taxpayer chip-in for your solar panels?
If you’ve got solar panels on the roof, you’ll be loving the blue skies. And a solar energy advocate is saying today that those of us who don’t should be getting...
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John MacDonald: Health and Safety is off the rails
You'll have your own way of describing this crazy situation where we’ve got KiwiRail telling the Christchurch City Council that it has to close a 1.5 kilometre stretch...
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Politics Friday: Are we capable of having a calm discussion of the Treaty Principles Bill?
Today on Politics Friday, John MacDonald was joined by National’s Vanessa Weenink and Labour’s Reuben Davidson to dig into some of the biggest political stories...
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John MacDonald: I'm not buying into the Trump hysteria
I think I’m going to trust my gut instinct more often. Because yesterday, I didn’t like the idea of it, but my gut was telling me that Donald Trump was going to...
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"Artists make life bearable": Miriam Margolyes talks theatre, her career, and the importance of reading
The legendary Miriam Margolyes is back in Christchurch, joining John MacDonald in studio for a chat. She’s one of a few famous names taking part in the Isaac Theatre...
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John MacDonald: What my gut instinct is telling me about the US presidency
Historic. Knife edge. Too close to call. That’s what they’re all saying about today’s presidential election in the States. What you never see though, splashed across...
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'Unnecessary': Introducing the Treaty Principles Bill is a step backwards, Hipkins says
Labour is lamenting the Treaty Principles Bill even seeing the light of day. David Seymour's controversial bill will be introduced in Parliament tomorrow. Labour...
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John MacDonald: Boot camps must not add to our abuse shame
The plan to give “use of force” powers to the people running the Government’s new boot camps for young criminals is getting a bit of attention today. Or military...
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John MacDonald: Don't panic about the police mental health call-out changes
From today, the police don’t intend to respond to every mental health callout. But I don’t think we’re going to see any major difference. I’ll tell you why shortly,....
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John MacDonald: We need to ditch this obsession with uni degrees
I didn’t go to university and there’s a bit of a dad joke that I trot out about that now and again. I say that I’m a student of life, in no rush to graduate. So...
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Kiwi icon Richard O'Brien will be "singing a couple of songs" at the Theatre Royal Variety Gala
A beloved Kiwi writer and actor will be featuring in the upcoming Theatre Royal Variety Gala. Richard O’Brien, the mind behind The Rocky Horror Picture Show, will...
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Politics Friday: Is it time for a user-pays approach to healthcare?
Today on Politics Friday, John MacDonald was joined by National’s Vanessa Weenink and Labour’s Tracey McLellan for a chat about the latest political happenings. The...
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John MacDonald: Mike King was right. But he was wrong too
It’s Gumboot Friday tomorrow and the guy behind it, Mike King, seems to have put his foot in it. Although, I’m a little bit torn on this one. So what’s happened...
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John MacDonald: What's so wrong with slower traffic outside schools?
If I say to you “30 kph speed limit area”, chances are you can think of one. I can think of one straight away - on the southern end of Colombo Street in Christchurch. You’re...
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John MacDonald: Hi-de-hi campers! Christchurch's campervan clanger
When I heard that a campervan park is going to be up and running in central Christchurch, near Latimer Square —possibly in time for this summer— my first thought...
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John MacDonald: How do you feel about parenting lessons in school?
“There for the grace of God goes I.” We generally say it when something bad and we know that it could just as easily happen to us, and anyone who is a parent should...
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Politics Friday: Is it time to ban the private use of fireworks?
John MacDonald was joined by National’s Hamish Campbell and Labour’s Reuben Davidson for Politics Friday. On the agenda today was yet another case of Oranga Tamariki...
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John MacDonald: Performance pay's no bonus for the public sector
I feel really uncomfortable about the idea of public sector bosses getting performance pay. Not that the Government is going to care too much about that, because...
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John MacDonald: Here's how we could keep local councils on track
After saying just the other week that I don’t agree with central Government taking over local councils when things go pear-shaped, I’ve changed my tune. Slightly....
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Local Govt is "not functioning" as it should, Labour leader says
Labour Leader Chris Hipkins joined John MacDonald for their regular catchup. On today’s agenda: Andrew Bayly is in hot water for his “offensive comments” during...
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John MacDonald: Does the government really think this is going to work?
Sometimes you just have to resort to cliches, because there are times when there’s just no other way to say it. Or no better way to say it. The definition of insanity...
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John MacDonald: Here's how to get more people voting in local body elections
You can call me a nerd, if you want to. But I reckon there is nothing like the performance of walking down to your local polling booth on voting day and casting...
