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...
Latest episodes
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5 min
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 Labou…
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9 min
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…
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23 min
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. Th…
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22 min
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…
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4 min
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…
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4 min
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 th…
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18 min
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 pa…
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12 min
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 pr…
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4 min
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…
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5 min
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 m…
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4 min
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 hav…
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21 min
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 in…
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5 min
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…
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25 min
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 p…
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5 min
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 an…
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5 min
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 h…
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5 min
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 abou…
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35 min
Superintendent Tony Hill: Canterbury District Commander on police response times, youth offending, and move on…
Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill joined John MacDonald to take listeners questions about the issues that local police are facing in the community. Superintend…
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5 min
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…
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5 min
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…