Much has happened this week, so National’s Hamish Campbell and Labour’s Tracey McLellan joined John MacDonald to delve into the biggest issues. 

They discussed whether the Government should underwrite power prices to reduce bills, the viability of Treasury’s solutions to the financial crunch, and the results of the Herald’s annual Mood of the Boardroom survey. 

Plus, the ever-hot topic that is the state of Christchurch Hospital’s overwhelmed emergency department. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Much has happened this week, so National’s Hamish Campbell and Labour’s Tracey McLellan joined John MacDonald to delve into the biggest issues.&nbsp;
They discussed whether the Government should underwrite power prices to reduce bills, the viability of Treasury’s solutions to the financial crunch, and the results of the Herald’s annual Mood of the Boardroom survey.&nbsp;
Plus, the ever-hot topic that is the state of Christchurch Hospital’s overwhelmed emergency department.&nbsp;
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 with Hamish Campbell and Tracey McLellan: Power costs, economy, Mood of the Boardroom, Christchurch Hospital ED

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5250af0f-bec9-4b74-9c04-b36400215fdd/transcript

The eagle has landed. One of the police Eagle helicopters from Auckland is in Christchurch for the next two months as part of a crackdown on these criminal kids doing-over dairies and committing other crimes. 

I think it’s brilliant that it’s here and I think we need one here permanently.  

For several reasons: Christchurch is New Zealand’s second-largest city; we have a level of criminal activity here to justify it; and it’s not as if a police helicopter hasn’t been put to good use here before. 

In 2020, it was in Christchurch for a five-week trial, and it was also used a few times earlier than that after the mosque attacks and when Prince William visited. 

During the trial in 2020, the helicopter was sent to 346 incidents ranging from a water rescue, a robbery attempt, and helping a man thought to be having a heart attack in a park. 

There was a bit of chat at the time about people being woken up at night by the sounds of it flying around. But an informal survey of residents found that only 24% of people thought the sound or noise from the helicopter was annoying. 60% said it didn’t bother them and 16% said they hadn’t noticed it. 

The police themselves gave it a very positive review. One officer wrote to the Police News magazine saying every officer who had worked with the helicopter had found it beneficial in helping to prevent crime, catch offenders, and increase safety. 

But despite Canterbury police themselves giving positive feedback on the trial, the powers-that-be decided it wouldn’t be made permanent. Which some people would have been happy about, because there were some who hated the helicopter being here and weren’t excited about the idea of us getting on here permanently. 

National MP Gerry Brownlee was dead against it. I remember him saying that plenty of people had told him that they hated the noise. They also found it traumatising hearing it, because it took them back to the days after the earthquakes. 

I get that. Nevertheless, I’ve always been in no doubt that we would benefit from having a permanent helicopter here. Which National kind-of talked about prior to the last election. 

The party’s Christchurch central candidate was at a street corner meeting, and someone asked him what National was going to do about youth crime and whether it had plans for a police helicopter in Christchurch. 

According to someone who was there, he said that Christopher Luxon had given it the nod but there wouldn’t be any announcement before the election. 

That was it. Nothing more since.  

But we know the cops love it. Most residents seem to like it. And my pick would be that support for us having a dedicated police helicopter would be much higher now than when the trial happened in 2020. 

The eagle has landed. One of the police Eagle helicopters from Auckland is in Christchurch for the next two months as part of a crackdown on these criminal kids doing-over dairies and committing other crimes.&nbsp;
I think it’s brilliant that it’s here and I think we need one here permanently. &nbsp;
For several reasons: Christchurch is New Zealand’s second-largest city; we have a level of criminal activity here to justify it; and it’s not as if a police helicopter hasn’t been put to good use here before.&nbsp;
In 2020, it was in Christchurch for a five-week trial, and it was also used a few times earlier than that after the mosque attacks and when Prince William visited.&nbsp;
During the trial in 2020, the helicopter was sent to 346 incidents ranging from a water rescue, a robbery attempt, and helping a man thought to be having a heart attack in a park.&nbsp;
There was a bit of chat at the time about people being woken up at night by the sounds of it flying around. But an informal survey of residents found that only 24% of people thought the sound or noise from the helicopter was annoying. 60% said it didn’t bother them and 16% said they hadn’t noticed it.&nbsp;
The police themselves gave it a very positive review. One officer wrote to the Police News magazine saying every officer who had worked with the helicopter had found it beneficial in helping to prevent crime, catch offenders, and increase safety.&nbsp;
But despite Canterbury police themselves giving positive feedback on the trial, the powers-that-be decided it wouldn’t be made permanent. Which some people would have been happy about, because there were some who hated the helicopter being here and weren’t excited about the idea of us getting on here permanently.&nbsp;
National MP Gerry Brownlee was dead against it. I remember him saying that plenty of people had told him that they hated the noise. They also found it traumatising hearing it, because it took them back to the days after the earthquakes.&nbsp;
I get that. Nevertheless, I’ve always been in no doubt that we would benefit from having a permanent helicopter here. Which National kind-of talked about prior to the last election.&nbsp;
The party’s Christchurch central candidate was at a street corner meeting, and someone asked him what National was going to do about youth crime and whether it had plans for a police helicopter in Christchurch.&nbsp;
According to someone who was there, he said that Christopher Luxon had given it the nod but there wouldn’t be any announcement before the election.&nbsp;
That was it. Nothing more since. &nbsp;
But we know the cops love it. Most residents seem to like it. And my pick would be that support for us having a dedicated police helicopter would be much higher now than when the trial happened in 2020.&nbsp;

John MacDonald: The Eagle has landed in Chch and should stay

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/818828a1-7bad-4f9f-a65c-b3aa0002f904/transcript

A couple of advisors at the Christchurch City Council have ripped into the Government’s plan for regional councils and have said to councillors that they reckon there’s a better way.

Or more correctly, two better potential ways. Instead of having local mayors run regional councils for two years and, during that time, work out how they’re going to get by without a regional council. At a briefing meeting yesterday, two principal policy advisors put two options on the table for councillors to think about.

Option 1: Amalgamate the Christchurch, Selwyn, and Waimakariri councils to create a new super city. Which I've been a fan of for quite some time now.

And Option 2: Keep all three councils and have the city council take over ECAN’s regional council functions.

The reason these two council advisors have put these two options up for discussion is that they think having local mayors run ECAN for two years and work out a new structure for local government is a “weak” idea, which wouldn’t do any favours for Christchurch ratepayers.

And I get what they’re saying, because as soon as you get three mayors around the table, they’re just going to be interested in what’s in it for them, aren’t they? Which is the same approach these policy advisors are taking. They’re on the city council pay roll and so they have to think about what’s best for Christchurch city.

And I like their idea of a supercity.

But every time a supercity is mentioned, some people are quick to point to Auckland as an argument against it. The Auckland supercity brought together seven city and district councils and the regional council back in 2010. But a supercity in the greater Christchurch area would be nowhere near the same scale. We’re talking here about just three councils: Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.

We’ve done amalgamation before on a much smaller scale. Back in 2006, Banks Peninsula Council amalgamated with Christchurch city.

The issue then was that Banks Peninsula didn’t have a big enough population to get the rates it needed to operate properly. Selwyn and Waimakariri don’t have that problem – they’ve grown massively since the earthquakes. Selwyn, especially.

But half of the people living in Selwyn come into Christchurch every day for work and school, and they contribute nothing towards the cost of the running of the city. They’re using the city’s roads and so many of the other facilities that they pay nothing for.

Add to that the relatively small distance between Selwyn, Christchurch and Waimakariri, and amalgamation is a no-brainer. 

A couple of advisors at the Christchurch City Council have ripped into the Government’s plan for regional councils and have said to councillors that they reckon there’s a better way.
Or more correctly, two better potential ways. Instead of having local mayors run regional councils for two years and, during that time, work out how they’re going to get by without a regional council. At a briefing meeting yesterday, two principal policy advisors put two options on the table for councillors to think about.
Option 1: Amalgamate the Christchurch, Selwyn, and Waimakariri councils to create a new super city. Which I've been a fan of for quite some time now.
And Option 2: Keep all three councils and have the city council take over ECAN’s regional council functions.
The reason these two council advisors have put these two options up for discussion is that they think having local mayors run ECAN for two years and work out a new structure for local government is a “weak” idea, which wouldn’t do any favours for Christchurch ratepayers.
And I get what they’re saying, because as soon as you get three mayors around the table, they’re just going to be interested in what’s in it for them, aren’t they? Which is the same approach these policy advisors are taking. They’re on the city council pay roll and so they have to think about what’s best for Christchurch city.
And I like their idea of a supercity.
But every time a supercity is mentioned, some people are quick to point to Auckland as an argument against it. The Auckland supercity brought together seven city and district councils and the regional council back in 2010. But a supercity in the greater Christchurch area would be nowhere near the same scale. We’re talking here about just three councils: Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.
We’ve done amalgamation before on a much smaller scale. Back in 2006, Banks Peninsula Council amalgamated with Christchurch city.
The issue then was that Banks Peninsula didn’t have a big enough population to get the rates it needed to operate properly. Selwyn and Waimakariri don’t have that problem – they’ve grown massively since the earthquakes. Selwyn, especially.
But half of the people living in Selwyn come into Christchurch every day for work and school, and they contribute nothing towards the cost of the running of the city. They’re using the city’s roads and so many of the other facilities that they pay nothing for.
Add to that the relatively small distance between Selwyn, Christchurch and Waimakariri, and amalgamation is a no-brainer.&nbsp;

John MacDonald: Don't dismiss the Christchurch supercity idea

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f5a3a58b-1a85-44ef-8d54-b3a8000000e3/transcript

You might recall a poll result that came out back in September which proved that 75 percent of us are idiots.

It’s these idiots that the Government is pandering to with the council rates cap it announced yesterday. And the 75 percent of people who said in that poll that they support the Government forcing rates caps on councils will be very happy today.

Because, from mid-2029, annual increases won’t be allowed to be any higher than 4 percent. Unless a council manages to get a special dispensation.

As a ratepayer, a rates cap sounds like a great idea. But it’s not.

One description I’ve seen of the Government’s move is that it’s lazy politics. Which it is.

Because of the 75 percent of people who support it, as the poll a few months back would suggest.

I suspect the only complaint the pro-rates cap people will have is that it isn’t planned to start for another three-and-a-half years. In mid-2029.

By which time there could very well be a different government in power and, if Labour (for example) is true to its word, then the whole thing could be history.

Labour’s local government spokesperson Tangi Utikere is saying today that they’ll vote against the rates cap law when it goes through Parliament.

He says: “We've made it very clear that we won't expect local government to continue to work and take on additional responsibilities without the funding. So we don't support this rates cap.”

Nelson mayor Nick Smith has been very careful not to bag his old National Party mates. But he does admit that it’s not going to be easy.

Rates caps have been brought-in in Australia and it’s created severe financial difficulties for some councils over there.

What’s more, Christchurch city councillor Sam MacDonald is already talking about the council selling assets to make up for the money it won’t be getting because of the limit on rates increases.

All this is, is another placebo policy. Something that might make us feel better for a little while. But it won’t last long.

You might recall a poll result that came out back in September which proved that 75 percent of us are idiots.
It’s these idiots that the Government is pandering to with the council rates cap it announced yesterday. And the 75 percent of people who said in that poll that they support the Government forcing rates caps on councils will be very happy today.
Because, from mid-2029, annual increases won’t be allowed to be any higher than 4 percent. Unless a council manages to get a special dispensation.
As a ratepayer, a rates cap sounds like a great idea. But it’s not.
One description I’ve seen of the Government’s move is that it’s lazy politics. Which it is.
Because of the 75 percent of people who support it, as the poll a few months back would suggest.
I suspect the only complaint the pro-rates cap people will have is that it isn’t planned to start for another three-and-a-half years. In mid-2029.
By which time there could very well be a different government in power and, if Labour (for example) is true to its word, then the whole thing could be history.
Labour’s local government spokesperson Tangi Utikere is saying today that they’ll vote against the rates cap law when it goes through Parliament.
He says: “We've made it very clear that we won't expect local government to continue to work and take on additional responsibilities without the funding. So we don't support this rates cap.”
Nelson mayor Nick Smith has been very careful not to bag his old National Party mates. But he does admit that it’s not going to be easy.
Rates caps have been brought-in in Australia and it’s created severe financial difficulties for some councils over there.
What’s more, Christchurch city councillor Sam MacDonald is already talking about the council selling assets to make up for the money it won’t be getting because of the limit on rates increases.
All this is, is another placebo policy. Something that might make us feel better for a little while. But it won’t last long.

John MacDonald: Rates caps are a placebo policy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/857ce344-ec88-4e1c-813e-b3a70009feb5/transcript

Politics Friday with Hamish Campbell and Tracey McLellan: Power costs, economy, Mood of the Boardroom, Christchurch Hospital ED

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