Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

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

November 20, 2025 18 mins

Labour says the Government shouldn't be celebrating record high prisoner numbers.  

Earlier this week Prime Minister Christopher Luxon declared it was a good thing the prison population was nearing 11 thousand people.  

The Government is also celebrating a reduction by 38 thousand in the number of victims of violent crime since it came into power.  

Labour's Duncan Webb told John MacDonald that while locking people u...

Mark as Played

For me, one of the best things to come out of yesterday’s announcement about the Cook Strait ferries has nothing to do with the ferries themselves. 

There’s still a bit of smoke and mirrors about the numbers and what it’s going to end up costing.  

Because what it still comes down to is that the Government poured $671 million down the drain when the Finance Minister pulled the plug on funding for the old ferry project. Wh...

Mark as Played

Christchurch's Mayor is suggesting the city's temporary sports stadium could be redeveloped for housing.  

Addington's Apollo Projects Stadium opened in 2012 when the quake-damaged Lancaster Park closed permanently. 

The City Council's confirmed structures including the grandstand will be removed when Te Kaha opens in April, but the future of the Addington site remains unclear. 

Mayor Phil Mauger told John MacDonald ...

Mark as Played

I hope people are sitting-up and paying attention to what BusinessNZ is saying today. 

Especially the people who have their heads in the sand about our ability as a country to keep paying for things like healthcare and pensions. 

Because, as BusinessNZ puts it, we don’t have enough people to keep on doing that and we need a lot more people. 

As one headline today says, New Zealand needs 10 million people to stay aflo...

Mark as Played

New Zealand is about to become a dumping ground for dirty vehicles.  

That’s what the electric vehicle people are saying today about the Government’s urgent changes to the clean car standards for imported vehicles.  

Of course they’re unhappy. Because I reckon they are seeing and we are seeing the EV bubble about to burst.  

I’ll tell you why. I’ll also tell you why you’re not going to hear me ripping into the Govern...

Mark as Played

The city is back mingling with the country at New Zealand's Royal A&P Show in Canterbury. 

Thousands are set to descend on the Agricultural Park over the next three days. 

This year’s event has re-gained its royal status for the first time since 2010. 

Canterbury A&P Association chair Sir David Carter told John MacDonald that the Royal Agricultural Society approached them after they saw them put on last year’...

Mark as Played

Whatever you thought of Andrew Coster as Police Commissioner, you probably felt you could trust him to do the right thing. To be upfront, honest, and certainly not hide stuff.   

And if you thought the attitude within the Police towards women had changed from what it used to be – well you might be having a bit of a re-think on both of those. Because I certainly am after this damning report by the Independent Police Conduc...

Mark as Played

The Labour Leader is “absolutely disgusted” by the handling of complaints against Jevon McSkimming by former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster.  

The Police Complaints Authority has released a report finding some of our highest-ranking Police didn't deal properly with a woman's anonymous complaints against the former Deputy Police Commissioner. 

Hipkins is deeply disappointed in Coster, and believes the Police have a righ...

Mark as Played

Be careful what you wish for. 

That’s how I’m feeling about the Government giving Christchurch an exemption from the new housing intensification rules, which would have enabled three, three-storey properties to be built on single sections anywhere in the city.

Instead, that level of intensification is going to be limited to certain parts of town, including the city centre, Church Corner, Riccarton, Hornby, Linwood, Shirley, Me...

Mark as Played

Just as punters hoped, showers have cleared in Christchurch in time to fling open the gates at Addington Raceway before the 122nd running of the New Zealand Trotting Cup. 

The grey start's made way for some blue skies and enough sun to fry off rain that fell this morning. 

Race caller Matt Cross told John MacDonald the track's in good order. 

He says the afternoon forecast is pretty good, so by the time the Cup comes...

Mark as Played

At least they’re doing something. But I don’t rate the chances of it working.

That’s how I’m feeling about the Government’s declaration of war on methamphetamine, with this new plan that will see spy agencies working with customs and the defence force to target ships carrying drugs in the Pacific.

It's also going to work with ports and the shipping industry.

The feature of the plan that I like most is this $30 million increase in f...

Mark as Played

Slightly ironic, don’t you think, that on the day people up and down the country are turning up at work and school wearing their gumboots for Gumboot Friday, we’ve got Lifeline saying it can’t keep running on the smell of an oily rag and has to cut back on services. 

Which means no one answering the phone or replying to text messages between midnight and 7am. 

Call them then and you’ll get a message saying you’ve reached ...

Mark as Played

A reminder mental health crises don't follow timetables. 

Long-time support service Lifeline will now go unanswered between midnight and 7am. 

It's asking the Government for help after reducing hours because it has a $2 million annual shortfall. 

Labour's Reuben Davidson told John MacDonald help's needed at all hours and mental health crises don't work office hours. 

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says suppo...

Mark as Played

There are two types of people in this world.  

There are the ones who have no qualms calling in sick, when they’re not. The ones who feel no guilt at all pulling a sickie. And it seems there is no shortage of them, with this report out today saying that New Zealand workers are taking more sick leave, costing the economy $4 billion. 

Then you’ve got the other type, who only use their sick leave if they really, really have ...

Mark as Played

On Saturday night I was in Lyttelton for a gig and saw a guy sleeping on the bench outside the local supermarket, which took me a little bit by surprise. 

Maybe I need to get across to Lyttelton more often. 

But that’s the kind of thing we will see way more of if the Government goes ahead with this idea of banning homeless people from congregating and sleeping rough in central business districts. 

Because instead of ...

Mark as Played

Mike Hosking’s interview this morning with reinstated Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua could only have gone one of two ways.

She could have spilled the beans. Or she could have danced around the legalities of a gagging order.

She could have spilled the beans and made Netball NZ look like a bunch of incompetents. Or she could have played it safe.

Funny thing is, she didn’t spill the beans - but still managed to make Netball NZ...

Mark as Played

Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles will remove all of his brother, Prince Andrew's, titles.

The statement from Buckingham Palace related the announcement to the allegations of sexual abuse by the late Virginia Giuffre.

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's title will not be immediately stripped as UK Correspondent Gavin Grey said the process of removing his titles "will take some time". 

Read more

Mark as Played

Ever since the 1930s, when American soldiers were based all around the world, people in many countries have been antsy about foreigners getting what appears to them to be special treatment or privileges. 

The phrase people used back in the day about the US soldiers was something along the lines of them being overdressed, overpaid, oversexed and over here. 

And the Government seems to be tapping into the same kind of senti...

Mark as Played
October 28, 2025 4 mins

Do we need more MPs? The NZ Initiative thinks we do - saying today that, instead of 120, we should have 170.

It says the number of MPs in New Zealand is low compared to other countries with similar populations and we need 50 more to keep them accessible to voters.

Another thing it’s calling for is a four-year parliamentary term. That’s a no-brainer, as far as I’m concerned. But 50 more MPs? No thanks.

However, I do think some chang...

Mark as Played

Labour had their Capital Gains Tax policy leaked earlier this week.

The tax would only apply to residential and commercial property sales, not any other taxable areas. A decision which has led some to question if this is really a Capital Gains Tax.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins had previously said that there would be no Capital Gains Tax under his leadership. However, he told John MacDonald that, 'after the election when we lost, I s...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.