The Wire with Emilia Sullivan

In its first full term with a six-justice conservative majority, the Supreme Court spent the last few days of their sitting issuing far-reaching decisions that will transform American life. Last week we spoke about the court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, leaving abortion rights up to states to decide.

They also ruled in the case of West Virginia vs. the Environmental Protection Agency, which held that the Obama-era Clean Power Plan exceeded the U.S. EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act.

Kevin Trenberth was involved in the earlier stages of this case prior to it heading to the Supreme Court, and Emilia Sullivan spoke to him about what this ruling told us, and what it means for climate change in the future.

This week on The Wire for Rāpare Thursday!

Tuva’a Clifton speaks to Labour Party’s Andrew Little about Health New Zealand as we get to the end of its first week of operation

Emilia Sullivan will be speaking to David Welch from Auckland Uni about the new Omicron wave in Aotearoa

She'll also be speaking to Kevin Trenberth about the US Supreme Court’s ruling on the scope of powers conferred on the Environmental Protection Agency.

And finally she'll be speaking to Consumer NZ Chief Executive Jon Duffy about the establishment of a grocery commissioner and a mandatory code of conduct in the battle against the supermarket duopoly.

That's us for the Thursday Wire! See you next week.

Alex chats with ACT’s Brooke van Velden about the EU Free Trade Deal and the rise in gun crime in Auckland.

Joe speaks to Hon Poto Williams about the launch of the Ministry for the Disabled

Trishil talks about the ban on Juul e-cigarettes in the US and interviews Sarah Helm from the New Zealand Drug Foundation about New Zealand vaping culture and whether the ban in the US could affect New Zealand

Alex then chats with Ian Powell, the former Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, about the new Maori Health Authority 

And there is also Eurovision, Aneeka’s weekly catchup with Europe correspondent Cameron Adams

Last Friday the Government launched Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People, and New Zealand’s first Ministry that will have a NZ Sign Language name, as well as Te Reo Māori and English names. This follows Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority also officially taking effect, in what is regarded as a fully national health service. Last year the government announced a suite of changes for disabled people as part of the Health and Disability System reforms. Budget 2022 also saw over $1 billion of new funding go into the disability sector. 

Minister for Disability Issues Hon Poto Williams sez “In the spirit of ‘Nothing About Us, Without Us’, the new Ministry will start the ball rolling with ensuring the Ministry’s culture and values are mana-enhancing, the governance and partnership arrangements are meaningful, and the mechanisms that will give effect to disabled peoples voices are enduring. The Ministry will lead and coordinate disability policy across government, including improving outcomes for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, health and wellbeing.

Joe speaks with Hon Poto Williams about the launch of Whaikaha - the Ministry for the Disabled.