Andrew Thompson is the Managing Director of Sail GP World Wide, quite the title to hold. 

He joined John MacDonald live at the Sail GP village ahead of a huge weekend of racing.

Thompson talked about the evolution of Sail GP, why it has become so popular, and the journey to get to Lyttelton this year. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Andrew Thompson is the Managing Director of Sail GP World Wide, quite the title to hold. 
He joined John MacDonald live at the Sail GP village ahead of a huge weekend of racing.
Thompson talked about the evolution of Sail GP, why it has become so popular, and the journey to get to Lyttelton this year. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Every weekday join the new voice of local issues on Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald, 9am-12pm weekdays.

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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.

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.

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.

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

Andrew Thompson: Sail GP Boss on the Journey to Lyttelton

Can you believe the Christchurch City Council is even entertaining the idea of pouring partially-treated wastewater into the sea to try and reduce the stench from the burnt-out wastewater treatment plant at Bromley?

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s shameful that the council has dropped the ball on this one in such a spectacular fashion. And don’t for a minute think that my empathy for the people living with that smell night and day is anything less than what it has been.

But this is a ridiculous idea cooked-up by mayor Phil Mauger.

As Christchurch East MP Reuben Davidson is saying, there’s a fair amount of hope but not a lot of evidence that this plan would work and not cause harm to the environment. 

He’s right. The council is in panic mode and Phil Mauger is clutching at straws.

A bit of background. Last week, Environment Canterbury told the city council it hadn’t done enough to sort out the awful smell coming from the plant and said it had to come up with a plan within two weeks.

Hence, this idea of sending partially-treated wastewater out to sea to take the strain off the treatment plant. The council also wants to add chlorine to ensure bacteria levels are what it thinks will be safe before it reaches the ocean.

Since the big fire in November 2021, the ponds at the plant have been overloaded and aren’t in great shape. And, when we had all that rain the other week, things went next level and the smell was probably as bad as it’s ever been.

Phil Mauger is saying today: “We can’t sit back and expect conditions to improve on their own. Anyone who lives nearby knows the odour issues have become more intense, and we’ve been looking at all ways to help alleviate the stench.”

Yeah, but this isn’t how you should be doing it Phil.

E-Can says it’s surprised and concerned. My hope is that it will tell the city council to go back to the drawing board. 

Because why would we do something that could add to the water pollution problems we’ve already got?

LISTEN ABOVE

Can you believe the Christchurch City Council is even entertaining the idea of pouring partially-treated wastewater into the sea to try and reduce the stench from the burnt-out wastewater treatment plant at Bromley?
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s shameful that the council has dropped the ball on this one in such a spectacular fashion. And don’t for a minute think that my empathy for the people living with that smell night and day is anything less than what it has been.
But this is a ridiculous idea cooked-up by mayor Phil Mauger.
As Christchurch East MP Reuben Davidson is saying, there’s a fair amount of hope but not a lot of evidence that this plan would work and not cause harm to the environment. 
He’s right. The council is in panic mode and Phil Mauger is clutching at straws.
A bit of background. Last week, Environment Canterbury told the city council it hadn’t done enough to sort out the awful smell coming from the plant and said it had to come up with a plan within two weeks.
Hence, this idea of sending partially-treated wastewater out to sea to take the strain off the treatment plant. The council also wants to add chlorine to ensure bacteria levels are what it thinks will be safe before it reaches the ocean.
Since the big fire in November 2021, the ponds at the plant have been overloaded and aren’t in great shape. And, when we had all that rain the other week, things went next level and the smell was probably as bad as it’s ever been.
Phil Mauger is saying today: “We can’t sit back and expect conditions to improve on their own. Anyone who lives nearby knows the odour issues have become more intense, and we’ve been looking at all ways to help alleviate the stench.”
Yeah, but this isn’t how you should be doing it Phil.
E-Can says it’s surprised and concerned. My hope is that it will tell the city council to go back to the drawing board.&nbsp;
Because why would we do something that could add to the water pollution problems we’ve already got?
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: This idea to fix Chch's stink problem stinks

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4b104591-906b-4ebd-950a-b40101843e90/transcript

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark hasn’t been slow in criticising our government’s response to the attacks on Iran.

She’s not just criticising it - she’s slamming it. Saying that it’s “a disgrace” for not condemning Israel and the United States and, instead, criticising Iran’s “indiscriminate” retaliatory attacks. 

Helen Clark says the Government knows full well that Israel and the US are breaking international law with these strikes and the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister should be saying so.

She says the Government knows that negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear capability were underway and we should be ripping into Israel and the US for what they started on Saturday.

But here’s where I’m at. When I hear about people in Iran cheering and celebrating the demise of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who am I to criticise what’s happened?

Who am I to tell these people: “Oh no no, stop celebrating, it’s not right what’s happened. Israel and the US aren't playing by the rules.” Who am I to say that to those people?

And who is Helen Clark to say that?
 
This is the problem you get with people on the left side of the political spectrum, who seem to be incapable of seeing the bigger picture.

Has Helen Clark and the opposition MPs lining up to criticise the Government forgotten about the death sentences handed out to some of the people involved in the recent mass protests?

They want things done to the letter every time. But what if this brings a better life for the people of Iran?    

It’s a big if. Because who knows whether this will be the end of the current regime running Iran or not?

Regime change is easy to talk about but very difficult to do. Because it’s not just the regime, it’s who fills the vacuum afterwards.

As we saw in Iraq. Yes, they got rid of Saddam Hussein, but then they got rid of the Iraqi army as well and that’s when it really hit the fan with other extremists and terror groups all wanting a piece of the action.

So, who knows how this is going to end up in the long term? But, when all is said and done, for me this is about the people of Iran. 

Which is why you’re not going to hear me piling into our government the way Helen Clark is.  

LISTEN ABOVE

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark hasn’t been slow in criticising our government’s response to the attacks on Iran.
She’s not just criticising it - she’s slamming it. Saying that it’s “a disgrace” for not condemning Israel and the United States and, instead, criticising Iran’s “indiscriminate” retaliatory attacks.&nbsp;
Helen Clark says the Government knows full well that Israel and the US are breaking international law with these strikes and the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister should be saying so.
She says the Government knows that negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear capability were underway and we should be ripping into Israel and the US for what they started on Saturday.
But here’s where I’m at. When I hear about people in Iran cheering and celebrating the demise of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who am I to criticise what’s happened?
Who am I to tell these people: “Oh no no, stop celebrating, it’s not right what’s happened. Israel and the US aren't playing by the rules.” Who am I to say that to those people?
And who is Helen Clark to say that? &nbsp; This is the problem you get with people on the left side of the political spectrum, who seem to be incapable of seeing the bigger picture.
Has Helen Clark and the opposition MPs lining up to criticise the Government forgotten about the death sentences handed out to some of the people involved in the recent mass protests?
They want things done to the letter every time. But what if this brings a better life for the people of Iran? &nbsp; &nbsp;
It’s a big if. Because who knows whether this will be the end of the current regime running Iran or not?
Regime change is easy to talk about but very difficult to do. Because it’s not just the regime, it’s who fills the vacuum afterwards.
As we saw in Iraq. Yes, they got rid of Saddam Hussein, but then they got rid of the Iraqi army as well and that’s when it really hit the fan with other extremists and terror groups all wanting a piece of the action.
So, who knows how this is going to end up in the long term? But, when all is said and done, for me this is about the people of Iran.&nbsp;
Which is why you’re not going to hear me piling into our government the way Helen Clark is. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Fighting over Government statements won't bring peace

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ddac2fb4-9b84-4434-a03c-b40001846bf3/transcript

Isn’t it amazing that, after all the time spent wringing our hands over the price of electricity, we still haven’t bitten the bullet and gone full boar with solar energy?

You might have heard Chris Hipkins hinting yesterday that, if Labour forms the next government, solar will be on the agenda.

He isn’t giving too much away but says, yes, ramping up the use of solar power will be one of Labour’s election policies.

There’ll be no details, though, until after the Budget in May. That’s because he wants to get a better idea of how much money he’s got to play with.

But, if last election is anything to go by, it looks like Labour might be resurrecting the policy it had back then of providing $4,000 grants to help people install solar panels.

In my mind, it is ridiculous that we don’t require new houses to be fitted out with solar panels. It would add to the cost of the build but, long-term, I think it would be a game changer.
  
I’m not the only one who thinks this. Sir Ian Taylor is saying today that electrification is the future and solar is how we get there.

Solar on homes. Solar on farms. Solar on commercial buildings. And I couldn’t agree more.

He says the cheapest electricity is the electricity you don’t have to move.

So his version of full-boar solar includes storage capacity - not just solar panels - at our houses, on our farms and on our commercial buildings.

He says: “Every kilowatt generated where it is used is one that does not need to be transmitted across the country. that reduces losses. it reduces strain on the grid. and it reduces the need for expensive new transmission infrastructure that ultimately pushes power prices higher.”

No argument from me.

LISTEN ABOVE

Isn’t it amazing that, after all the time spent wringing our hands over the price of electricity, we still haven’t bitten the bullet and gone full boar with solar energy?
You might have heard Chris Hipkins hinting yesterday that, if Labour forms the next government, solar will be on the agenda.
He isn’t giving too much away but says, yes, ramping up the use of solar power will be one of Labour’s election policies.
There’ll be no details, though, until after the Budget in May. That’s because he wants to get a better idea of how much money he’s got to play with.
But, if last election is anything to go by, it looks like Labour might be resurrecting the policy it had back then of providing $4,000 grants to help people install solar panels.
In my mind, it is ridiculous that we don’t require new houses to be fitted out with solar panels. It would add to the cost of the build but, long-term, I think it would be a game changer. &nbsp;&nbsp; I’m not the only one who thinks this. Sir Ian Taylor is saying today that electrification is the future and solar is how we get there.
Solar on homes. Solar on farms. Solar on commercial buildings. And I couldn’t agree more.
He says the cheapest electricity is the electricity you don’t have to move.
So his version of full-boar solar includes storage capacity - not just solar panels - at our houses, on our farms and on our commercial buildings.
He says: “Every kilowatt generated where it is used is one that does not need to be transmitted across the country. that reduces losses. it reduces strain on the grid. and it reduces the need for expensive new transmission infrastructure that ultimately pushes power prices higher.”
No argument from me.
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: We should be shouting from the rooftops about solar

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ec21090a-fcb4-4ec1-9b84-b3fb0019de80/transcript

Andrew Thompson: Sail GP Boss on the Journey to Lyttelton

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