John MacDonald: Students deserve better than just more debt

If Labour’s $2 billion fees-free scheme didn’t lead to an increase in student numbers but did reduce student debt, was it still worth it? The coalition government doesn’t think so and is scrapping the scheme, saying it’s better to invest in things like trades training. But I think the risk is we …

John MacDonald: Nappies at school. How did it get to this?

I could try to be understanding about this. But I can’t. Because, how on earth did we get to the point where kids are turning up at school in nappies, and unable to hold a pencil? If someone’s kid can’t do those things by the time they turn five and start school, then they have failed. The same …

John MacDonald: Why not big fines and sentences for H&S failures?

Labour has come up with a policy that I think is actually meaningful and would hold employers more accountable for workplace deaths. Labour has announced that, if elected, it will introduce a corporate homicide charge. Which would mean, if a worker died on the job, their employer could be charged …

Inside Wai Ora: The University of Otago's new medical campus in Christchurch

The ribbon has been cut as The University of Otago's 292-million-dollar Wai Ora building has held its opening ceremony today. The new facility will expand the university's capacity for biomedical research and clinical trials, with space for about 15-hundred researchers, clinicians and students. J…

Politics Friday: Tracey McLellan and Vanessa Weenink on corporate manslaughter policy, supermarkets, FENZ confidence

National's Vanessa Weenink and Labour's Tracey McLellan joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week. They covered some of the week's biggest issues, including Labour's proposed corporate manslaughter policy, National's plans to tackle the supermarket duopoly, the funding challenges facing …

John MacDonald: What's with National going anti-business?

What on earth has happened to National being the party for business? The party that encourages people to take risks, start businesses, work hard and enjoy the rewards? I never would have imagined National, of all parties, coming up with this idea of forcing Foodstuffs to split its supermarket ope…

New World Ilam's owner speaks out against National's supermarket policy

Yesterday's policy announcement from the National Party has sparked outrage from business leaders and supermarket owners. Marc Brokenshire is the Owner/Operator of New World Ilam. He joined John MacDonald to share his perspective as a supermarket owner, and an employer of over 165 staff in his com…

John MacDonald: Why the Tom Phillips report doesn't surprise me

I’m not the least bit surprised by this Tom Phillips cock up. Because we are a country that has made turning a blind eye a national pastime. So, if we do that ourselves so often, why should we be surprised when the Police and Oranga Tamariki do the same thing? We’re a country where there’s been …

Chris Hipkins: Labour leader on Marokopa inquiry, Price gouging laws, ACTs minimum wage policy

Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins says the findings of the Marokopa inquiry are concerning, with the report concluding that missed opportunities may have delayed efforts to protect the children and bring them home sooner. Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, Hipkins admitted he had not yet read the re…

John MacDonald: I'm losing faith, but we can't abandon Canterbury Museum

I’ve got to say that I’m getting very close to losing all confidence in the Canterbury Museum redevelopment project. Because, increasingly, the people behind it seem to be trying to hold the city to ransom. Saying now that, if they can’t get their hands on more city council money ASAP, there’ll be…