John MacDonald: Queensland's answer to NZ's e-scooter problem

You know how we’ve been saying for ages how much of a problem e-scooters, in particular, are? How we’ve been saying for ages that, in the wrong hands, they’re death traps? How we’ve said all that, but we’ve done absolutely nothing about it? I reckon we need to be looking at what they’re doing ove…

Selwyn Mayor Lydia Gliddon on amalgamation, Rolleston's growth & wanting a pause on fast track

Selwyn Mayor Lydia Gliddon joined John in the studio for their regular catchup. They discussed the key issues facing the district, including managing fast-track developments, the council's amalgamation plans, and proposals to reduce speed limits on sections of Leeston Road from 100km/h, which have…

John MacDonald: Student loans should be paid back, but is this the solution?

Instead of cracking down on New Zealanders with student debt living overseas, we should be making things easier for them. Especially, if we want them to come back. Tell that to the National Party, though. Which has announced that, if it forms the next government, it will be going after graduates o…

John MacDonald: Christchurch's Airbnb scourge isn't going away

Anyone celebrating that ruling by MBIE last week about one apartment in central Christchurch not being suitable for Airbnb accommodation needs to put the bubbly back on the ice. Because this Air BnB scourge in Christchurch isn’t going away anytime soon. With a block of 24 new apartments, on Madras…

Barry Corbett: Former Newstalk ZB Breakfast host looks back on his radio days

Local broadcasting legend Barry Corbett joined John MacDonald to look back on his time as the breakfast host on 3ZB and Newstalk ZB as the station turns 100 years old. Barry was the breakfast host on 3ZB and Newstalk ZB from 1981 to 1998. He then took his hand to local politics as a Christchurch C…

Politics Friday with Duncan Webb and Matt Doocey on the social media ban bill, CBD AirBnBs, public sector trust, tax plans

National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Duncan Webb joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week. They covered some of the biggest issues of the week, from the Government's plan to cap council rates, if trust in the public service has dwindled after the MBIE officials were found to mislead parl…

John MacDonald: What happened to public service accountability?

Whatever happened to accountability and consequences in the public sector? They’ve gone, it seems. With no one at the Ministry for Business, Innovation & Employment or Immigration NZ copping it for misleading MPs about throwing $33 million of taxpayer down the drain. And I’m with this business pr…

John MacDonald: Remind me why a rates cap is a good idea

The extra $20-a-week most of us got from the government’s tax cuts was like winning First Division Lotto, compared to the miserly amount you and I are going to save when this cap on council rates kicks in. The Local Government Minister has confirmed that the rates cap will come into force in July …

John MacDonald: If a kid wants to be on social media, they will be

Well done to ACT and NZ First for not agreeing to National’s social media ban just because it’s election year. Because that's all this is. Another example of a political party getting so-called runs on the board at the last minute so it can say to voters “look what we’re doing”. Or, “at least we’r…

John MacDonald: Is no more taxes really what NZ needs right now?

Is National’s promise of no new taxes as good as it sounds? If you ask Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, he’ll say no. Because he’s been pushing for a bed tax for tourists and, yesterday, Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis announced that that won’t be happening under National. Wayne Brown won’t be the…