John MacDonald: Bird-flipping ECan needs its wings clipped

I know the real reason why Federated Farmers is so brassed-off with Environment Canterbury. Nevertheless, I agree with them. They’re saying that ECan is showing “flagrant disregard” for the community, with this push it’s making for Ngāi Tahu to have a permanent role in the region’s resource manage…

Politics Friday with Matt Doocey and Dan Rosewarne on Woodend bypass, smartphone ban ideas, and Greens union policy

National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Dan Rosewarne joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week. Doocey rejected claims the Woodend Bypass has been put on the back burner, while Rosewarne accused National of over-promising and under-budgeting, and said Labour would prioritise its constructio…

David Seymour on his smart phone ban idea, Paul Henry's candidacy, and school lunches

ACT Party leader and Acting Prime Minister David Seymour joined John MacDonald in the studio. They discussed his idea of a smartphone ban for under-16-year-olds, Paul Henry throwing his hat into the ring for ACT, and Seymour's views on the Government’s school lunch programme. LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Banning smartphones? Good luck with that one

The political angst over kids on social media has gone next level with this idea David Seymour is pushing today. He’s saying that, instead of banning kids under-16 from social media, we could just ban them from having smartphones. Quite rightly, he thinks it would be too easy for kids to get arou…

Phil Mauger on central government relations, amalgamation, and climate adaption plans

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has pushed back on a Councillor's suggestion the city's relationship with central government is failing. Heathcote Councillor Nathaniel Herz Jardine says the council is still waiting for a reply after writing to South Island Minister James Meager in February. Accord…

John MacDonald: I thought we were over celebrity politicians

Paul Henry is everything Christopher Luxon isn't. He’s everything Chris Hipkins isn’t. He’s everything his potential new boss, ACT leader David Seymour, isn’t. Which is why his announcement that he’s standing in this year’s election has taken a lot of people by surprise. And has got some people ex…

Dave Stewart: Eurythmics co-founder on headlining Selwyn Sounds 2027

Fresh off the announcement he's headlining Selwyn Sounds 2027, British musician and co-founder of the iconic group Eurythmics Dave Stewart joined John MacDonald ahead of the tenth anniversary for the popular all-day music festival. They discussed the new sound of Eurythmics all-female band, and ho…

John MacDonald: We should be doing this on our highways too

If only the people who run Mt Hutt Ski field were also in charge of our roads up and down the country. Because I think it’s brilliant what they’ve done after a few muppets turned up there at the weekend and decided the request to use chains on the access road didn’t apply to them. Which meant, of…

Robin Judkins: Coast to Coast founder on his new musical venture

Coast to Coast founder Robin Judkins joined Canterbury Mornings ahead of his new album, I'm a Slut for a Beat, that recently released. The album is composed of a collection of poems transformed into songs and brought to life by a heavyweight cast of local musicians and songwriters. LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: The South Island gets by-passed yet again

Yet again, the South Island is taking a back seat to the North Island. With Transport Minister Chris Bishop announcing that the Government had done a re-think on all the new roads it promised before the last election. And for us here in the South Island, that means none of the ones we were promis…