National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Reuben Davidson joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week. 

They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from early prison releases, the Pegasus Golf Course, and a petition gaining signatures to increase bereavement leave from three days to ten.

LISTEN ABOVE 

National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Reuben Davidson joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week.&nbsp;
They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from early prison releases, the Pegasus Golf Course, and a petition gaining signatures to increase bereavement leave from three days to ten.
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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

Politics Friday: Matt Doocey and Reuben Davidson on Pegasus, prison releases, and bereavement leave

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/04932ed8-3976-4ba1-8336-b45f0175c6de/transcript

Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon joined John MacDonald to discuss the issues that matter to Waimakariri residents.

They covered the proposed council amalgamation options the council has put out for feedback, and the strong interest from potential partners to help buy back the Pegasus Golf Course from a developer. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon joined John MacDonald to discuss the issues that matter to Waimakariri residents.
They covered the proposed council amalgamation options the council has put out for feedback, and the strong interest from potential partners to help buy back the Pegasus Golf Course from a developer.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon on the Pegasus Golf Course, council amalgamation options

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b8938696-7ad8-4623-a635-b46501850c45/transcript

What do you think needs to happen with public transport?

According to some, we need to get more people using it. For all the usual reasons: less cars on the road. Lower emmissions. All of that.

Which is why Labour has come up with this election policy which, for those of us in the greater Christchurch area, would mean paying no more than $20-a-week to take as many bus rides and ferry rides as we like.

National’s responded with its own idea. But I think they’re both flogging a dead horse.

At the bus interchange in Christchurch yesterday, people were saying they liked the sound of Labour’s policy.

The same with people using the Diamond Harbour ferry. Bring it on, was their reaction. But no surprises there.

Because, you ask anyone if they want to pay less for something and, of course, they’ll say yes. Which is what this policy would mean.

At the moment, Christchurch public transport users pay a maximum of $30-a-week. Labour is pledging to take that down to no more than $20-a-week.

And, being election year, the government has responded straight away with its own idea. An idea that it, obviously, didn’t think was worth including in the budget a couple of weeks ago.

Nevertheless, today we’ve got transport minister Chris Bishop saying the government could take $450 million from its emergency fund to put more buses on during peak periods.

His thinking is that, if more taxpayer money is going to go into public transport, then it should be spent on improving services - instead of providing subsidies.

But, do you know what I think?

I think we could throw as much money as we want at public transport and it wouldn’t make much difference.

I think National’s idea is better than Labour’s. But I don't think either of them would achieve much.

Not to mention the fact that taking $450 million out of the government’s emergency fund to spend on public transport would be a very risky thing to do.

And this is coming from someone who uses public transport at least a couple of times a week.

I don’t use buses to get to work. So I’m not on them every day. But, here in Christchurch, buses can be a great way of getting around.

But, the thing is, there are two types of people in this world and I don’t see any political party policy changing the way these people behave.

The first type are the ones who have probably always used public transport and always will. They’re already taking the bus now and don’t need any encouragement to continue. Yes, they’ll like the idea of paying less. But they’re converts already.

Then you’ve got the people who have always seen the bus as the loser cruiser and there’s no way in hell they would start using buses just because it’s cheaper.

So that’s why Labour’s idea isn’t going to work.

As for Chris Bishop’s idea of dipping into the emergency fund to put more buses on. I don’t see that shifting the dial, either.

Because we would need to spend way more than $450 million to have a public transport system that the non-users would even think about using.

People would only buy into it if we had services like you have overseas in countries with way more people than us.

Trains, trams, buses and ferries that run day and night - pretty much whenever you need them.

That would be the gamechanger. But we’re dreaming if we think anything like that is achievable here.

So my advice to the politicians is this: don’t think throwing money at public transport is going to get more people using it. It’s not worth the money and effort.

LISTEN ABOVE

What do you think needs to happen with public transport?
According to some, we need to get more people using it. For all the usual reasons: less cars on the road. Lower emmissions. All of that.
Which is why Labour has come up with this election policy which, for those of us in the greater Christchurch area, would mean paying no more than $20-a-week to take as many bus rides and ferry rides as we like.
National’s responded with its own idea. But I think they’re both flogging a dead horse.
At the bus interchange in Christchurch yesterday, people were saying they liked the sound of Labour’s policy.
The same with people using the Diamond Harbour ferry. Bring it on, was their reaction. But no surprises there.
Because, you ask anyone if they want to pay less for something and, of course, they’ll say yes. Which is what this policy would mean.
At the moment, Christchurch public transport users pay a maximum of $30-a-week. Labour is pledging to take that down to no more than $20-a-week.
And, being election year, the government has responded straight away with its own idea. An idea that it, obviously, didn’t think was worth including in the budget a couple of weeks ago.
Nevertheless, today we’ve got transport minister Chris Bishop saying the government could take $450 million from its emergency fund to put more buses on during peak periods.
His thinking is that, if more taxpayer money is going to go into public transport, then it should be spent on improving services - instead of providing subsidies.
But, do you know what I think?
I think we could throw as much money as we want at public transport and it wouldn’t make much difference.
I think National’s idea is better than Labour’s. But I don't think either of them would achieve much.
Not to mention the fact that taking $450 million out of the government’s emergency fund to spend on public transport would be a very risky thing to do.
And this is coming from someone who uses public transport at least a couple of times a week.
I don’t use buses to get to work. So I’m not on them every day. But, here in Christchurch, buses can be a great way of getting around.
But, the thing is, there are two types of people in this world and I don’t see any political party policy changing the way these people behave.
The first type are the ones who have probably always used public transport and always will. They’re already taking the bus now and don’t need any encouragement to continue. Yes, they’ll like the idea of paying less. But they’re converts already.
Then you’ve got the people who have always seen the bus as the loser cruiser and there’s no way in hell they would start using buses just because it’s cheaper.
So that’s why Labour’s idea isn’t going to work.
As for Chris Bishop’s idea of dipping into the emergency fund to put more buses on. I don’t see that shifting the dial, either.
Because we would need to spend way more than $450 million to have a public transport system that the non-users would even think about using.
People would only buy into it if we had services like you have overseas in countries with way more people than us.
Trains, trams, buses and ferries that run day and night - pretty much whenever you need them.
That would be the gamechanger. But we’re dreaming if we think anything like that is achievable here.
So my advice to the politicians is this: don’t think throwing money at public transport is going to get more people using it. It’s not worth the money and effort.
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: What needs to happen with public transport?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ef7627a9-1d46-4a55-829f-b46501709dec/transcript

British actor, comedian and author Alan Davies joined Canterbury Mornings ahead of his first visit to New Zealand in a decade. 

He's returning with his new tour, Think Ahead, which he is calling his best show yet.

Davies’ Think Ahead tour will come to the Christchurch Town Hall on Wednesday, August 12. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.

LISTEN ABOVE 

British actor, comedian and author Alan Davies joined Canterbury Mornings ahead of his first visit to New Zealand in a decade.&nbsp;
He's returning with his new tour, Think Ahead, which he is calling his best show yet.
Davies’ Think Ahead tour will come to the Christchurch Town Hall on Wednesday, August 12. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Comedian Alan Davies on his upcoming New Zealand tour

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/334c9b23-e925-4465-b36e-b465000485f8/transcript

Politics Friday: Matt Doocey and Reuben Davidson on Pegasus, prison releases, and bereavement leave

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