The Wire with Oto

Last week, on Monday 18th March, Whaikaha - the Ministry for Disabled People announced that it was making changes to its Purchasing Rules and Equipment and Modification Services. 

These changes mean that people can no longer use disability funding for expenses that provide respite, self-care services for carers and whānau, gifts for volunteers providing support, and overseas and domestic travel costs. 

The changes came into effect the same day they were announced. 

Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Labour MP and Spokesperson for Disability Issues, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, about these changes and the implications they will have for disabled communities and whānau. 

For their regular catch-up News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to ACT’s Simon Court about youth vaping, public sector cuts, and calls for the government to create a special humanitarian visa for Palestinians in Gaza with family connections to New Zealand.

She also spoke to Co-Founder of Vape-Free Kids NZ, Marnie Wilton, and Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Bioengineering Institute, Kelly Burrowes, about how effective they believe the government’s new measures to reduce youth vaping will be.

Producer Ezra spoke to Pharmacy Lecturer Dr Jay Gong, and Clinical Pharmacist, Hoda Fahmy, from the University of Auckland, about a rise in opioid misuse among older adult and post-surgery patients.

Producer Jasmine Gray speaks with Professor of Māori Studies Margaret Mutu of Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, and Ngāti Whātua. As chairperson of Matike Mai Aotearoa and of Te Rūnanga-a-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu, Margaret shares with us the path to securing indigenous rights in Aotearoa in light of the upcoming hui on this kaupapa hosted at Waipapa Taumata Rau in April.

Yesterday the Western line was closed for some stops including between New Market and Britomart, while two Britomart stations remained closed due to KiwiRail maintenance issues. This won’t surprise commuters in Tāmaki Makaurau who are far too used to trains not running or turning up.

Caeden spoke to West Auckland based counsellor Shane Henderson about our public transport woes and the success of the cost-cutting budget. Here is that interview.