Crusaders run out at One NZ Stadium for the first time

Over nine-thousand punters turned up for the Crusaders open training session at One New Zealand Stadium on Thursday evening. John MacDonald also went along and spoke with a few fans at the final test event before next week's Super Round.  LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Luxon's leadership is more than just a party matter

After hearing Chris Bishop on Newstalk ZB this morning, there are two things about the National Party and its leader that I am in no doubt about. I am in absolutely no doubt that Christopher Luxon has to stand down before he’s pushed. I’m also in no doubt that, if that happens, National will be…

Politics Friday with Matt Doocey and Tracey McLellan: Luxon's leadership, WoFs and the Crusaders' horses

National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Tracey McLellan joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week.  They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from Christopher Luxon's leadership, the new warrant of fitness changes coming this year, and their thoughts on The Crusaders losing the p…

John MacDonald: Don't swallow the arguments against this water upgrade

I’ve never had a problem with the chlorine that’s been in Christchurch's water.  Which is why I'm not at all upset at the news that it’s going to be in the water forever.  What’s happened, is city councillors have been told that - even if they spent $1.5 billion on infrastructure upgrades over th…

John MacDonald: No one wants to pay more tax, but...

Do we need more taxes?  There are two ways we can look at it. Does The Government need more tax revenue? Yes, I think it does. Which is why those tax cuts after the last election have backfired so badly.  And do we want to pay more tax? When push comes to shove, probably not. But that’s human nat…

Chris Hipkins on vaccine advice, India FTA, and funding for gangs

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says ministers did not receive key advice about myocarditis risks for 12 to 17-year‑olds during the COVID response.  Speaking on Canterbury Mornings, Hipkins was questioned by John MacDonald about the findings from the Royal Commission into COVID‑19, which said expert a…

John MacDonald: States of emergency are woke? Give me strength

Two questions: what does “woke” mean to you? And are states of emergency “woke”?  The reason I'm asking is that the Mayor of Wairoa thinks they are. Which I think is a load of old nonsense.  Unlike other mayors in other North Island areas - who declared states of emergency in anticipation of Cycl…

John MacDonald: Luxon needs to do some elbowing for fuel supplies too

After what happened at the weekend, I think Christopher Luxon needs to take a leaf out of Anthony Albanese's book, jump on a plane and head over to South Korea to make sure we don’t run out of fuel.  With negotiations between the U.S. and Iran falling over, President Donald Trump has announced tha…

John MacDonald: Is this the answer to the Cathedral question?

Finally, someone has come up with an idea for the Anglican Cathedral in Christchurch that makes a load of sense.  It doesn’t involve running to the Government cap-in-hand. And it doesn’t involve asking ratepayers to fork out more money.  Sound too good to be true? I know - if it sounds too good t…

Politics Friday: Reuben Davidson and Hamish Campbell on The Cathedral, Apollo Projects Stadium and the Bromley Stench

National's Hamish Campbell and Labour's Reuben Davidson joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week.  They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from Iran, the idea from Humphry Rolleston to sell off Enable to fund the rebuild of the Cathedral, and how to solve the wastewater pr…