With One NZ Stadium finally opening its doors ahead of the Super Rugby Super Round, John MacDonald caught up with current Speaker of the House and former Christchurch Regeneration Minister, Gerry Brownlee.

They discussed his role in getting the stadium off the ground by convincing cabinet of its importance for Cantabrians, and if he thinks the stadium has matched his expectations from over a decade ago.

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With One NZ Stadium finally opening its doors ahead of the Super Rugby Super Round, John MacDonald caught up with current Speaker of the House and former Christchurch Regeneration Minister, Gerry Brownlee.
They discussed his role in getting the stadium off the ground by convincing cabinet of its importance for Cantabrians, and if he thinks the stadium has matched his expectations from over a decade ago.
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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

Gerry Brownlee on Christchurch's journey from the earthquakes to One New Zealand Stadium

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a0324f1b-130d-439a-bb7d-b4350015cf00/transcript

Winston Peters has gone too far this time. 

Last week, Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis were telling us not to trust him. 

They‘ll be saying it even louder now. After the NZ First leader released emails to the media which show how the Prime Minister was talked out of expressing “explicit public support” for the war in Iran. 

And I'm in no doubt that peters has betrayed Luxon's trust. 

The two of them, apparently, had what are being reported as “crisis talks” last night. With a spokesperson for the prime minister saying the NZ First leader has put politics ahead of national interest. 

Which, of course, he has. And, if I was Christopher Luxon, I'd be ropeable. 

Because that’s what he’s done. He’s put politics ahead of national interest. And i would have thought, after all the huffing and puffing about cool heads being needed when it comes to foreign affairs, that he wouldn’t have released these emails. 

It’s this claiming credit thing that he just can’t resist. Like that time when Christopher Luxon went on social media and said he’d done a trade deal with Southeast Asian nations. 

And Peters responded with that one-word tweet saying “we”. As in “we” did the deal, not “you”. 

But releasing these emails about the Iran war is next level. 

Because it shows a very clear difference of opinion within the government. With the prime minister thinking the attacks by the U.S. And Israel were and are a good thing - but saying something different publicly. 

Which happens all the time in governments. But you don’t go telling the world about it. Which is exactly what Winston Peters has done. 

Just as an aside, even though I think Winston Peters is in the wrong here, it does show how out of his depth the prime minister was when this all blew up. 

As the released emails show, he was all gung-ho and wanted the government to show “explicit public support” for the war when it started. 

But, as we saw publicly during those first few days (which is backed up these emails), it was Winston who was all calm the farm and don’t panic. 

That’s what he was saying to media on the Sunday after the attacks started. 

It seems to me that one of the things Winston is going to campaign on in this year’s election is “experience”. 

Because last week he criticised the prime minister for putting his leadership to the test with that confidence vote. It was clear that he thought Luxon was naive doing that - because it only invites another confidence vote next time a bad poll comes out. 

Now, by releasing these emails, he’s pointing to Luxon's naievity on the foreign affairs front. 

Which is true. Christopher Luxon is way out of his depth when it comes to foreign affairs and international diplomacy. 

But you don’t go showing to that to the world the way Winston Peters has. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Winston Peters has gone too far this time.&nbsp;
Last week, Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis were telling us not to trust him.&nbsp;
They‘ll be saying it even louder now. After the NZ First leader released emails to the media which show how the Prime Minister was talked out of expressing “explicit public support” for the war in Iran.&nbsp;
And I'm in no doubt that peters has betrayed Luxon's trust.&nbsp;
The two of them, apparently, had what are being reported as “crisis talks” last night. With a spokesperson for the prime minister saying the NZ First leader has put politics ahead of national interest.&nbsp;
Which, of course, he has. And, if I was Christopher Luxon, I'd be ropeable.&nbsp;
Because that’s what he’s done. He’s put politics ahead of national interest. And i would have thought, after all the huffing and puffing about cool heads being needed when it comes to foreign affairs, that he wouldn’t have released these emails.&nbsp;
It’s this claiming credit thing that he just can’t resist. Like that time when Christopher Luxon went on social media and said he’d done a trade deal with Southeast Asian nations.&nbsp;
And Peters responded with that one-word tweet saying “we”. As in “we” did the deal, not “you”.&nbsp;
But releasing these emails about the Iran war is next level.&nbsp;
Because it shows a very clear difference of opinion within the government. With the prime minister thinking the attacks by the U.S. And Israel were and are a good thing - but saying something different publicly.&nbsp;
Which happens all the time in governments. But you don’t go telling the world about it. Which is exactly what Winston Peters has done.&nbsp;
Just as an aside, even though I think Winston Peters is in the wrong here, it does show how out of his depth the prime minister was when this all blew up.&nbsp;
As the released emails show, he was all gung-ho and wanted the government to show “explicit public support” for the war when it started.&nbsp;
But, as we saw publicly during those first few days (which is backed up these emails), it was Winston who was all calm the farm and don’t panic.&nbsp;
That’s what he was saying to media on the Sunday after the attacks started.&nbsp;
It seems to me that one of the things Winston is going to campaign on in this year’s election is “experience”.&nbsp;
Because last week he criticised the prime minister for putting his leadership to the test with that confidence vote. It was clear that he thought Luxon was naive doing that - because it only invites another confidence vote next time a bad poll comes out.&nbsp;
Now, by releasing these emails, he’s pointing to Luxon's naievity on the foreign affairs front.&nbsp;
Which is true. Christopher Luxon is way out of his depth when it comes to foreign affairs and international diplomacy.&nbsp;
But you don’t go showing to that to the world the way Winston Peters has.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: How can the PM trust this guy?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/57d8152e-017b-48f6-8d5d-b43c00075e26/transcript

There’s that saying that you should never waste a good crisis. 

And, according to Winston Peters, the trucking companies are taking that advice and using the current fuel crisis as an opportunity to get what they’ve always wanted. 

Which is a rule change to let them carry more weight on their trucks. 

The Government’s looking at allowing that as part of its response to the fuel situation, saying it would mean the truckies using less diesel. 

But Winston Peters say he’s not on board with that, and we should be making greater use of rail. And I agree with him. 

In fact, I've long held the view that it’s crazy the number of trucks we have on our roads and that we should be transporting more stuff on trains. 

It’s crazy we have so many trucks because our roads, generally, are pretty tinpot, aren’t they?  

Tinpot roads are not designed to cope with those heavy trucks. Let alone heavier trucks if these changes go through. 

Which is exactly the point the NZ First leader is making today about increasing the weight limits for trucks so they can carry more on each trip. 

Winston Peters says: “these weight limits are put there for good reasons, because of potholes and bridge strength and what have you."  

And what makes this even crazier, when you think about it, is the government is also talking about pressing pause on fuel tax increases next year. 

So, on one hand, it wants to let trucks carry more weight - which would undoubtedly mean more damage to the roads - and it wants to stop the fuel tax increase which would mean less money to fix the roads. 

How does that stack up? Answer: It doesn’t.    

What’s more, Winston Peters is accusing the freight industry of using the fuel crisis to get what it wants. 

He’s saying today: "this isn't the first time the trucking industry's tried this on." 

I can’t verify this for sure, but I'll take Winston on his word when he says that trains are two-and-a-half times more fuel efficient than trucks. 

He’s also saying today, as the Minister for rail, that there are thousands of wagons available. 

So is he on to something? I think he is. And I think we need to see rail as a solution not just to any fuel shortage we might have to deal with in the short term - but long-term, as well. 

On an ongoing permanent basis, less trucks and more trains. 

LISTEN ABOVE

There’s that saying that you should never waste a good crisis.&nbsp;
And, according to Winston Peters, the trucking companies are taking that advice and using the current fuel crisis as an opportunity to get what they’ve always wanted.&nbsp;
Which is a rule change to let them carry more weight on their trucks.&nbsp;
The Government’s looking at allowing that as part of its response to the fuel situation, saying it would mean the truckies using less diesel.&nbsp;
But Winston Peters say he’s not on board with that, and we should be making greater use of rail. And I agree with him.&nbsp;
In fact, I've long held the view that it’s crazy the number of trucks we have on our roads and that we should be transporting more stuff on trains.&nbsp;
It’s crazy we have so many trucks because our roads, generally, are pretty tinpot, aren’t they? &nbsp;
Tinpot roads are not designed to cope with those heavy trucks. Let alone heavier trucks if these changes go through.&nbsp;
Which is exactly the point the NZ First leader is making today about increasing the weight limits for trucks so they can carry more on each trip.&nbsp;
Winston Peters says: “these weight limits are put there for good reasons, because of potholes and bridge strength and what have you." &nbsp;
And what makes this even crazier, when you think about it, is the government is also talking about pressing pause on fuel tax increases next year.&nbsp;
So, on one hand, it wants to let trucks carry more weight - which would undoubtedly mean more damage to the roads - and it wants to stop the fuel tax increase which would mean less money to fix the roads.&nbsp;
How does that stack up? Answer: It doesn’t. &nbsp; &nbsp;
What’s more, Winston Peters is accusing the freight industry of using the fuel crisis to get what it wants.&nbsp;
He’s saying today: "this isn't the first time the trucking industry's tried this on."&nbsp;
I can’t verify this for sure, but I'll take Winston on his word when he says that trains are two-and-a-half times more fuel efficient than trucks.&nbsp;
He’s also saying today, as the Minister for rail, that there are thousands of wagons available.&nbsp;
So is he on to something? I think he is. And I think we need to see rail as a solution not just to any fuel shortage we might have to deal with in the short term - but long-term, as well.&nbsp;
On an ongoing permanent basis, less trucks and more trains.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: I'm with Winston on the trains

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d91b15e8-5eb8-4e43-bb1e-b43b00059fbd/transcript

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Christopher Luxon is running away from scrutiny after he cancelled his regular weekly interview on TVNZ's Breakfast programme.

"The reality is that's part of the job. You're going to be subjected to scrutiny, you're going to be asked tough questions."

Speaking on Canterbury Mornings, Hipkins was asked by John MacDonald whether he held the same view when former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern cancelled her weekly interviews with Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking in 2021.

"I thought she should have continued to do it, but ultimately that was her choice. I made a different choice, and that was to keep doing those interviews."

When Hipkins became Prime Minister in 2023, he reinstated the weekly prime ministerial interview on the Mike Hosking Breakfast.

They also discussed Labour’s support for the India free trade agreement, his views on drinking culture in parliament, and his reaction to a parent being taken to court by the government over their child’s chronic absence from school.

LISTEN ABOVE

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says Christopher Luxon is running away from scrutiny after he cancelled his regular weekly interview on TVNZ's Breakfast programme.
"The reality is that's part of the job. You're going to be subjected to scrutiny, you're going to be asked tough questions."
Speaking on Canterbury Mornings, Hipkins was asked by John MacDonald whether he held the same view when former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern cancelled her weekly interviews with Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking in 2021.
"I thought she should have continued to do it, but ultimately that was her choice. I made a different choice, and that was to keep doing those interviews."
When Hipkins became Prime Minister in 2023, he reinstated the weekly prime ministerial interview on the Mike Hosking Breakfast.
They also discussed Labour’s support for the India free trade agreement, his views on drinking culture in parliament, and his reaction to a parent being taken to court by the government over their child’s chronic absence from school.
LISTEN ABOVE

Chris Hipkins on Parliaments drinking culture, Labour supporting the India FTA, and the PM cancelling regular media appearances

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ceea6048-0d5a-4b6d-a768-b43a0187535f/transcript

Gerry Brownlee on Christchurch's journey from the earthquakes to One New Zealand Stadium

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