Today on Politics Friday, John MacDonald was joined by Labour’s Reuben Davidson and National’s Matt Doocey to delve into the biggest topics of the week. 

On today’s agenda: the manhunt for Tom Phillips and his children has come to an end, but the coverage has only just begun. There’s a fresh plan to restore the Christ Church Cathedral, and the Government has announced some new offences for shoplifting. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Today on Politics Friday, John MacDonald was joined by Labour’s Reuben Davidson and National’s Matt Doocey to delve into the biggest topics of the week.&nbsp;
On today’s agenda: the manhunt for Tom Phillips and his children has come to an end, but the coverage has only just begun. There’s a fresh plan to restore the Christ Church Cathedral, and the Government has announced some new offences for shoplifting.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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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.

Canterbury Mornings with John MacDonald

Politics Friday with Matt Doocey and Reuben Davidson: Shoplifting laws, Tom Phillips, Christ Church Cathedral

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ad947c33-dc96-42d0-ad1b-b356001c9355/transcript

Three hundred and fifty jobs at Heinz Wattie's are on the line and we’ve only got ourselves to blame. 

I’m including myself here. 

Because all of us have pretty much fallen into the trap of thinking cheapest is best. 

And, more often than not, if we think cheapest is best then we end up buying stuff from overseas and turning our backs on local products. 

Before now, I've never really signed up to that whole buy New Zealand made thing. There have been various campaigns over recent years, haven’t there? With the little buy New Zealand made tags and things. 

But hearing the news about Wattie's and thinking about the cheap fruit being dumped in New Zealand from China and the impact that alone has had on the company, I had a bit of an aha moment. 

That we really need to think seriously about the stuff we buy and where it comes from. 

I think buying New Zealand made probably matters more now than ever.    

The jobs at Heinz Wattie's are set to go because the company has plans to shut down three New Zealand factories. 

Frozen vegetables are one of Wattie's products that will disappear if the closures go ahead, with the company saying that it just can’t compete with cheaper products being imported from overseas. 

So, it’s the fruit thing all over again. 

Which raises the question: does New Zealand-made matter anymore? 

If I'm honest, I don’t think it does matter to most people. But i think it should.  

Because, as well as the 350 workers affected, there are also around 220 growers in the canterbury region alone who supply the Christchurch site.  

So they’ll be very worried too. 

And it’s not just Wattie's we’re talking about, either. 

As the union that represents the Wattie's workers is saying today, manufacturing closures are becoming more and more common. 

Other companies that have wound back their manufacturing here in New Zealand recently include carter Holt Harvey, Sealord in Nelson and Kinleith pulp and paper.  

And the people affected by these proposed closures have Wattie's in their blood. The average length of service is around 30 years. So it’s probably fairly safe to assume that there will be generations of families who have worked at Wattie's. 

Union delegate Kathy Perrin has worked at Heinz Wattie's for 46 years in different roles and is saying today that the impact on workers will be devastating. 

We might say we care about buying products made here but, when it comes down to it, I don’t think we actually do. 

But how important is New Zealand made to you? 

LISTEN ABOVE

Three hundred and fifty jobs at Heinz Wattie's are on the line and we’ve only got ourselves to blame.&nbsp;
I’m including myself here.&nbsp;
Because all of us have pretty much fallen into the trap of thinking cheapest is best.&nbsp;
And, more often than not, if we think cheapest is best then we end up buying stuff from overseas and turning our backs on local products.&nbsp;
Before now, I've never really signed up to that whole buy New Zealand made thing. There have been various campaigns over recent years, haven’t there? With the little buy New Zealand made tags and things.&nbsp;
But hearing the news about Wattie's and thinking about the cheap fruit being dumped in New Zealand from China and the impact that alone has had on the company, I had a bit of an aha moment.&nbsp;
That we really need to think seriously about the stuff we buy and where it comes from.&nbsp;
I think buying New Zealand made probably matters more now than ever. &nbsp; &nbsp;
The jobs at Heinz Wattie's are set to go because the company has plans to shut down three New Zealand factories.&nbsp;
Frozen vegetables are one of Wattie's products that will disappear if the closures go ahead, with the company saying that it just can’t compete with cheaper products being imported from overseas.&nbsp;
So, it’s the fruit thing all over again.&nbsp;
Which raises the question: does New Zealand-made matter anymore?&nbsp;
If I'm honest, I don’t think it does matter to most people. But i think it should. &nbsp;
Because, as well as the 350 workers affected, there are also around 220 growers in the canterbury region alone who supply the Christchurch site. &nbsp;
So they’ll be very worried too.&nbsp;
And it’s not just Wattie's we’re talking about, either.&nbsp;
As the union that represents the Wattie's workers is saying today, manufacturing closures are becoming more and more common.&nbsp;
Other companies that have wound back their manufacturing here in New Zealand recently include carter Holt Harvey, Sealord in Nelson and Kinleith pulp and paper. &nbsp;
And the people affected by these proposed closures have Wattie's in their blood. The average length of service is around 30 years. So it’s probably fairly safe to assume that there will be generations of families who have worked at Wattie's.&nbsp;
Union delegate Kathy Perrin has worked at Heinz Wattie's for 46 years in different roles and is saying today that the impact on workers will be devastating.&nbsp;
We might say we care about buying products made here but, when it comes down to it, I don’t think we actually do.&nbsp;
But how important is New Zealand made to you?&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Buying NZ made has never been so important

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f8f3f8a7-8765-4884-a383-b40a0182366a/transcript

There is another plan in the works to revive Cathedral Square with the Council asking for the public's ideas later this year

The Christchurch City Council has announced they have a budget of $28.5 million set aside to put a revitalisation plan in action.

Mayor Phil Mauger told Canterbury Mornings that he would like to put some of the money into the Christ Church Cathedral to fix it instead of only funding the redevelopment of Cathedral Square.

"Some of it could go to the Cathedral, they're crying out for it, let's not spend or waste 28 million dollars in the square when some of it could go towards the Cathedral."

They also discussed his idea to fix East Christchurch's wastewater issues, Whether or not he backs the Dux de Lux rebuild to be paid with council rates, and his thoughts on potentially bringing the Santa Parade to central Christchurch.

LISTEN ABOVE 

There is another plan in the works to revive Cathedral Square with the Council asking for the public's ideas later this year
The Christchurch City Council has announced they have a budget of $28.5 million set aside to put a revitalisation plan in action.
Mayor Phil Mauger told Canterbury Mornings that he would like to put some of the money into the Christ Church Cathedral to fix it instead of only funding the redevelopment of Cathedral Square.
"Some of it could go to the Cathedral, they're crying out for it, let's not spend or waste 28 million dollars in the square when some of it could go towards the Cathedral."
They also discussed his idea to fix East Christchurch's wastewater issues, Whether or not he backs the Dux de Lux rebuild to be paid with council rates, and his thoughts on potentially bringing the Santa Parade to central Christchurch.
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Phil Mauger: Christchurch Mayor on his Wastewater plan, Cathedral Square Revitalisation, and Dux de Lux funding

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3e91757d-ccbf-4167-8cf3-b40a0165a12f/transcript

I don’t think there’ll be too many complaints about the report from phase two of the COVID inquiry.

Because, for $14 million, we’ve all got something out of it. That’s $14 million for this phase. Phase one cost us about $17 million.  

If you’re anti-vax or vaccine-weary, you’ve got the bit in the report about officials not telling ministers that 12 to 17-year-olds shouldn't really have been getting two doses of the vaccine. Because of the risk of myocarditis.  

That was an absolute shocker that one.  

If you think Jacinda was a saint and saved us all, you’re probably having a bit of a “told you so” moment.  

Irrespective of how patronising she and her ministers got the longer the pandemic went on, you’ll be having your “told you so” moment because the report says, overall, New Zealand's approach was good.  

If you think the Government got it wrong thinking that the team of five million would stick together no matter what, you’ll be happy with the report too. 

Because it says some of the mandates went on too long, and the Government failed to communicate well enough with us.  

In fact, i can’t think of anyone who won’t feel they’ve got at least something out of it. 

Except NZ First Leader Winston peters, perhaps. 

He says many people think the inquiry has been one-sided and the damage is done. 

The damage he’s talking about there is the damage from the mandates. 

He says: “The employment and wage-scarring impacts of the mandates were significant. The Labour Government made no attempt to monitor these impacts and the devastating results that would come to our country. 

“These mandates and lockdowns cost thousands of jobs and had a devastating effect on our economy and people’s health and livelihoods - all of which were avoidable.”

And I agree with him that not enough thought was given about the long-term consequences of the mandates. Which, at the time, I supported. 

Winston Peters says: “the report brings questions that need to be answered by Hipkins and Verrall and all those other former ministers. They cannot brush this off.”

One of those former ministers, Chris Hipkins, said on Newstalk ZB this morning that he doesn‘t think his involvement in the COVID response and the findings of the inquiry will put people off voting for him.    

And I agree with him. Anyone who holds a grudge now will always hold a grudge. And there’s nothing Chris Hipkins can do to change that.  

LISTEN ABOVE

I don’t think there’ll be too many complaints about the report from phase two of the COVID inquiry.
Because, for $14 million, we’ve all got something out of it. That’s $14 million for this phase. Phase one cost us about $17 million. &nbsp;
If you’re anti-vax or vaccine-weary, you’ve got the bit in the report about officials not telling ministers that 12 to 17-year-olds shouldn't really have been getting two doses of the vaccine. Because of the risk of myocarditis. &nbsp;
That was an absolute shocker that one. &nbsp;
If you think Jacinda was a saint and saved us all, you’re probably having a bit of a “told you so” moment. &nbsp;
Irrespective of how patronising she and her ministers got the longer the pandemic went on, you’ll be having your “told you so” moment because the report says, overall, New Zealand's approach was good. &nbsp;
If you think the Government got it wrong thinking that the team of five million would stick together no matter what, you’ll be happy with the report too.&nbsp;
Because it says some of the mandates went on too long, and the Government failed to communicate well enough with us. &nbsp;
In fact, i can’t think of anyone who won’t feel they’ve got at least something out of it.&nbsp;
Except NZ First Leader Winston peters, perhaps.&nbsp;
He says many people think the inquiry has been one-sided and the damage is done.&nbsp;
The damage he’s talking about there is the damage from the mandates.&nbsp;
He says: “The employment and wage-scarring impacts of the mandates were significant. The Labour Government made no attempt to monitor these impacts and the devastating results that would come to our country.&nbsp;
“These mandates and lockdowns cost thousands of jobs and had a devastating effect on our economy and people’s health and livelihoods - all of which were avoidable.”
And I agree with him that not enough thought was given about the long-term consequences of the mandates. Which, at the time, I supported.&nbsp;
Winston Peters says: “the report brings questions that need to be answered by Hipkins and Verrall and all those other former ministers. They cannot brush this off.”
One of those former ministers, Chris Hipkins, said on Newstalk ZB this morning that he doesn‘t think his involvement in the COVID response and the findings of the inquiry will put people off voting for him. &nbsp; &nbsp;
And I agree with him. Anyone who holds a grudge now will always hold a grudge. And there’s nothing Chris Hipkins can do to change that. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: Covid report has something for everyone

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e15ad50d-3078-42d4-a739-b4090180ef6a/transcript

Politics Friday with Matt Doocey and Reuben Davidson: Shoplifting laws, Tom Phillips, Christ Church Cathedral

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