Nine To Noon

09:05 Medical Council investigates complaints over medicinal cannabis

The Medical Council is investigating complaints made against doctors involved in prescribing medicinal cannabis. Concerns, including formal complaints, have been raised by patients and their families and other health professionals. A range of complaints covers the prescriber supplying direct to the patient and the on-going cost. The Chair of the Medical Council,  Dr  Rachelle Love, says best practice is for a doctor to be able to do a full assessment of the patient and their medical history, to be able to offer a range of treatments, not just one options and for the patient to be fully informed. Dr Love joins Kathryn to discuss the concerns that have been raised with the Medical Council. 

09:20 Consumer advocate says bank protections 'half-baked'

The Code of Banking Practice is being updated to better protect customers from scammers - including pre-transaction warnings, a new 24/7 reporting channel and refunds of up to half a million dollars if a case meets certain criteria.  The confirmation of payee service - where banks identify if a bank account matches a name that goes with it - was rolled out in November.  The Banking Association says the new measures will better protect customers, but a long-time advocate for scam victims isn't convinced. Kathryn speaks with Janine Starks.

09:30 How might the US's planned withdrawal from the WHO hit plans to avoid future pandemics?

Towards the end of January this year the US President signed a notice to withdraw from the World Health Organisation. The White House said the decision was due to the WHO's poor handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms and inability to demonstrate political independence. In the same order, the president paused the transfer of US funds, and resources to WHO. It will be a year before the order takes effect. The WHO has responded by saying it hopes the US will reconsider and outlining what it says is a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world's people - including Americans. But what are the implications for global health and the WHO's ability to track any possibly future pandemic? Kathryn speaks to Alexandra Finch, an adjunct professor at the O'Neil Institute for National and Global Health Law, which is  part of Washington's Georgetown University, who says the decision has already spurred drastic cost-cutting measures at the WHO.

09:45 UK: Uniting the right, wooing Trump on trade, driving test wait

UK correspondent Dan Bloom joins Kathryn to talk about leaked audio from Tory Robert Jenrick, a former leadership hopeful, suggesting Britain's warring right wing parties could be brought together. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signaled the UK could lower tariffs on US car imports in return for a trade deal and the government has pledged to tackle the half-year wait for driving tests.

Dan Bloom is Political Editor of Politico's London Playbook 

10:05  Belinda Robinson: Unforgetting the past

Belinda Robinson is the daughter of famous New Zealand playwright Bruce Mason and the obstetrician Diana Mason. She is the eldest of three children, who grew up in Kilbirnie, Wellington, where their parents were well known in literary and medical circles. What wasn't known to anyone, was that the nanny employed by the family for eight years was abusing Belinda, her brother and sister - physically, psychologically and possibly sexually. In 1962, aged 13, she told her mother what had been happening, at the same time as her younger brother revealed the abuse to their father. Six decades later, Belinda Robinson has written a memoir about that dreadful eight years, and how she and the family tried to heal afterwards. She also writes about her discovery - much later in life - that her father had been gay; and interrogates her parents' marriage and her own thorny relationship with her mother. Belinda speaks with Kathryn Ryan about Unforgetting: A Memoir.

10:35 Book review: Strangers in Time by David Baldacci 

Phil Vine reviews Strangers in Time by David Baldacci published by Pan Macmillan

10:45 Around the motu: Tess Brunton in Dunedin

Tess discusses the barriers facing those seeking mental health support in Wānaka, an abuse survivor who helped to expose a child sex offender, said it has been validating to see his artwork taken down, dogs may be banned from a popular Southland track, and Ōamaru's Little Blue Penguins are laying eggs three months early.

Tess Brunton is an RNZ reporter in Dunedin covering Otago and Southland.

11:05 Tech: Could Google be broken up? Smart TV to target your emotions

Technology journalist Bill Bennett looks at two court cases brought against Google that could have big implications for the company - and possibly how we use the internet. LG has teamed up with a tech company Zenapse to develop a TV capable of reading your emotions - so you can be targeted with the right ads. Research commissioned by 2degrees finds Kiwis are feeling overrun by notifications on their phones. 

Bill Bennett is an Auckland-based technology journalist

11:25 Parenting: what 13-year-olds feel about school, teachers and friendships

New data from NZ's largest ongoing cohort study - the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study - shows social connections and caring teachers are top of the list for 13-year-olds when talking about school life. They particularly want time and space to develop meaningful social connections with their peers. Bullying remains a major concern, but kids are well aware of the bullying risks on platforms like social media. The research was done with an app co-designed with 13-year-olds that the children could use to write, record audio or video responses to how their school life was going. The research is done through the Our Voices programme, which is an offshoot attached to the wider longitudinal study. Dr Emma Marks, an Auckland University research fellow in social and community health, talks to Kathryn. 

11:45 Screentime: The Man Who Stole the Scream, Choir Games, Andor s2

Film and television reviewer James Croot joins Kathryn to discuss The Man Who Stole the Scream (Sky Arts), which is about the footballer-turned-thief who stole Edvard Munch's famous work during the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway. Choir Games (Sky Open/Neon from May 4) follows two choirs from Kaitaia and New York who compete at the World Choir Games. Can Disney's Andor season two match the hype of the first? And Your Friends and Neighbors (Apple TV+) follows a disgraced hedge fund manager who starts stealing from his neighbours - only to find they hide a lot of secrets.

James Croot is film and television reviewer for Stuff