When Gordonton’s Aaron Hopa died in a tragic diving accident off Whangamatā on December 8, 1998, he left a legacy shaped by rugby, whānau, and aroha. Ben Stanley tells the story of the greatest All Black you never knew. This story was made possible by The Spinoff’s Longform Fund for major journalism projects, and in … Read more
Fifty years ago, Peter Arnett became the first, and only, New Zealander to win the Pulitzer Prize, for his coverage of the Vietnam War. Ben Stanley met Arnett at his Los Angeles home – and learned about the silent season of our greatest newsman. First published March 22, 2016. Let me tell you a story … Read more
American college super-coach John Calipari talks to Ben Stanley about the progress and NBA prospects of Kentucky’s new Kiwi basketball recruit Tai Wynyard. He has coached four No. 1 overall NBA Draft picks, led two different schools to three NCAA Division I Championship Finals in the last eight years, and last year he was inducted into … Read more
From Memphis, sports writer Ben Stanley reflects on the enduring social impact of Muhammad Ali, who died last week aged 74. “I am America,” legendary boxer Muhammad Ali once declared. It was 1970. He had been convicted evading the draft to serve in the Vietnam War, and was losing the prime years of his boxing … Read more
Given his track record on social media it was only right that we would learn of Konrad Hurrell’s new NRL club via Facebook post, writes Ben Stanley. But will the Gold Coast prove boom or bust for the mercurial former Warrior? There would be no scoop by a Sydney tabloid. No official release timed by … Read more
Steven Adams was considered a risky choice when the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 12th pick of the 2013 NBA draft. Now he’s a pivotal player in their ongoing Western Conference finals series against the Golden State Warriors. Ben Stanley drove seven hours for five minutes with New Zealand’s rising basketball superstar. “Raindrop!” … Read more
Fifty years ago, Peter Arnett became the first, and only, New Zealander to win the Pulitzer Prize, for his coverage of the Vietnam War. Ben Stanley met Arnett at his Los Angeles home – and learned about the silent season of our greatest newsman. First published in the summer 2015 issue of Barkers’ 1972 magazine. … Read more
The NRL ought to use players like Packer and Greg Bird as ‘What Not To Do’ mentors to help young players avoid making the same mistakes they did, writes Ben Stanley. The Russell Packer redemption song reached its crescendo in Melbourne on Monday. It was sung in hushed tones, really. There he was: just another … Read more
Ben Stanley spoke with midfield vet Simon Elliott about his time in the Premier League, the All Whites’ 2010 World Cup campaign, and why New Zealand football hasn’t kept up its momentum. It was a thing of beauty from Simon Elliott. A long, looping cross streaming above the turf at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, dropping down … Read more
Once a New Zealand youth rugby star, Paul Lasike always harboured ambitions to play in the NFL. He is now closer than ever, running plays with the Chicago Bears practice squad. Ben Stanley looks at the kiwi kid who feels the door is open, and who wants desperately to walk right through it. Paul Lasike remembers the night he decided to give up … Read more
There are no guarantees on the Pro Surfing Tour as New Zealand’s Ricardo Christie found out in his debut WSL season. Heading into the final event of the year, Christie will surf for his tour survival and, as Ben Stanley discovers, he could do with a little luck. Sleazy, funky and doused in a brash … Read more
Tipped by many to become New Zealand’s greatest ever batsman, 25-year old Kane Williamson has already scored 12 test centuries and 16 test half-centuries. Ben Stanley goes in search of his power, and finds the answer in the Four Noble Truths. For Kane Williamson, it was just another shot played on the third morning of the … Read more
Ben Stanley meets with Pulitzer Prize winning Southlander Peter Arnett – arguably the finest war correspondent ever – to talk about journalism and where it’s headed. This Q&A is taken from interviews associated with the cover story of Barkers’ 1972 magazine – the latest issue is in stores now. Despite the changing face of media, it … Read more
Ben Stanley embarks on a True Detective pilgrimage, visiting the most famous Louisiana sites from the first season. Pensive but mystically lucid, Rust Cohle looks up from a half-empty Lone Star, and considers his answer. Two detectives stare him down in a cigarette smoke-filled New Orleans cop station room. They’ve been bailing up Rust – everyone’s … Read more