Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald
by Newstalk ZB
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.
Episodes
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John MacDonald: National's vote-splitting row reeks of desperation
Christopher Luxon’s vote-splitting scrap with ACT and NZ First reeks of desperation. He’s not happy that his coalition partners are asking voters to give them their party vote and their electorate vote to National. Talking with Mike Hosking during this morning’s Leaders Breakfast on Newstalk ZB…
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Election 2026: Rata Jamieson and Hamish Campbell on the race to win Ilam
This week's Politics Friday Election Special focused on the Ilam electorate. The candidates, Labour's Rata Jamieson and National's Hamish Campbell made their pitch to become the next local MP. They discussed their backgrounds before entering politics and outlined how they would tackle the key...
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David Seymour: ACT Party Leader flirts with idea of becoming Finance Minister
ACT Leader David Seymour said it's "very possible" he'd ask to be Finance Minister if the coalition was re-elected. Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, Seymour told John MacDonald it's possible the current holder of the Finance portfolio, Nicola Willis, may not be returned to Parliament. "First of…
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Carla De Nijs: Women-only gym owner on Wānaka gym review criticising women's clothing
A controversial review of Wānaka’s FitGym has made headlines this week, criticising the way some female gym-goers were dressed. As well as complaining about the $59 sign-up fee, the reviewer declared that “too many women dressed like they’re working in a strip club”. Carla De Nijs is the founder…
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Jed Joyce: Rollickin' Gelato Founder with their 2026 Scoop Poll
Rollickin’ Gelato founder Jed Joyce joined John MacDonald in studio to give him a taste of the seven pun-filled flavours competing in the 2026 Rollickin’ Scoop Poll. Some of the flavours include Blueberry Lux (Christopher Luxon), Orange Choc Chippy (Chris Hipkins), and the current leader of the...
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John MacDonald: What my gut is telling me about the election result
I could be wrong, but I reckon Labour leader Chris Hipkins might have already had a tip-off about this new poll result out today when he dropped-in for a chat yesterday. Because he was fired up. And, during the ad breaks, he told me he was enjoying our somewhat robust discussion. Even though some...
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John MacDonald: A housing policy I'd like to like, but can't
Labour’s idea of helping people living in state houses get into the property market is one of those things that might sound good or feel good, but doesn’t take into account a whole lot of practicalities. Which anyone who has actually owned a home will know about. Anyone taking part in Labour’s...
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Chris Hipkins: Labour Leader on What his party offers to Cantabrian voters, potential coalition partners
Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins joined John MacDonald as he hits the campaign trail in Christchurch. Hipkins discussed what Labour is offering voters in Canterbury, including the party's key policies and its latest rent-to-buy scheme for state house tenants. He also outlined where Labour's...
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John MacDonald: This was Hipkins' chance to sell the sizzle
Chris Hipkins spent two hours with Mike Hosking this morning and did nothing to convince me to vote Labour. He’s had a political week from hell. Just when he probably thought Labour’s gang connections were so 2023, MPs and candidates from Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori have been caught...
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Caroline Harvie-Teare: Venues Ōtautahi CEO on the sweltering 32-degree weekend at One NZ Stadium
The operator of One New Zealand Stadium admits work needs to be done to keep guests cool when events are held on warmer days. Concerns were raised after areas of the roofed stadium reached 32 degrees over the long weekend, despite the temperature outdoors being in the mid-twenties. Venues…
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Opportunity Leader Qiulae Wong on what her party can offer Christchurch voters
Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong joined John MacDonald to discuss her party's chances of entering Parliament and potentially holding the balance of power after the election. They also discussed Opportunity’s flagship policies, potential coalition negotiations as Christopher Luxon continues to...
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Election 2026: Dominik Yanzick and Tracy Summerfield on the race to win Wigram
This week's Politics Friday Election Special focused on the Wigram electorate. The candidates, Labour's Dominik Yanzick and National's Tracy Summerfield made their pitch to become the next local MP. They discussed their backgrounds before entering politics and outlined how they would tackle the…
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John MacDonald: Taking on burglars is a recipe for disaster
There are two types of people in the world. There are the ones who would run a mile if someone was breaking into their house. And there are the ones who would stick around and take them on. My house, my castle. All of that. They’re the ones NZ First is trying to appeal to with its promise to look...
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John MacDonald: Why is changing his mind so difficult for Luxon?
Christopher Luxon’s ongoing refusal to work with The Opportunity Party is looking sillier by the day. Maybe it’s reached peak-silliness with this new poll out today, which shows that Luxon’s own supporters think he’s doing the wrong thing. As well as nearly 50 percent of business leaders who took...
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Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick on gangs, their fiscal plan, & campaigning in Christchurch
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick joined John MacDonald to chat about the current campaign. They discussed the party's view on gangs, their incoming fiscal plan, and why the party believe they can turn the Christchurch Central electorate green. LISTEN ABOVE
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Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger on commuter rail, hospital staff car parks, rates cap warnings
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger says he is sceptical of modelling which claims councils could face billions of dollars in funding shortfalls if they proceed with the Government's proposed 4% rates cap from 2027. Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, Mauger said his council is constantly looking at...
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John MacDonald: Here's who I think deserves to be PM
After last night’s final major party leaders debate, a mate of mine texted saying it had been like watching two minnows play a dull match at a World Cup event. He said one might be better than the other, but you wouldn’t pay money to see it. Which is kind of how I felt about it too. Nevertheless,...
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John MacDonald: Forget the under-16 social media ban, but do try this
Does Labour really think Facebook and all the other social media platforms are going to be paying any attention to its threat to crack down on them? Yesterday, the party’s social media spokesperson Reuben Davidson warned “they will pay the price” if they don’t make the kinds of changes Labour…
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John MacDonald: Ditching the right to silence would be a slippery slope
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t been appalled by the cases here in New Zealand where a child has been killed and the people who know full well what has happened have kept their mouths shut. They’re able to do that because of the right to remain silent, which National has announced...
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Midge Ure: Live Aid co-founder and former Ultravox frontman ahead of his New Zealand tour
Ahead of his Christchurch Town Hall show, Live Aid co-founder and former Ultravox frontman Midge Ure sat down with John MacDonald to look back on more than 50 years in the music industry. LISTEN ABOVE
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John MacDonald: This is a new low in political attack ads
Anyone who’s ever been the victim of a home invasion needs to avoid seeing the latest election campaign ad from the Taxpayers’ Union. It’s the latest in a series of attack ads from this outfit. Alongside all the other negative advertising out there from some of the actual political parties. But...
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Election 2026: Vanessa Weenink and Tracey McLellan on who should be the next Banks Peninsula MP
This week's Politics Friday Election Special focused on the Banks Peninsula electorate. The candidates, Vanessa Weenink from National, and Tracey McLellan from Labour, made their pitch about why they want to become the next local MP. They discussed the tight 2023 election result, which was…
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John MacDonald: Politicians and gangs have hung out before
Let me say from the get-go that I despise gang culture and everything it stands for and represents. I despise gangs for the misery they inflict on people with their drug dealing and the way they treat the people desperate for the poison they peddle. I despise gangs for the other heinous crimes…
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John MacDonald: Opportunity's time has come
Qiulae Wong’s night couldn’t have gone better last night. Just before the Opportunity leader joined the other leaders for the minor parties TV debate, a new poll came out putting her party well and truly in the position of kingmaker. According to the 1News-Verian poll, Opportunity is sitting on 8...
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John MacDonald: Don't give me a tax cut. Do this instead.
I thought the tax cuts we got after the last election were a complete waste of time. And I suspect that, by now, most people feel the same. Which is why I am in no way excited about this talk from National about possibly further cuts. At some stage. When the party released its fiscal plan for the...
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Superintendent Tony Hill: Canterbury District Commander on police response times, youth offending, and move on orders
Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill joined John MacDonald to take listeners questions about the issues that local police are facing in the community. Superintendent Hill discussed the recent homicides in Christchurch, youth offending, police response times, public concerns…
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John MacDonald: Is forcing kids to stay at school longer the answer?
If a 16-year-old doesn’t want to be at school anymore, is it worth forcing them to stay until they’ve completed Year 11? At the moment, they can leave as soon as they turn 16. But National says, if it’s re-elected, it will make it compulsory for students to stay until the end of Year 11....
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John MacDonald: If you're over 50, be wary of National's plan
Anyone over the age of 50 should be very wary of this plan National has to reduce benefit payments for people on the Jobseeker benefit longer than two years. I’ll tell you why. But first, here’s what it wants to do to save taxpayers $572 million over four years. A single person receiving the...
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Election 2026: Matt Doocey and Dan Rosewarne make their pitch to be the MP for Waimakariri
This week's Politics Friday Election Special focused on the Waimakariri electorate. The candidates, Matt Doocey from National, and Dan Rosewarne from Labour, made their pitch about why they want to become the next local MP. They discussed their backgrounds before getting into politics, and what...
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John MacDonald: What's wrong with letting kids be kids?
Let kids be kids. That’s what I thought when I read about a very successful young guy with 12 university degrees, who thinks we need to be pushing Kiwi kids harder from a younger age. Jamie Beaton is co-founder of Crimson Education, which helps Kiwi students get into the top universities around…
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Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger on council led NRL team bid, Airbnb crackdowns, potential Enable sale
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger says the Council’s feasibility study into a South Island NRL team must remain under wraps due to commercial sensitivity. Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, Mauger said the numbers cannot be released until the NRL reveals its decision, but insisted ratepayer money is...
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John MacDonald: The real winners in last night's TV debate
I’ll tell you who I think came out the winner from last night’s TVNZ leaders' debate. It was the first of four TVNZ debates and the only one involving just National’s Christopher Luxon and Labour’s Chris Hipkins. So it was the big chance, for each to them, to convince those of us watching why…
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John MacDonald: If you believe this, you'll believe anything (1)
If you believe National’s promise to put $800 million in next year’s Budget for the Woodend Bypass project, you’ll believe anything. All up, 11 kilometres of road, north of Christchurch. With four kilometres of the existing highway widened and the rest being the new four-lane bypass diverting...
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John MacDonald: I want to like this policy, but I can't
I want to like the ACT Party’s KiwiSaver policy, but I can’t. I’ll tell you why shortly. But, what it wants to do, is to stop charging us tax on our KiwiSaver earnings. It also wants to do away with the government contribution for people whose employers pay into their KiwiSaver scheme. Which…
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John MacDonald: What's so scary about 16-year-olds voting?
How do you feel about 16 and 17-year-olds voting? I’m all for it. Labour leader Chris Hipkins is, too. Although, I’d go further than what he’s talking about. He’s announced that, if Labour forms the next government, it will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in local body elections. But, if you’re...
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Election 2026: Dale Stephens and George Hampton on why they should be the next Christchurch Central MP
The first Politics Friday Election Special focused on Christchurch Central. The candidates, Dale Stephens from National, and George Hampton from Labour, made their pitch about why they want to become the next Christchurch Central MP. They discussed what can be done with the Airbnb's in the CBD…
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John MacDonald: There's nothing strategic about strategic voting
When you vote in November’s election, are you going to be voting for a party or are you going to be voting for a coalition? According to Harry Mowbray, father of the Mowbray billionaires, you should be voting for the coalition you want running the place. As he puts it on the website he’s set up,...
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Veteran broadcaster Brendan Telfer remembers Phil Gifford
Legendary broadcaster and writer Phil Gifford has passed away at the age of 79. A veteran broadcaster and sports journalist with his career spanning over fifty years, Gifford worked across print, radio and television. Phil was also a host on Newstalk ZB, more recently on the afternoons show...
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John MacDonald: Does the Govt deserve another three years?
I’m no fan of the current Government. In fact, I’m no fan of any of the political parties at the moment. That said, you’ve got to give the current lot credit for what we saw in yesterday’s Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU). Is it enough for them to get another term? I’ll tell you…
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Chris Hipkins on PREFU, working with Greens and Opportunity, death of Adrian Rurawhe
Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has admitted he hasn't yet read the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) in full, but he is confident the funding for his party's policies is there. Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, Hipkins says Labour will take time to crunch the numbers before coming out...
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John MacDonald: Sort out pay equity, but don't rush it
I’m all for pay equity for women, but. Which I’ll get to. First, though. At a public meeting in Christchurch last night, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was asked what the most important thing a Labour-led government would do for girls and women. He said reversing last year’s pay equity changes. And...
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John MacDonald: I hope NZTA is listening
How shocking is it that a woman died on a stretch of State Highway 1, in South Canterbury, that NZTA had known was dangerous but hadn’t done anything about it? I’ll run you through the details. But I hope NZTA is listening to the coroner who is saying today that a median barrier is needed where…
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John MacDonald: Orana Park can't keep relying on ratepayers
Can you believe how quick Christchurch City councillors are to throw around the cash? Agreeing yesterday to give $1.2 million to Orana Wildlife Park, just 10 days after the park came out crying poor. Saying it was on track to run out of cash by the end of March and needs to find $4.1 million to...
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Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger on Orana Park, asset sales, museum funding
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger is backing the councils 1.2-million-dollar boost for the city's struggling Orana Wildlife Park, but won't deny whether money will be dished out in the future. Speaking on Canterbury Mornings, Mauger said the council would wait to see how successful Orana Park's...
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John MacDonald: Christchurch Airport flight path rules need to change
I don't know whether the Christchurch City Council anticipated this kind of thing, but there is proof today that it got it wrong with its decision to limit new homes being built under Christchurch Airport’s flight path. And I think it needs to reverse its decision. It was only last year when the...
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John MacDonald: Students deserve better than just more debt
If Labour’s $2 billion fees-free scheme didn’t lead to an increase in student numbers but did reduce student debt, was it still worth it? The coalition government doesn’t think so and is scrapping the scheme, saying it’s better to invest in things like trades training. But I think the risk is we...
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John MacDonald: Nappies at school. How did it get to this?
I could try to be understanding about this. But I can’t. Because, how on earth did we get to the point where kids are turning up at school in nappies, and unable to hold a pencil? If someone’s kid can’t do those things by the time they turn five and start school, then they have failed. The same...
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John MacDonald: Why not big fines and sentences for H&S failures?
Labour has come up with a policy that I think is actually meaningful and would hold employers more accountable for workplace deaths. Labour has announced that, if elected, it will introduce a corporate homicide charge. Which would mean, if a worker died on the job, their employer could be charged...
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Inside Wai Ora: The University of Otago's new medical campus in Christchurch
The ribbon has been cut as The University of Otago's 292-million-dollar Wai Ora building has held its opening ceremony today. The new facility will expand the university's capacity for biomedical research and clinical trials, with space for about 15-hundred researchers, clinicians and students....
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Politics Friday: Tracey McLellan and Vanessa Weenink on corporate manslaughter policy, supermarkets, FENZ confidence
National's Vanessa Weenink and Labour's Tracey McLellan joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week. They covered some of the week's biggest issues, including Labour's proposed corporate manslaughter policy, National's plans to tackle the supermarket duopoly, the funding challenges facing...
About this show
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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