The Wire with Manny

On this week's episode of Strangest Things, Liam took a look at the ongoing saga of Chickens terrorizing West Auckland suburb Titirangi.

Chickens loose in the streets are bring cat-sized-rats into the street and are causing sleep deprivation by “boking” incredibly loud early in the mornings,

Although chickens have been affecting the area for years, it came to a head in 2019 when the council invested twenty five thousand dollars  into their removal. However, they've returned.

Liam had a chat with Greg Presland, the deputy chairperson of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board, on the issue.

Following March’s Commerce Commission inquiry which found that the two big supermarket chains, Woolworths and Foodstuffs, were using their dominant market position to push excess costs and uncertainty onto suppliers, the government has made steps towards increasing competition in the supermarket industry.

One of the steps was announced yesterday - introducing a grocery commissioner and a mandatory code of conduct to ensure suppliers to supermarkets get a fair deal.

Emilia Sullivan spoke to Chief Executive of Consumer NZ, Jon Duffy about the grocery watchdog and code of conduct.

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.

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.