The Wire with Oto

Last week, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced a series of changes to Aotearoa's health system following years of delays, understaffing, and overcrowding. Brown particularly highlighted a need for public-private partnerships to reduce wait times. 

Also in politics this past week, NZ First leader Winston Peters has been raising complaints about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) measures in Aotearoa. His concerns echo those in the United States, where recently elected president Donald Trump has enacted policies removing DEI measures from federal agencies. 

In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire Host Castor asked about each of these issues, starting with the health sector overhaul.

Canadian-born billionaire James Grenon, after recently purchasing a 9.3% share of NZME; the media company that owns The Herald, as well as roughly half the country's radio stations, including Newstalk ZB, has announced plans to clear the NZME board and add himself, alongside three other directors, only keeping one of the original board members in their position.

This has resulted in concerns about whether Grenon will add his own political stances into media coverage of NZME platforms, especially in light of his involvement with the alternative media site, The Centrist, that has previously criticised the news coverage of The Herald.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Director of E Tū Union; a union representing many journalists at NZME, Michael Wood, about his concerns with this move, and whether he believes there is an ulterior motive regarding these developments.

Firstly, they started off by asking him about what we know about James Grenon.

Bowel Cancer NZ has called the changes to screening ‘a step backwards for health equity.’ 

Māori face 50% and Pacific peoples 63% higher death rates from the disease once diagnosed. Māori, in particular, are diagnosed with bowel cancer an average of 10 years earlier than the general population.The organisation says a standard screening age does not adequately address the increased risk that Māori and Pasifika communities face.

Just one week earlier Bowel Cancer New Zealand presented proposals to the Health Minister -  detailing how parity with Australia – which screens from age 45 – could be fully achieved. 

The proposals also outlined how to ensure equitable screening access for Māori and Pacific communities, who face bowel cancer risk a decade earlier.

On Friday, Producer Evie spoke to Bowel Cancer NZ Chief Executive Peter Huskinson about the changes to screening and what impacts it will have on patients.

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following his clash with US President, Donald Trump, has once initiated discussions to move forward a minerals deal with his US counterpart.

During the original discussions, Trump, alongside US Vice President, JD Vance, berated Zelenskyy, which resulted in the Ukrainian President walking out of the Oval Office without signing a minerals deal between the two nations, which the White House says is a precursor to peace talks.

This all comes as the US has abruptly halted US military aid to Ukraine.

News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the honorary academic and retired Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, Stephen Hoadley, about this clash, and his opinion that Trump will do a u-turn and start providing military aid to Ukraine, despite the US aligning closer to Russia.

They started off by asking how important this minerals deal is regarding the relationship between the US and Ukraine.