Articles by John MacDonald
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Would harsher fines really change driver behaviour?
Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 1:01pmIsn’t it weird that, in the past 25 years, we have spent millions and millions and millions of dollars on road safety campaigns,...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Compulsory helmets for skaters is a no-brainer
Tuesday, 14 October 2025, 1:11pmI’m right behind the call being made today for helmets to be made mandatory at recreational ice skating and roller skating...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: We need compulsory voting
Monday, 13 October 2025, 1:03pmIf you voted in this year’s local body elections, congratulations. You can consider yourself a member of a very exclusive...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Isn't the Drug Foundation stating the obvious?
Thursday, 9 October 2025, 1:03pmI support the NZ Drug Foundation’s push to decriminalise drug use and drug possession. The key point here is “use” and...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Keeping victims of crime in the dark isn't good enough
Thursday, 9 October 2025, 11:34amIs it good enough that the victim of a nasty assault in Christchurch has had to hound the police for four weeks to find out...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Is the ED in our second-largest city up to scratch?
Tuesday, 23 September 2025, 1:15pmIs it good enough? When you hear a doctor at Christchurch Hospital say that patients are dying in the waiting room and car...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Residential parking permits - yay or nay?
Monday, 22 September 2025, 12:41pmWould you be happy to pay $110-a-year for a residential parking permit, so you could get a park outside your place whenever...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Still confident in and patient with the Government?
Friday, 19 September 2025, 1:33pmMy confidence is shot and my patience is wearing thin. That’s my answer to the question I’ve got for you. Which is: How would...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: E-scooters need to be classified as vehicles
Monday, 15 September 2025, 12:52pmIf the amount of money spent on ACC claims over the past five years for e-scooter injuries doesn’t convince you that tighter...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: How important is it that Tom Phillips' enablers are found?
Wednesday, 10 September 2025, 12:53pmI’ve really surprised myself. Because, even though I think it’s totally shameful that people have been helping Tom Phillips...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: I was wrong and the police were right
Tuesday, 9 September 2025, 1:17pmI was wrong and the police were right. After yesterday’s events, I’ll admit that I was wrong when I said over the last...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Compulsory KiwiSaver is a no-brainer
Monday, 8 September 2025, 1:20pmWinston Peters’ idea of making KiwiSaver compulsory is a no-brainer. It’s not a new idea. But it’s a great idea. It’s also...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Do heavy court workloads justify crims getting off lightly?
Thursday, 4 September 2025, 12:49pmSir Ron Young, who used to be a high court judge and used to be chair of the Parole Board, thinks shorter sentences could...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Who says we're drinking responsibly?
Friday, 29 August 2025, 1:55pmAssociate Health Minister Nicole McKee is talking nonsense when she says most of us who drink alcohol do it responsibly. If...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: The not-so-super rescue plan for shoppers
Thursday, 28 August 2025, 3:01pmIt’s just over four years since the Commerce Commission released its first report on the supermarket sector in New Zealand...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: The absurdity of our insurance market
Wednesday, 27 August 2025, 2:05pmIf this doesn’t convince you that the insurance system in this country is broken, nothing will. Consumer NZ has revealed...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Is user-pays being taken too far?
Monday, 25 August 2025, 12:55pmWe'll be chewing through the power in the south this week with the frosty weather. Which is the "ideal time" for Transpower...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Fix the Clean Slate law or get rid of it?
Friday, 22 August 2025, 12:39pmHow do you feel about people being allowed to hide their convictions? There are two ways of doing it. 1) Just don’t tell...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Regional council's tone deaf $40k pay increase
Thursday, 21 August 2025, 1:14pmWhat would you say to a $40,000 pay rise? Yes please? If you’re the chief executive of Environment Canterbury regional council,...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Are councils really the best outfits to be in charge of the water?
Tuesday, 19 August 2025, 12:56pmWe are going to pay more for water services. But even though it's coming about because of government policy, I’m not blaming...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Should NZ build a nuclear reactor to attract tech giants?
Monday, 18 August 2025, 12:30pmHow would you feel about New Zealand building small nuclear reactors to generate more power? That’s what the Maxim Institute...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: How do we pay for new roads without tolls?
Wednesday, 13 August 2025, 5:21pmLike anyone, if I can get something for free - I’ll take it. But if it’s something I have to pay for, then I’ll pay it. Which...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Here's why Luxon and Hipkins are neck-and-neck
Tuesday, 12 August 2025, 12:53pmIf I asked you who you would rather go and have a beer with, Christopher Luxon or Chris Hipkins, who would you choose? I’d...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: The stadium train is an excellent idea - let's make the most of it
Monday, 11 August 2025, 1:00pmTOPIC 1 EDITORIAL: STADIUM TRAIN I love this plan for an express passenger train to get people into Christchurch for events...
