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. 

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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.&nbsp;
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

Crusaders run out at One NZ Stadium for the first time

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/227d28f8-83c9-46d4-bed5-b42f001dac0a/transcript

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 toast in this year’s election.


But, when you weigh it up, there’s no way this speculation and doubt about the prime minister of our country can continue.


And that’s the key point here. We’re not just talking about a party leader. We’re talking about the prime minister.
And how can we take a government seriously when its own MPs don’t take their leader seriously?


NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan is reporting today that Christopher Luxon is expected to face the most difficult two weeks of his leadership when Parliament returns next week.


He’s reporting that Luxon is up to his old trick of covering his ears and not listening to what people are saying.
With National’s Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith, who is also National’s party whip, unable to reach Luxon in the week before Easter to tell him about ructions in the National Party caucus.


Being the party whip, Stuart Smith is obliged to tell the party leader if drums are beating and MPs aren’t happy with their leader.


But he couldn’t reach Luxon. Or, more to the point, Luxon didn’t want to hear from him.


Because, as Thomas Coughlan is reporting, if the two had spoken, it would have likely led to a caucus meeting, which could have led to a change in leader.


So Christopher Luxon was avoiding Stuart Smith to stop a certain chain of events from happening.
Which Chris Bishop kind-of denied when he spoke to Mike Hosking, but he was a million miles away from being anything close to convincing.


Bishop is due to front again with Jack Tame on TV this weekend. His boss will be hoping for a more ringing endorsement than this morning’s failed attempt.

LISTEN ABOVE

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 toast in this year’s election.
 But, when you weigh it up, there’s no way this speculation and doubt about the prime minister of our country can continue.
 And that’s the key point here. We’re not just talking about a party leader. We’re talking about the prime minister. And how can we take a government seriously when its own MPs don’t take their leader seriously?
 NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan is reporting today that Christopher Luxon is expected to face the most difficult two weeks of his leadership when Parliament returns next week.
 He’s reporting that Luxon is up to his old trick of covering his ears and not listening to what people are saying. With National’s Kaikoura MP Stuart Smith, who is also National’s party whip, unable to reach Luxon in the week before Easter to tell him about ructions in the National Party caucus.
 Being the party whip, Stuart Smith is obliged to tell the party leader if drums are beating and MPs aren’t happy with their leader.
 But he couldn’t reach Luxon. Or, more to the point, Luxon didn’t want to hear from him.
 Because, as Thomas Coughlan is reporting, if the two had spoken, it would have likely led to a caucus meeting, which could have led to a change in leader.
 So Christopher Luxon was avoiding Stuart Smith to stop a certain chain of events from happening. Which Chris Bishop kind-of denied when he spoke to Mike Hosking, but he was a million miles away from being anything close to convincing.
 Bishop is due to front again with Jack Tame on TV this weekend. His boss will be hoping for a more ringing endorsement than this morning’s failed attempt.
LISTEN ABOVE

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

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2f5ba6a8-f9de-491c-b45e-b42f000a7a67/transcript

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 pre-match horses at One NZ Stadium.

LISTEN ABOVE

National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Tracey McLellan joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week.&nbsp;
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 pre-match horses at One NZ Stadium.
LISTEN ABOVE

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

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/64582d07-7e88-42c7-9673-b42e01755e26/transcript

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 the next 20 years - the chlorine would most likely still be needed. 

That’s because of all the hoops that have to be jumped through to get a chlorine exemption. 

On top of that, rates would have to go up to pay for ongoing maintenance.  

Nevertheless, i think the council needs to bite the bullet and spend the money. Because, for me, this isn’t just about chlorine. 

But what i see potentially happening, is councillors using the chlorine bit as an out. As an excuse for not spending money on infrastructure upgrades. When that is the last thing, they should be doing. 

City Councillor Yani Johanson seems to be on the same page as me. He reckons that, despite the $1.5 billion price tag, it’s still worth looking into and he wants the public to have a say. 

But Mayor Phil Mauger says it would be nothing other than a waste of money. 

He says: “it’s all very well saying you can throw a shedload of money at every contractor in the country, digging up every road that we’ve got. But it’s not worth it.” 

Phil’s got some alternative ideas, which I'll get to. 

But what he’s advocating for is a continuation of what pretty much every local body politician in this country has done and continues to do. Kicking cans down the road. They’re experts at it. 

Whereas, what Christchurch should be doing is seeing this as a critical piece of infrastructure spending that is needed in New Zealand's second-largest city. 

Especially when you consider the alternatives ideas floating around. 

Instead of the big spend-up on new pipes, Phil Mauger reckons it would be better for the council to do things like buying filtration systems for people to have at home and setting-up chlorine-free water stations around town.   

Picture that. The council sending out filtration kits in the mail - the way it sent out those portable toilets after the earthquakes. 

And the council running water station around town where people could go to get chlorine-free water. Really? 

People bang on about the city needing to look less like a disaster zone. What do you think the council distributing filtering systems and running water pick-up points would look like? 

And, all the while, crossing its finger and hoping that the underground infrastructure doesn't pack a sad. 

It makes no sense.   

LISTEN ABOVE

I’ve never had a problem with the chlorine that’s been in Christchurch's water.&nbsp;
Which is why I'm not at all upset at the news that it’s going to be in the water forever.&nbsp;
What’s happened, is city councillors have been told that - even if they spent $1.5 billion on infrastructure upgrades over the next 20 years - the chlorine would most likely still be needed.&nbsp;
That’s because of all the hoops that have to be jumped through to get a chlorine exemption.&nbsp;
On top of that, rates would have to go up to pay for ongoing maintenance. &nbsp;
Nevertheless, i think the council needs to bite the bullet and spend the money. Because, for me, this isn’t just about chlorine.&nbsp;
But what i see potentially happening, is councillors using the chlorine bit as an out. As an excuse for not spending money on infrastructure upgrades. When that is the last thing, they should be doing.&nbsp;
City Councillor Yani Johanson seems to be on the same page as me. He reckons that, despite the $1.5 billion price tag, it’s still worth looking into and he wants the public to have a say.&nbsp;
But Mayor Phil Mauger says it would be nothing other than a waste of money.&nbsp;
He says: “it’s all very well saying you can throw a shedload of money at every contractor in the country, digging up every road that we’ve got. But it’s not worth it.”&nbsp;
Phil’s got some alternative ideas, which I'll get to.&nbsp;
But what he’s advocating for is a continuation of what pretty much every local body politician in this country has done and continues to do. Kicking cans down the road. They’re experts at it.&nbsp;
Whereas, what Christchurch should be doing is seeing this as a critical piece of infrastructure spending that is needed in New Zealand's second-largest city.&nbsp;
Especially when you consider the alternatives ideas floating around.&nbsp;
Instead of the big spend-up on new pipes, Phil Mauger reckons it would be better for the council to do things like buying filtration systems for people to have at home and setting-up chlorine-free water stations around town. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Picture that. The council sending out filtration kits in the mail - the way it sent out those portable toilets after the earthquakes.&nbsp;
And the council running water station around town where people could go to get chlorine-free water. Really?&nbsp;
People bang on about the city needing to look less like a disaster zone. What do you think the council distributing filtering systems and running water pick-up points would look like?&nbsp;
And, all the while, crossing its finger and hoping that the underground infrastructure doesn't pack a sad.&nbsp;
It makes no sense. &nbsp;&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

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

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/62b80e8d-7887-427b-8f00-b42e000fdfa0/transcript

Crusaders run out at One NZ Stadium for the first time

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