Nine To Noon

The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands has confirmed his government has finalised a security treaty with China. The agreement lays down a framework which could permit Beijing to deploy forces to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has described the deal as "gravely concerning". Kathryn speaks with Mihai Sora, a Research Fellow in the Pacific Islands Program at the Lowy Institute, and a former Australian diplomat to Solomon Islands.

NZME goes solo in negotiations with Google and Meta (Facebook) and Andrew says this will disappoint the broader media industry in NZ, who have applied to the Commerce Commission for approval to bargain collectively with the digital giants. Also Today FM has launched with Tova O'Brien doing the breakfast show. Andrew looks at how it's going so far. Andrew Holden is a journalist for more than 30 years including five as Editor of The Press (in Christchurch) and four as Editor-in-Chief of The Age in Melbourne.

When Chanelle Moriah was diagnosed with autism at age 21, life finally began to make sense. By then, there had been several misdiagnosis and six years in the mental health system. After the diagnosis, Chanelle went in search of information , but couldn't find much written from the perspective of someone with autism. So they wrote and illustrated their own book, now published by Allen & Unwin, and called I am Autistic: An interactive and informative guide to autism (by someone diagnosed with it).

Pattrick talks about suggestions that there almost needs to be a Ministry for Auckland, the supercity mayoral race and an imminent America's Cup decision. Also, there is increasingly pessimistic talk of a global recession this year, led by Europe, with the US teetering close to it too. What might that mean here?

Elisabeth Easther reviews Breathless by Amy McCulloch, published by Penguin Random House NZ

Our guest today is trying to work out why we think, and why we exist as cognitive beings. It turns out we're not very good at assessing ourselves and how we think. Which makes the whole thing difficult. Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex Anil Seth has put his work on the subject so far down in a new book titled Being You. He joins Kathryn to discuss the fabric of reality and why we have such a hard time comprehending it.

Relations between the US and Russia are close to a full collapse after President Biden's declaration that Russian leader Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power" . The off-the-cuff remark has potentially serious implications for Washington's ability to help end the war in Ukraine and avoid a wider conflict. Meanwhile in President Biden has just unveiled his budget for the 2023 fiscal year in which he calls for more military spending in the face of Russian aggression toward Ukraine. And the 94th Academy Awards may be remembered for Will Smith assaulting Chris Rock, but it made history too. Jane Campion won her first directing Oscar, having won in 1994 for her screenplay for "The Piano" - making her the third woman to win in the directing category.

In his new book Kainga Dr Paul Tapsell says too often Maori become alienated from their ancestral identity. He founded Maori.maps.com to help reconnection. The digital web service is particularly helping reconnect connecting urban-raised Maori youth to their ancestral communities. Dr Tapsell (Te Arawa, Tainui) is a museum curator, ethnographer and anthropologist. He's also former director Maori at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and a former Dean of the University of Otago's Te Tumu School of Maori, Pacific & Indigenous Studies

As more New Zealanders recover from Covid, we're exploring what is known about the health effects of Long Covid. As a nation our quick and stringent initial COVID-19 pandemic response has been praised, but two years on, focus is now turning to the long-term health effects and ongoing recovery. A WHO policy brief has suggested around 25 percent of people who have had the virus, will continue to have symptoms for at least a month, and three months on, around one in 10 people are still feeling unwell. So just how much is understood about this pandemic, the after effects of Long Covid and how to best manage it. Anna Brooks, is an immunologist and Senior lecturer at the University of Auckland, and she is part of a team of international researchers investigating the debilitating post viral condition. Dr Brooks says even asymptomatic people can get Long Covid. Kathryn will also talk to Dr Bronwyn Lennox Thompson about the implications for returning to exercise. She is a lecturer in Pain & Pain Management and Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch

Bill McKay discusses the merits and issues of construction in two popular materials and a better one: engineered timber. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.