Today marks the beginning of Aotearoa’s newest ministry.  

The newly established Ministry for Disabled People is meant to act as a powerful voice for the needs of those living with disability.

A Cabinet paper described the previous system as one that is "fragmented, slow, hard to measure, and hasn't led to the credible policy”. 

So how will the new ministry deal with New Zealand’s long and ongoing history of ignoring and mistreating those who happen to have a disability? 

Later in this episode I’ll speak to academic, lawyer and disability rights activist Dr Huhana Hickey. 

Today, Damien talks firstly to former Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni, and then with academic, lawyer and disability rights activist Dr Huhana Hickey, about what the new Ministry hopes to achieve. 

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Host: Damien Venuto
Producer/Editor: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills 

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