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

They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from Nationals solar panel policy, what can be done to make rural roads safer, and if the fast-track process is appropriate for the Pegasus Golf Course.

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National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Tracey McLellan joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week.&nbsp;
They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from Nationals solar panel policy, what can be done to make rural roads safer, and if the fast-track process is appropriate for the Pegasus Golf Course.
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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

Politics Friday with Matt Doocey and Tracey McLellan on rural roads, solar, and fast-track

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8463e798-017c-4f16-b4b6-b474017c736d/transcript

I don’t know what to make of the fact that thousands of people have put their name to this petition calling for the Christchurch City Council’s rates increase to be paused and put to a referendum.

I don’t know what to make of it for a couple of reasons.

First of all, I’m not a petition guy. Because I don’t think they achieve much.

It’s very easy to stick your name on something. But does it achieve anything? No.

The other reason I can‘t believe people are getting behind this, is that they seem to have forgotten what city councillors are elected to do.

They’re elected to make decisions. And one of the biggest decisions they have to make every year, is how they’re going to spend ratepayer money.

Which means that, quite a lot of the time, they get criticised left, right and centre.

Like yesterday, when I was ripping into the council for getting involved in this apparent bid for a second professional NRL rugby league team.

But I’m not starting a petition over it. Because, while I might think it’s not what the council should be getting involved in, I respect the fact that it’s the job of the councillors around the council table to make the decisions.

Just like it’s their job to decide how much of a rates increase they need to hit us with to make the city tick.

Tell that to James Pawson, though. He’s the guy behind the petition. Who is saying today that the 7.35 percent rates increase the council has signed-off on is a burden and people should get to have a say before being expected to pay up.

He’s dreaming. Just like the 7,000-plus people who have put their name to the petition in the past 48 hours. No doubt us talking about it this morning will get more people adding their names.

One of James’ particular concerns, is the council including $15 million in the budget for the Anglican cathedral reinstatement.

His introduction to the online petition describes this particular spend as “staggering”. Saying: “It raises critical questions around funding priorities and equity, especially in an economic climate where many residents are already facing financial hardships.”

He says: “The decision to allocate $15 million of ratepayer money to a project that should arguably be funded by the Anglican Church sends the wrong message to the people of Christchurch who are directly affected by this rates increase.”

What James doesn’t say in his petition blurb, is that the council’s $15 million is dependent on the government chipping-in the same amount. And we know that’s never going to happen.

Yes, Winston Peters has pledged $15 million if he’s part of the next coalition. But that’ll be forgotten about.

Just like he was going to be the first person to walk into the Pike River mine. Remember that promise?

And whether I agree with the council wanting to spend more on the cathedral or not, it comes down to the fact that it’s the job of the council to make these decisions.

What’s more, if the people signing this petition want a referendum on this rates increase because they’re brassed-off about more of their rates going into the cathedral or whatever, what happens next time there’s something they disagree with?

Have another referendum? No thank you.

LISTEN ABOVE

I don’t know what to make of the fact that thousands of people have put their name to this petition calling for the Christchurch City Council’s rates increase to be paused and put to a referendum.
I don’t know what to make of it for a couple of reasons.
First of all, I’m not a petition guy. Because I don’t think they achieve much.
It’s very easy to stick your name on something. But does it achieve anything? No.
The other reason I can‘t believe people are getting behind this, is that they seem to have forgotten what city councillors are elected to do.
They’re elected to make decisions. And one of the biggest decisions they have to make every year, is how they’re going to spend ratepayer money.
Which means that, quite a lot of the time, they get criticised left, right and centre.
Like yesterday, when I was ripping into the council for getting involved in this apparent bid for a second professional NRL rugby league team.
But I’m not starting a petition over it. Because, while I might think it’s not what the council should be getting involved in, I respect the fact that it’s the job of the councillors around the council table to make the decisions.
Just like it’s their job to decide how much of a rates increase they need to hit us with to make the city tick.
Tell that to James Pawson, though. He’s the guy behind the petition. Who is saying today that the 7.35 percent rates increase the council has signed-off on is a burden and people should get to have a say before being expected to pay up.
He’s dreaming. Just like the 7,000-plus people who have put their name to the petition in the past 48 hours. No doubt us talking about it this morning will get more people adding their names.
One of James’ particular concerns, is the council including $15 million in the budget for the Anglican cathedral reinstatement.
His introduction to the online petition describes this particular spend as “staggering”. Saying: “It raises critical questions around funding priorities and equity, especially in an economic climate where many residents are already facing financial hardships.”
He says: “The decision to allocate $15 million of ratepayer money to a project that should arguably be funded by the Anglican Church sends the wrong message to the people of Christchurch who are directly affected by this rates increase.”
What James doesn’t say in his petition blurb, is that the council’s $15 million is dependent on the government chipping-in the same amount. And we know that’s never going to happen.
Yes, Winston Peters has pledged $15 million if he’s part of the next coalition. But that’ll be forgotten about.
Just like he was going to be the first person to walk into the Pike River mine. Remember that promise?
And whether I agree with the council wanting to spend more on the cathedral or not, it comes down to the fact that it’s the job of the council to make these decisions.
What’s more, if the people signing this petition want a referendum on this rates increase because they’re brassed-off about more of their rates going into the cathedral or whatever, what happens next time there’s something they disagree with?
Have another referendum? No thank you.
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: A rates referendum is a step too far

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/39b8fac4-1ee3-4107-a5e8-b475000d6480/transcript

Newstalk ZB's voice of football Jason Pine joined Canterbury Mornings live from Vancouver ahead of New Zealand's game against Belgium.

The All Whites must win against The Red Devils tomorrow afternoon to secure any change of proceeding to the round-of-32. 

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Newstalk ZB's voice of football Jason Pine joined Canterbury Mornings live from Vancouver ahead of New Zealand's game against Belgium.
The All Whites must win against The Red Devils tomorrow afternoon to secure any change of proceeding to the round-of-32.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Jason Pine ahead of the All Whites final Football World Cup group match versus Belgium

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/736fd9e7-28f1-4094-9bda-b4750000e334/transcript

The idea of having a National Rugby League team based in Christchurch sounds brilliant.

Last weekend, when the Warriors were here, the place was teaming with people. Four-thousand of them from out of town.

Including a couple of National Rugby League honchos from across the ditch who, no doubt, were eyeing up One NZ Stadium and thinking they’d like a bit of the action here.

Which has the Christchurch City Council all excited. Because, apparently, it’s getting involved in trying to get a new NRL team up-and-running here.

It would be New Zealand’s second team in the competition, along with the Warriors.

The question is, though: Is this something the council should be getting itself involved in? Is it the council’s job?

My answer to that is, no.

So, what’s happened, is reports have surfaced that the city council is trying to bring two rival groups together to make a joint proposal for a new South Island-based NRL team.

It’s all tight-lipped on it. Refusing to say yay or nay.

But, as it’s being reported, it’s getting involved because the advice has been that, if a bid for a second NRL team in New Zealand is to be successful, then it needs community backing.

A bid just from a privately-owned outfit isn’t enough.

And that is why I don’t think the council should have any involvement in this.

Because this “community backing” is code for community money. Community underwriting.

And I’m not just making that up. Because there’s a new NRL club starting up in Australia next year called the Western Bears.

It’s had a truckload of public money poured into it by the Western Australian government, which has poured $85 million into it.

Now I’m not saying here that the Christchurch City Council is going to be pouring money into this new South Island NRL team if it eventuates. But I am saying that it’s not the council’s job to be involved in any way, shape or form.

Whatever happened to focusing on the basics?

What’s more, these two separate groups wanting to bid for an NRL team here - to put it politely - can’t stand each other.

Why the council would want to be some sort of peace negotiator, I’ll never know.

What it should be doing, is listening to Warriors CEO Cameron George. Who told me last week that, yes, a second New Zealand team would be great. But, first, the NRL itself needs to invest more to grow the game here.

He’s the guy I’m listening to. Because he’s known the realities of running an NRL club for the past nine years.

David Moffett and Sir Graham Lowe should be listening too.

And the Christchurch City Council should be staying well out of it.

LISTEN ABOVE

The idea of having a National Rugby League team based in Christchurch sounds brilliant.
Last weekend, when the Warriors were here, the place was teaming with people. Four-thousand of them from out of town.
Including a couple of National Rugby League honchos from across the ditch who, no doubt, were eyeing up One NZ Stadium and thinking they’d like a bit of the action here.
Which has the Christchurch City Council all excited. Because, apparently, it’s getting involved in trying to get a new NRL team up-and-running here.
It would be New Zealand’s second team in the competition, along with the Warriors.
The question is, though: Is this something the council should be getting itself involved in? Is it the council’s job?
My answer to that is, no.
So, what’s happened, is reports have surfaced that the city council is trying to bring two rival groups together to make a joint proposal for a new South Island-based NRL team.
It’s all tight-lipped on it. Refusing to say yay or nay.
But, as it’s being reported, it’s getting involved because the advice has been that, if a bid for a second NRL team in New Zealand is to be successful, then it needs community backing.
A bid just from a privately-owned outfit isn’t enough.
And that is why I don’t think the council should have any involvement in this.
Because this “community backing” is code for community money. Community underwriting.
And I’m not just making that up. Because there’s a new NRL club starting up in Australia next year called the Western Bears.
It’s had a truckload of public money poured into it by the Western Australian government, which has poured $85 million into it.
Now I’m not saying here that the Christchurch City Council is going to be pouring money into this new South Island NRL team if it eventuates. But I am saying that it’s not the council’s job to be involved in any way, shape or form.
Whatever happened to focusing on the basics?
What’s more, these two separate groups wanting to bid for an NRL team here - to put it politely - can’t stand each other.
Why the council would want to be some sort of peace negotiator, I’ll never know.
What it should be doing, is listening to Warriors CEO Cameron George. Who told me last week that, yes, a second New Zealand team would be great. But, first, the NRL itself needs to invest more to grow the game here.
He’s the guy I’m listening to. Because he’s known the realities of running an NRL club for the past nine years.
David Moffett and Sir Graham Lowe should be listening too.
And the Christchurch City Council should be staying well out of it.
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: I'm yeah nah on council's NRL pitch

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/de892e9a-f6ca-470a-8c00-b4740012ef8e/transcript

Politics Friday with Matt Doocey and Tracey McLellan on rural roads, solar, and fast-track

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