Articles by John MacDonald
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: The Govt's moral obligation to get rid of open-plan classrooms
Thursday, 17 July 2025, 1:20pmEducation Minister Erica Stanford is my politician of the day for announcing that the Government isn't going to be building...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: If you see Shane Jones, tell him he's dreaming
Wednesday, 16 July 2025, 1:08pmAssociate Energy Minister Shane Jones says we live in uncertain times and, because of that, we need to crank up the Marsden...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: This is one piece of Rogernomics that makes sense
Tuesday, 15 July 2025, 12:49pmHow about this for an idea? Instead of the tax people pay on the first $60,000 of their income going to the government,...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Import gas or cross our fingers and hope?
Friday, 11 July 2025, 2:33pmNot as straightforward as it sounds. That’s pretty much the message coming through loud and clear in this new report which...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Boris Johnson fronted-up to a Covid inquiry - Chris Hipkins should too
Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 1:05pmLabour leader and former Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins thinks phase two of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Why do families earning $200K-plus need govt. support?
Tuesday, 8 July 2025, 1:09pmIsn’t it funny how the Government likes to talk about government support needing to be based on need, but seems to forget...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Snake oil political promises have just been given a life line
Thursday, 3 July 2025, 12:42pmWhen there’s an election campaign happening, how much do you care about the cost of the policies the political parties are...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Will police and judges deliver what the Govt wants?
Wednesday, 2 July 2025, 1:01pmThe Government has obviously decided that its law and order week. It started with tougher sentences for people who attack...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: How would you feel about paying more tax?
Friday, 27 June 2025, 1:03pmHow do you feel about the prospect of paying higher income tax rates and more GST? I think it’s inevitable. So does the...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Attention motorists, more user-pays is on the way
Thursday, 26 June 2025, 12:50pmThe Infrastructure Commission's draft 30-year plan is the kind of big picture thinking we’ve been saying is needed, instead...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Weapons in schools are the canary in the mine
Wednesday, 25 June 2025, 12:56pmIf we choose to ignore or downplay this new information out today about kids taking weapons to school, we’ll be doing it...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Capping council rates isn't a solution
Tuesday, 24 June 2025, 12:45pmChristchurch Mayor Phil Mauger is in campaign mode for this year’s elections, saying that he thinks the Government might...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: The Govt.'s into local decision-making - when it suits
Thursday, 19 June 2025, 3:10pmThe Government’s been making it increasingly clear over time that it doesn’t really give two-hoots about local democracy....
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: We need a one-size-fits-all life jacket rule
Wednesday, 18 June 2025, 12:49pmHow weird is it that there are different rules or expectations regarding life jackets, depending on where you are in the...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: A closer look at our mental health hospitals is overdue
Tuesday, 17 June 2025, 1:22pmIt was bad enough that a patient at Hillmorton Hospital who had threatened to kill was still allowed to come and go and ended...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Police cameras yes - with a couple of provisos
Monday, 16 June 2025, 3:13pmI’ve surprised myself a little bit with my reaction to the news the police are looking at introducing body cameras. Generally,...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Australia might have AUKUS-buyer's remorse
Friday, 13 June 2025, 1:33pmDonald Trump won’t be too happy with Helen Clark right now, because she’s saying she doesn't want New Zealand to be an ally...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Wool carpet is great - but not everywhere
Thursday, 12 June 2025, 1:24pmI’m all for the push to have wool carpet used in government buildings but I think it’s a mistake putting it in state homes....
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: People should have known about mentally-unwell gardener
Wednesday, 11 June 2025, 1:04pmI’m not exactly sure where to start with this, because it is just so tragic and there is so much to it. I could start by...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: The Govt needs some skin in the solar game
Tuesday, 10 June 2025, 12:27pmHow would you feel if the Government came out and said solar energy is the future and it was going to throw everything at...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: The modern learning environment - pipedream turned nightmare
Friday, 6 June 2025, 1:11pmImagine a school having $800,000 in the bank. Imagine all the things a school could buy with that amount of money. This...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Privacy Commissioner says facial recognition's okay, but...
Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 1:15pmI am really torn. Because when it comes to facial recognition technology, I’ve always been of the view that if you’re not...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: The dangers of tinkering with Health and Safety
Tuesday, 3 June 2025, 1:02pmIf there’s anyone who shouldn't be told they can wind things back on the health and safety front, it’s a New Zealander. Because...
-
Opinion
John MacDonald: Finger-wagging won't get more kids going to school
Friday, 30 May 2025, 12:42pmI can’t find an exact figure but from what I have seen online, I’m pretty confident in saying that there are hundreds of...
