The Spinoff

Writers festivals, a prayer for peace, Siva Afi and more: The Spinoff event guide It's festival fever again this week....

Writers festivals, a prayer for peace, Siva Afi and more: The Spinoff event guide

Vale Neville Peat, 1947–2026 Remembering the respected conservationist, prolific author and man of extraordinary talent and generosity....

Vale Neville Peat, 1947–2026

One MP, One Pint: Francisco Hernandez on the Greens being ‘so fucking back’ The Green MP on 'trying to fuck the government', and the 'niche Filipino' issue he wants to lobby Christopher Luxon on....

One MP, One Pint: Francisco Hernandez on the Greens being ‘so fucking back’

How to survive in Wellington right now The mood around the Phoenix reflects the feeling of the city at large: the good days are behind us. But there are plenty of reasons for not giving up on Pōneke....

How to survive in Wellington right now

Help Me Hera: Is the world ending? And if so, should I be having more gay sex?...

Help Me Hera: Is the world ending?

Are welfare reforms leaving vulnerable New Zealanders with nowhere to turn? New data reveals that emergency assistance is getting harder to access – and that benefit sanctions aren't reducing the number of people on the dole....

Are welfare reforms leaving vulnerable New Zealanders with nowhere to turn?

A timeline of Dunedin councillor Benedict Ong’s dramatic first term Being escorted from a council meeting with tape over his mouth was the culmination of months of eyebrow-raising behaviour....

A timeline of Dunedin councillor Benedict Ong’s dramatic first term

The most curious costs from a year of ministerial credit card bills We've trawled through thousands of tatty receipts and scrawled signatures so you don't have to....

The most curious costs from a year of ministerial credit card bills

Dave Rennie possesses the most important attribute for an All Blacks coach All the best All Blacks coaches look more or less permanently like they've just watched someone open-mouth sneezing into their meal....

Dave Rennie possesses the most important attribute for an All Blacks coach

NZR couldn’t lose by announcing Dave Rennie as new All Blacks coach This is their chance to flip the script....

NZR couldn’t lose by announcing Dave Rennie as new All Blacks coach

Carrying the weight of Prima Facie, the most important play of the post-MeToo era How does it feel to perform a one-woman sexual assault courtroom drama every night?...

Carrying the weight of Prima Facie, the most important play of the post-MeToo era

Emergency food grant decline rates up 60% in two years The Ministry of Social Development's 'strengthened hardship approvals' are seeing more emergency assistance requests being turned down....

Emergency food grant decline rates up 60% in two years

‘Eat a lemon and sound tougher’: Wayne Brown’s election advice for party leaders With Auckland shaping up as the key battleground, the mayor issues the tips and dishes the dirt....

‘Eat a lemon and sound tougher’: Wayne Brown’s election advice for party leaders

The lucky country’s luck might be running out For the first time in years, Australia's growth is set to fall behind New Zealand's. How the heck did that happen?...

The lucky country’s luck might be running out

It’s surprising that Jacinda Ardern has made the 2026 Ockham Book Awards shortlist Surprise inclusions, shock exclusions and plenty of debates to be had. The 16 books still in the running for the biggest prize in NZ literature, revealed....

It’s surprising that Jacinda Ardern has made the 2026 Ockham Book Awards shortlist

New Zealand’s economy is set to outpace Australia’s. Will it convince Kiwis to come home? The Reserve Bank thinks the New Zealand economy will grow faster than Australia's over the next two years. But don't start celebrating too soon....

New Zealand’s economy is set to outpace Australia’s. Will it convince Kiwis to come home?

Lunar eclipse debate: I’m sick of the damn moon vs what is wrong with you, you joyless sadsack Tonight, New Zealanders will be able to observe a rare total lunar eclipse. The Spinoff’s resident moon hater and moon enthusiast ask, what’s the point?...

Lunar eclipse debate: I’m sick of the damn moon vs what is wrong with you, you joyless sadsack

I got to listen to the private thoughts and feelings of David Lange Greg Bruce is one of the few to have ever listened to David Lange's diaries. He came away angry that we have stopped recording diaries with prime ministers....

I got to listen to the private thoughts and feelings of David Lange

Vale Jim Wilson: poster baron, poetry advocate and all-round colourful character Remembering the man behind Phantom Billstickers with a typically lively excerpt from his 2022 memoir....

Vale Jim Wilson: poster baron, poetry advocate and all-round colourful character

Auckland’s Queens Arcade is closing for a luxury makeover. Where will the stores go? With the historic shopping spot getting a high-end revamp, we find out what's happening to the current tenants....

Auckland’s Queens Arcade is closing for a luxury makeover. Where will the stores go?

The cost of being: a London-based New Zealander ‘slumming it on terrible espressos’ 'A decent flat white costs $9-10 here, and even then is but a pale memory of Coffee Supreme or People’s.'...

The cost of being: a London-based New Zealander ‘slumming it on terrible espressos’

Why you should get excited about tonight’s lunar eclipse A passionate argument for staying up late, going outside and marvelling at the red moon....

Why you should get excited about tonight’s lunar eclipse

NZ braces for higher petrol prices – and lower market returns – as Iran conflict bites Fuel prices, airfares and stock market returns are all at risk amid the Middle East upheaval, threatening New Zealand’s fragile economic recovery....

NZ braces for higher petrol prices – and lower market returns – as Iran conflict bites

New Zealand affirms its commitment to being noncommittal in Iran response The best way to think of our position on the US military strikes is as the closest you can get to not having a position while still saying words....

New Zealand affirms its commitment to being noncommittal in Iran response

New To Streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week Prepare to farewell Jamie Fraser in the eighth and final season of Outlander....

New To Streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week

Survey points to cost-of-living election 2.0 – and an intriguing immigration result Seven points of interest from the new Ipsos Issues Monitor....

Survey points to cost-of-living election 2.0 – and an intriguing immigration result

Mingwei Qin is surely NZ’s most interesting real estate agent ever He's donned tiaras and re-enacted scenes from the Titanic to sell houses. He's also listed close to $300m in property in one year....

Mingwei Qin is surely NZ’s most interesting real estate agent ever

A little better every day: ‘As the parent of an autistic kid, this just makes sense’ Inside one of six Mini Woolies giving students a chance to have fun and learn skills that will help set them up for everyday life....

A little better every day: ‘As the parent of an autistic kid, this just makes sense’

A Samsung convert visits the spiritual home of Apple A multi-media journalist and former iPhone user visits the home of Apple and a large percentage of the earth’s tech bros. Will this place tempt him back?...

A Samsung convert visits the spiritual home of Apple

Pacific profiles: Keeping I-Kiribati culture alive in Aotearoa 'If we don’t keep our kids active and consistently engaged in the culture, then the traditions will be lost.'...

Pacific profiles: Keeping I-Kiribati culture alive in Aotearoa