Labour Leader Chris Hipkins doesn't want people to read too much into him considering his political future as ripples spread from personal allegations made by his ex-wife. 

Jade Paul posted claims on a private Facebook page on Sunday that are now deleted, none of Paul's allegations related to unlawful conduct. 

Hipkins says it wasn't a long deliberation, saying that he recognises the political spotlight can mean loved ones pay a significant price.

"I still love my job and I am absolutely committed to it." 

Speaking about the since-deleted post, The Leader of the Opposition said he denies the allegations and is not commenting further on them at this stage. 

"I'm putting my children first, and I'm not going to get into a public debate with my ex-wife about the breakup of our marriage."  

He also spoke to John MacDonald about the Governments position on potentially aiding the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, and the rise of fuel and food prices in New Zealand.

LISTEN ABOVE

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins doesn't want people to read too much into him considering his political future as ripples spread from personal allegations made by his ex-wife.&nbsp;
Jade Paul posted claims on a private Facebook page on Sunday that are now deleted, none of Paul's allegations related to unlawful conduct.&nbsp;
Hipkins says it wasn't a long deliberation, saying that he recognises the political spotlight can mean loved ones pay a significant price.
"I still love my job and I am absolutely committed to it."&nbsp;
Speaking about the since-deleted post, The Leader of the Opposition said he denies the allegations and is not commenting further on them at this stage.&nbsp;
"I'm putting my children first, and I'm not going to get into a public debate with my ex-wife about the breakup of our marriage." &nbsp;
He also spoke to John MacDonald about the Governments position on potentially aiding the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, and the rise of fuel and food prices in New Zealand.
LISTEN ABOVE

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. 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

Chris Hipkins on his Ex-wife's Social Media posts, Rising food and fuel prices

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/36dc71d2-e782-457d-b6e1-b41001807527/transcript

There’s no doubt the Government has failed us on food prices. 

But then, it was always going to. In fact, any politician who says they’re going to bring food prices down is dreaming. 

This election year, if you hear any of them saying they’re going to get on top of the costs of living and you’ll be paying less at the supermarket if you vote for them, just block your ears.  

Tell them to go and talk to some other mug because you know it’s impossible and they’ll never do it. 

And this is not me having a go at any particular political party or any particular political ideology. 

Remember last election, we had Labour trying to push the idea of no GSTon fruit and veggies? 

Grant Robertson had always been against it but, obviously, realised Labour was pushing it uphill, and he just went along with it because he thought there might be enough clowns who would fall for it. 

I didn’t. I saw it for what it was. Because prices for things still go up whether or not there are taxes. 

That was Labour‘s big idea last election and we’re yet to see anything meaningful from them this time around. That’s because politicians can do very little when it comes to food prices. 

If you’ve been at the supermarket and thought the price of mince is a bit steep, you’d be right. 

In the past year, mince has gone up 23.2 percent. The largest increase on record. 

Fruit and vegetable prices are up too, by nearly 10 percent. 

Now, granted, there have been some decreases month-on-month, but that doesn’t change the fact that, compared to this time last year, we are paying way more for food. 

Nicola Willis talked a big game on food prices. She was going to crack down on the supermarkets. She was going to bring prices down. 

She hauled the Fonterra boss into her office to talk about the price of butter. It was all grand gestures with very little to show for it. 

But that’s not Nicola Willis’ fault. Just like she wouldn’t be able to take the credit if prices went down. 

And it’s not Nicola Willis’ fault or the fault of anyone in the current government because, when it comes down to it, politicians don’t and can’t bring food prices down. 

If you want to point the finger at anyone, point it at the people who believe politicians when they say they can. 

LISTEN ABOVE

There’s no doubt the Government has failed us on food prices.&nbsp;
But then, it was always going to. In fact, any politician who says they’re going to bring food prices down is dreaming.&nbsp;
This election year, if you hear any of them saying they’re going to get on top of the costs of living and you’ll be paying less at the supermarket if you vote for them, just block your ears. &nbsp;
Tell them to go and talk to some other mug because you know it’s impossible and they’ll never do it.&nbsp;
And this is not me having a go at any particular political party or any particular political ideology.&nbsp;
Remember last election, we had Labour trying to push the idea of no GSTon fruit and veggies?&nbsp;
Grant Robertson had always been against it but, obviously, realised Labour was pushing it uphill, and he just went along with it because he thought there might be enough clowns who would fall for it.&nbsp;
I didn’t. I saw it for what it was. Because prices for things still go up whether or not there are taxes.&nbsp;
That was Labour‘s big idea last election and we’re yet to see anything meaningful from them this time around. That’s because politicians can do very little when it comes to food prices.&nbsp;
If you’ve been at the supermarket and thought the price of mince is a bit steep, you’d be right.&nbsp;
In the past year, mince has gone up 23.2 percent. The largest increase on record.&nbsp;
Fruit and vegetable prices are up too, by nearly 10 percent.&nbsp;
Now, granted, there have been some decreases month-on-month, but that doesn’t change the fact that, compared to this time last year, we are paying way more for food.&nbsp;
Nicola Willis talked a big game on food prices. She was going to crack down on the supermarkets. She was going to bring prices down.&nbsp;
She hauled the Fonterra boss into her office to talk about the price of butter. It was all grand gestures with very little to show for it.&nbsp;
But that’s not Nicola Willis’ fault. Just like she wouldn’t be able to take the credit if prices went down.&nbsp;
And it’s not Nicola Willis’ fault or the fault of anyone in the current government because, when it comes down to it, politicians don’t and can’t bring food prices down.&nbsp;
If you want to point the finger at anyone, point it at the people who believe politicians when they say they can.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Food prices are one thing we can't blame on politicians

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ece0eacb-5b01-4a6c-b255-b410018719df/transcript

Maybe my head is in the sand, but all this excitement about fuel prices isn’t making me any more inclined to buy an electric vehicle. 

Tell that to the people who are getting all excited and buying them. In big numbers too, it seems. 

So we’ve got the government warning that petrol prices could hit $4 a litre and EV dealers saying they’re being run off their feet because of the ongoing situation in the middle east. 

BYD sold 80 on Saturday across the country. Normally they’d sell 25 on an average Saturday. So that’s a major increase.  

Here in Christchurch, EV dealerships are reporting a major leap in sales too, with one of them selling out entirely in just two days. 

People are coming from as far away as nelson to get their hands on electric vehicles too, apparently. 

How things can change. In November, the EV dealers were ripping-in to the government for the changes it was making to the clean car standards for imported vehicles and we were all talking about the EV bubble busting. 

Fast-forward four months and throw in a bit of good old fashioned kiwi over-reaction, and the picture is very different.  

This war has only been going two-and-a-bit weeks but that’s enough, it seems, for some people to want to go all EV on it. 

I drive petrol cars. And, at this point, i have no intention of switching to an EV. 

One of my vehicles, especially, is a real gas guzzler. But despite that, I have never had any interest in owning an EV. I can‘t tell you exactly why. It’s not a protest of any sort. It’s not climate change denial. It’s none of that. 

I’m just not interested. And I am no more interested now, despite the war and the fuel prices.  

And i reckon that, once the oil tankers start sailing again through the strait of Hormuz, most people will still be happy with petrol and diesel vehicles. 

The other thing too is, that if i was buying an EV, I'd spend quite a bit of time looking into it. 

You wouldn’t get me seeing a few days of petrol price increases and going all knee-jerk on it. 

But the ev people are loving it that some people are. 

DTR motors in Hornby had six cars on the lot on Friday night. By Sunday, they were all gone. 

Alex Wu is the sales manager. He says: “people just showed up, even from nelson, paid and drove off.”  

He says the weekend was the most “explosive” sales period in the nearly two years that DTR motors has been operating in Christchurch. 

And that’s without any rebate assistance from the government.  

Which Finance Minister Nicola Willis said yesterday wouldn’t be making a comeback. Saying: "i simply don't accept the idea that giving subsidies to millionaires in Remuera would help those afflicted by high petrol prices." 

Nevertheless, EV’s are in demand again. So how tempted are you? 

LISTEN ABOVE

Maybe my head is in the sand, but all this excitement about fuel prices isn’t making me any more inclined to buy an electric vehicle.&nbsp;
Tell that to the people who are getting all excited and buying them. In big numbers too, it seems.&nbsp;
So we’ve got the government warning that petrol prices could hit $4 a litre and EV dealers saying they’re being run off their feet because of the ongoing situation in the middle east.&nbsp;
BYD sold 80 on Saturday across the country. Normally they’d sell 25 on an average Saturday. So that’s a major increase. &nbsp;
Here in Christchurch, EV dealerships are reporting a major leap in sales too, with one of them selling out entirely in just two days.&nbsp;
People are coming from as far away as nelson to get their hands on electric vehicles too, apparently.&nbsp;
How things can change. In November, the EV dealers were ripping-in to the government for the changes it was making to the clean car standards for imported vehicles and we were all talking about the EV bubble busting.&nbsp;
Fast-forward four months and throw in a bit of good old fashioned kiwi over-reaction, and the picture is very different. &nbsp;
This war has only been going two-and-a-bit weeks but that’s enough, it seems, for some people to want to go all EV on it.&nbsp;
I drive petrol cars. And, at this point, i have no intention of switching to an EV.&nbsp;
One of my vehicles, especially, is a real gas guzzler. But despite that, I have never had any interest in owning an EV. I can‘t tell you exactly why. It’s not a protest of any sort. It’s not climate change denial. It’s none of that.&nbsp;
I’m just not interested. And I am no more interested now, despite the war and the fuel prices. &nbsp;
And i reckon that, once the oil tankers start sailing again through the strait of Hormuz, most people will still be happy with petrol and diesel vehicles.&nbsp;
The other thing too is, that if i was buying an EV, I'd spend quite a bit of time looking into it.&nbsp;
You wouldn’t get me seeing a few days of petrol price increases and going all knee-jerk on it.&nbsp;
But the ev people are loving it that some people are.&nbsp;
DTR motors in Hornby had six cars on the lot on Friday night. By Sunday, they were all gone.&nbsp;
Alex Wu is the sales manager. He says: “people just showed up, even from nelson, paid and drove off.” &nbsp;
He says the weekend was the most “explosive” sales period in the nearly two years that DTR motors has been operating in Christchurch.&nbsp;
And that’s without any rebate assistance from the government. &nbsp;
Which Finance Minister Nicola Willis said yesterday wouldn’t be making a comeback. Saying: "i simply don't accept the idea that giving subsidies to millionaires in Remuera would help those afflicted by high petrol prices."&nbsp;
Nevertheless, EV’s are in demand again. So how tempted are you?&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Are my views on EVs changing at all?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e12a1503-e14a-45ef-99cb-b4100001dfb6/transcript

I’ve got a story which has Covid-19 toilet paper mania written all over it. 

I was blown away talking to someone in Christchurch at the weekend who said they’d been out and bought a whole lot of extra food because of the fuel situation with everything going on in the Middle East. 

This is not something I endorse and it certainly isn’t something I'll be doing. But maybe the fact that they are British has something to do with it. 

Because they were saying that they remembered the time when Britain invaded Iraq and the government telling people then to stockpile. 

They said they were told they should have a month’s worth of non-perishable food in the cupboards. And that’s what they did. 

So, as soon as they started hearing about fuel tanks in New Zealand running dry over the weekend, they shot out to the supermarket and stocked up. 

They told me they’d been thinking about the potential consequences if we get to the point where the 50-days' supply the government keeps talking about starts to get a bit low on it. 

What if the farmers start getting rationed? What about food production lines that need fuel? Not to mention fuel for the trucks that deliver food supplies around the country. 

For a very brief second, I started thinking that they might have a point. 

But it was a very brief second. 

They also said they thought we should be rationing fuel now, instead of waiting until there’s a problem on the horizon. 

That, if a fuel shortage does happen, it’s going to be all the other things that we rely on fuel for that are going to be affected. 

But you’re not going to see me at Pak n Save filling the trolley up - just in case. 

Because if everyone did that then we really would have shortages on our hands. 

Just like there was no need for the rush on toilet paper during covid, there is no reason for us to be stockpiling food now. 

LISTEN ABOVE

I’ve got a story which has Covid-19 toilet paper mania written all over it.&nbsp;
I was blown away talking to someone in Christchurch at the weekend who said they’d been out and bought a whole lot of extra food because of the fuel situation with everything going on in the Middle East.&nbsp;
This is not something I endorse and it certainly isn’t something I'll be doing. But maybe the fact that they are British has something to do with it.&nbsp;
Because they were saying that they remembered the time when Britain invaded Iraq and the government telling people then to stockpile.&nbsp;
They said they were told they should have a month’s worth of non-perishable food in the cupboards. And that’s what they did.&nbsp;
So, as soon as they started hearing about fuel tanks in New Zealand running dry over the weekend, they shot out to the supermarket and stocked up.&nbsp;
They told me they’d been thinking about the potential consequences if we get to the point where the 50-days' supply the government keeps talking about starts to get a bit low on it.&nbsp;
What if the farmers start getting rationed? What about food production lines that need fuel? Not to mention fuel for the trucks that deliver food supplies around the country.&nbsp;
For a very brief second, I started thinking that they might have a point.&nbsp;
But it was a very brief second.&nbsp;
They also said they thought we should be rationing fuel now, instead of waiting until there’s a problem on the horizon.&nbsp;
That, if a fuel shortage does happen, it’s going to be all the other things that we rely on fuel for that are going to be affected.&nbsp;
But you’re not going to see me at Pak n Save filling the trolley up - just in case.&nbsp;
Because if everyone did that then we really would have shortages on our hands.&nbsp;
Just like there was no need for the rush on toilet paper during covid, there is no reason for us to be stockpiling food now.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: The COVID toilet paper rush was OTT and so is this

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3b8bc67a-a8b3-4515-8785-b40e017eb6ec/transcript

Chris Hipkins on his Ex-wife's Social Media posts, Rising food and fuel prices

In 1 playlist(s)

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips