Ronan Keating has been performing for over 30 years. 

He debuted in 1993 as the frontman of Boyzone, going on to have an extremely successful solo career from 1999.  

Keating joined John MacDonald to talk about his rise to fame, life as a grandfather, and what we can expect to see at Selwyn Sounds in 2026.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Ronan Keating has been performing for over 30 years.&nbsp;
He debuted in 1993 as the frontman of Boyzone, going on to have an extremely successful solo career from 1999. &nbsp;
Keating joined John MacDonald to talk about his rise to fame, life as a grandfather, and what we can expect to see at Selwyn Sounds in 2026. &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

Ronan Keating: Musician talks his career, Boyzone, Selwyn Sounds

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3aea7eb1-d181-4d99-ba24-b33900243813/transcript

Aside from trying to make sure we don’t run out of fuel because of what’s going on in the middle east, the other challenge the Government has on its hands is that we’re not the country we were six years. 

Six years ago, when COVID first hit, we were much more compliant. Way more than we are now. 

Six years ago - by and large - we all went along with all the restrictions and the initial lockdowns without too much resistance. 

These days, it’s a different story. Which is why i think the government would be pushing it uphill with some of the fuel conservation ideas being thrown around. 

I think it’s brilliant that the Government is thinking about this now and not waiting until the tanks are starting to go dry. Which is about 50 days away from happening, according to Finance Minister Nicola Willis 

She says if new orders started being disrupted, then the Government would have to think about prioritising fuel for the likes of emergency services and the transport industry and other measures, such as car-less days, fuel rationing and working from home.  

Let’s start with car-less days. The only way I could see them working was if insurance companies came out and said they wouldn’t cover a vehicle if it was driven on the nominated car-less day. 

I don’t think more working from home would make much difference, either. Because people would still use their vehicles.  

If anything, fuel rationing would be the only practical way of reducing fuel consumption. Because, if you can’t buy it, you can’t use it.  

LISTEN ABOVE

Aside from trying to make sure we don’t run out of fuel because of what’s going on in the middle east, the other challenge the Government has on its hands is that we’re not the country we were six years.&nbsp;
Six years ago, when COVID first hit, we were much more compliant. Way more than we are now.&nbsp;
Six years ago - by and large - we all went along with all the restrictions and the initial lockdowns without too much resistance.&nbsp;
These days, it’s a different story. Which is why i think the government would be pushing it uphill with some of the fuel conservation ideas being thrown around.&nbsp;
I think it’s brilliant that the Government is thinking about this now and not waiting until the tanks are starting to go dry. Which is about 50 days away from happening, according to Finance Minister Nicola Willis&nbsp;
She says if new orders started being disrupted, then the Government would have to think about prioritising fuel for the likes of emergency services and the transport industry and other measures, such as car-less days, fuel rationing and working from home. &nbsp;
Let’s start with car-less days. The only way I could see them working was if insurance companies came out and said they wouldn’t cover a vehicle if it was driven on the nominated car-less day.&nbsp;
I don’t think more working from home would make much difference, either. Because people would still use their vehicles. &nbsp;
If anything, fuel rationing would be the only practical way of reducing fuel consumption. Because, if you can’t buy it, you can’t use it. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

John MacDonald: The only way to stop the tanks running dry

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/46de0545-8df1-46a3-927d-b40b0184db93/transcript

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

They covered some of the biggest topics from the week, including the release of the second phase of the Covid Inquiry, if more public money is required for the Christ Church Cathedral, and what is the landmark you think of when you think of Christchurch?

LISTEN ABOVE

<p style="border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / .5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; color: rgb(55, 65, 81); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">National's Hamish Campbell and Labour's Tracey McLellan joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week.&nbsp;
<p style="border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / .5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(55, 65, 81); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">They covered some of the biggest topics from the week, including the release of the second phase of the Covid Inquiry, if more public money is required for the Christ Church Cathedral, and what is the landmark you think of when you think of Christchurch?
<p style="border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; --tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / .5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(55, 65, 81); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">LISTEN ABOVE

Politics Friday: Hamish Campbell and Tracey McLellan on the Covid inquiry, Christ Church Cathedral, and Car-less days

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/44a59982-ff14-45c6-8c89-b40b01696b7f/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

Ronan Keating: Musician talks his career, Boyzone, Selwyn Sounds

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