Articles by John MacDonald
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Fuel relief plan is focusing on the wrong people
Friday, 20 March 2026, 11:28amI reckon the Government is going about this fuel price rescue package the wrong way. It seems to think it's doing the right...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: ANZAC force - are we biting off more than we can chew?
Thursday, 19 March 2026, 11:13amWhile I don't like the idea of us being dragged into the AUKUS military alliance with Australia, the UK, and the US, I think...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Food prices are one thing we can't blame on politicians
Wednesday, 18 March 2026, 12:43pmThere’s no doubt the Government has failed us on food prices. But then, it was always going to. In fact, any politician...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: The COVID toilet paper rush was OTT and so is this
Monday, 16 March 2026, 9:37amI’ve got a story which has Covid-19 toilet paper mania written all over it. I was blown away talking to someone in Christchurch...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: The only way to stop the tanks running dry
Friday, 13 March 2026, 11:54amAside 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...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Covid report has something for everyone
Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 12:21pmI don’t think there’ll be too many complaints about the report from phase two of the COVID inquiry. Because, for $14 million,...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Now is not the time to cut fuel taxes
Tuesday, 10 March 2026, 10:06amThe rubber is hitting the road for us here in New Zealand with fuel prices on the up because of the situation in the Middle...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: The main reason Luxon should stay
Monday, 9 March 2026, 12:30pmChristopher Luxon is at risk of sounding a bit like Joe Biden. You’ll remember the former US president bungled that election...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Social media ban gets no likes from me
Friday, 6 March 2026, 12:12pmYou know what the Government should do with this recommendation from a parliamentary select committee to ban under-16s from...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: What happened to our 1980s foreign policy mojo?
Wednesday, 4 March 2026, 12:37pmAre we still living in the same country that told America what to do with its nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ships? Are...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: This idea to fix Chch's stink problem stinks
Tuesday, 3 March 2026, 12:33pmCan you believe the Christchurch City Council is even entertaining the idea of pouring partially-treated wastewater into...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Fighting over govt statements won't bring peace
Monday, 2 March 2026, 12:33pmFormer Prime Minister Helen Clark hasn’t been slow in criticising our government’s response to the attacks on Iran. She’s...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: We should be shouting from the rooftops about solar
Tuesday, 24 February 2026, 2:33pmIsn’t it amazing that, after all the time spent wringing our hands over the price of electricity, we still haven’t bitten...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: This could be exactly what the monarchy needs
Friday, 20 February 2026, 12:37pmThe arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor tells me several things, one of which is how much the late Queen really dropped...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Spend more money? Tell him he's dreaming
Thursday, 19 February 2026, 12:40pmHow do you feel about being told you need to spend more money? That’s what the Reserve Bank’s chief economist wants you to...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: The Infrastructure Commission is talking my language
Wednesday, 18 February 2026, 12:13pmOne of the problems with politicians is that they often stake their political survival on big infrastructure projects. Which...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: The rise and rise of NZ First
Tuesday, 17 February 2026, 12:24pmNZ First is on the up, according to the latest 1News Verian poll. The result out last night had Winston Peters’ party on...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Less government ministers and departments? Easier said than done
Monday, 16 February 2026, 12:07pmIsn’t David Seymour the guy who got himself into government at the last election and then went and set up a new government...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Everyone should pay their way at Chch's new stadium
Friday, 13 February 2026, 8:40amChristchurch City Councillor Yani Johanson thinks we should all pay a special levy when we buy tickets for all events at...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Reserve Bank inquiry not political? Pull the other one
Thursday, 12 February 2026, 12:36pmDo you think there is anyone in New Zealand who believes the Government’s line that it’s a coincidence the findings of its...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: It's not just students from India we should be talking about
Wednesday, 11 February 2026, 12:52pmIs there anything about the Government’s free trade deal with India that anyone likes? The prime minister and the trade minister...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Importing gas isn't great - but it has to happen
Tuesday, 10 February 2026, 12:30pmLabour leader Chris Hipkins has fallen into the trap that I could very easily find myself falling into if I didn’t think...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: Would paying people more fix the jury system?
Monday, 9 February 2026, 12:24pmI’ve done a few things in my time. But one thing I haven’t done is serve on a jury. For a long time, I put it down to me...
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Opinion
John MacDonald: My question to you about the economy
Thursday, 5 February 2026, 12:25pmDo you feel better off than you did three years ago? With it being election year, that’s the question politicians are going...
