Henry OliverHenry Oliver

Henry Oliver is the Spinoff's former music editor. He is now editor of Metro magazine.

The memeing of life: An interview with digital campaign whizzes Sean Topham and Ben Guerin

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They’ve received acclaim and opprobrium for digital media campaigns for everyone from NZ’s National Party to the Australian Liberals and Boris Johnson’s Brexiteering Tories. Topham Guerin worked, too, for the NZ government Covid response. But, New Zealand’s international digital campaign wunderkinds tell Henry Oliver, their agency’s future is not political. In these politically polarised times, … Read more

What the Pace scheme did for me

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As part of a $175 million arts package, a new $7.5 million ‘Careers Support for Creative Jobseekers’ programme was announced today, building on ‘the most successful aspects’ of the former Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment (Pace) programme, which ran from 2001-2012. Former Pace recipient Henry Oliver writes on what he learned on what became … Read more

Bird land: an intimate recital by our native performers

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Henry Oliver spends the night at an island bird sanctuary to experience the dawn chorus. This story originally ran in Barker’s 1972 magazine. It starts early. I’d set my alarm for 4.45am, but by four everyone in the DOC bunkhouse is awake whether or not they want to be. The birds are singing. On Tiritiri Matangi, … Read more

Music sounds better because I got high: Now that’s what I call one hit wonders

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Henry Oliver reminds himself of eight songs from the Now That’s What I Call Music collection that hit once and never again. The very term ‘one hit wonder’ is contentious. Excluding straight-up novelty songs, call any song a one hit wonder and you’ll have that artist’s superfans chasing you down the street with pitchforks. So, … Read more

They were dropped by their label (twice!) but Broods have never been happier

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Henry Oliver talks to Georgia and Caleb Nott, the siblings who make music together as Broods, about being dropped, getting back up again, and their new album Don’t Feed the Pop Monster. Georgia and Caleb Nott were back in New Zealand over the summer. After a whirlwind tour supporting Taylor Swift, they slowed down, visiting … Read more

The definitive, very best New Zealand music of 2018

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For the first and last time, Henry Oliver gives his definitive account of The Spinoff’s best New Zealand music of 2018. Read it and get angry.  Here it is, my ten best albums and ten best songs, all from Aoteroa, all released in 2018. The one rule: appearance on one list disqualifies that artist from … Read more

Best Music 2018: The third annual Spinoff Music Survey!

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We asked you, our loyal readers, what your favourite albums and songs of the year were, both from here and from elsewhere. Oh, and your favourite shows, your reflections on the year, and predictions for next year. This is what you told us. Best local album The Beths Future Me Hates Me (24%) Avantdale Bowling … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week 12: And the winner is…

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In the final episode of Project Runway New Zealand, the designers had to make a whole damn collection. Henry Oliver ranks the results. First, the show itself. Overall, I was impressed. I was initially scared that the cast lacked the chops to make it a competitive series: sure, actual skill doesn’t matter that much on these … Read more

The Spinoff Hot Take Advent Calendar: December 17

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Every day in the lead-up to Christmas, open the door to reveal a Spinoff writer’s short, sizzling commentary on a weighty subject. Our arbitrary and strictly enforced word limit: 365. Today: Henry Oliver on why there should be a one year break in new albums, TV shows, movies, and books. How many books do you … Read more

How ‘Snoopy’s Christmas’ became a classic in NZ (and nowhere else)

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Henry Oliver talks to Bruce Ward, the man who made ‘Snoopy’s Christmas’ a perennial hit single in New Zealand charts.  Want to win $1000 cash for yourself and have $1000 donated to the SPCA?? Universal Music NZ is feeling the Christmas Spirit and giving you the chance to win this awesome prize, just by streaming … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week 11: The end is nigh

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In the eleventh episode of Project Runway New Zealand, the designers had to make a look representing their hypothetical spring/summer line. Henry Oliver ranks the results and predicts the ultimate winner. Ahhhhh the final challenge. Traditionally, the first chance the designers have to just make something they want to make. No herbal soft drinks, no shopping … Read more

Merry Christmas from The Beths, New Zealand’s coolest uncool rock band

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Henry Oliver talks to The Beths’ Elizabeth Stokes and Jonathan Pearce about their love of Christmas and uncool music. It’s been a year for the Beths. Their album Future Me Hates Me was released to frenzied fandom around the power pop-loving world. Funny famous people tweeted about them. They toured relentlessly, spending tens of thousands … Read more

Now that’s what I call an alternative history of NZ music in 10 songs

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The official history of New Zealand music is filled with songs by artists we all know and love. But what about the artists we’ve forgotten? Or the hits by our most loved artists that remain overshadowed by other, bigger hits? Henry Oliver traces an alternative history of New Zealand music via songs featured on the … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week nine: Pretty in bling

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In the ninth episode of Project Runway New Zealand, the designers had to make eveningwear based on some sponsored jewellery. Henry Oliver ranks the results. Two things: Caitlin & Benjamin vs The Rest The divide between team Caitlin and Benjamin and everyone else widened this episode. And I think I’m fine with it. The two ways … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week eight: When does helping become cheating?

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In the eighth episode of Project Runway New Zealand, the designers had to remake a secondhand bridesmaid’s dress for their models. Henry Oliver ranks the results. Let’s talk about Caitlin. Let’s talk about cheating. Let’s talk about sharing and ideas and helping. Caitlin and Benjamin have been tight since the get-go. Benjamin is the best designer … Read more

Bret McKenzie on Strange Caravan, his new band that isn’t a band and isn’t his

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Henry Oliver talks to writer of funny songs and not funny songs, Bret McKenzie, about his new project/tour Strange Caravan and which is definitely 100% not a band (even though it’s very similar to a band). A few years ago, a few old friends started an irregular jam session, intending to help each other work … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week seven: Watching reality TV in my activewear

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In the seventh episode of Project Runway New Zealand, the designers had to make an athleisure look for Georgia. Henry Oliver ranks the results. Well, this is good timing! Just this week I was reading about the history of the athleisure/activewear trend and GUESS WHAT, it is, in fact, not a trend at all, but the … Read more

From eco village to sugarcane plastic: 25 years of ecostore

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A long time before being green was cool, and sustainability was a buzzword, ecostore was committed to looking after the planet. Henry Oliver talks to the founder, and the new CEO, about how to run a successful business at the same time as protecting the planet.  A lot has changed in the 25 years since Malcolm … Read more

Delaney Davidson, musician/travelling salesman: ‘It’s my job and I take it seriously’

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Delaney Davidson, whose album release tour starts today, talks to Henry Oliver about storytelling, collaborating and his new album Shining Day. Delaney Davidson sees himself as a travelling salesman. He has slicked back hair and a couple of days’ stubble. Suit, tie, hat when he’s performing. Clean shirt tucked into clean jeans when he’s not. … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week six: Hell is other designers

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In the sixth episode of Project Runway New Zealand, the designers had to make a high-fashion look inspired by wallpaper designs. Henry Oliver ranks the results. Like a headmaster starting the assembly after some school-wide bad exam results, let me say up front how disappointed I am with the designers work this week. Tut tut. Last … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week five: Avant-car

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In the fifth episode of Project Runway New Zealand, the designers had to make an avant-garde look inspired by a family-friendly car. Henry Oliver ranks the results. So how do you follow-up the sustainability challenge? With the Holden challenge of course! Last week, my five-year-old daughter asked: “Why do they all have the same car?” This … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week four: Can there be sustainable fashion under capitalism?

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In the fourth episode of Project Runway New Zealand, the designers had to make a sustainable red carpet look. Henry Oliver ranks the results. It’s the sustainability episode! So, let’s begin on a downer: Fashion is, by some estimates, the second biggest polluter by industry after oil. About 80 billion pieces of clothing are consumed globally … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week three: Ctrl+Alt+Shifty

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In the third episode of Project Runway New Zealand, the designers had to make a two-piece look out of scrapped technology. Henry Oliver ranks the results. Project Runway is back, baby! After complaining last week about the lack of quips, the lack of drama, the lack of, y’know, interesting clothes, the good ship fashion began … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week two: A breadstick in Paris

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It’s the second episode of Project Runway New Zealand, in which the designers have to make a streetwear look inspired by … Sylvia Park? Henry Oliver ranks the results. In the words of guest judge James Dobson (Jimmy D), can I be really honest… this was a shitshow. The streetwear challenge should have been a gimme for … Read more

Anika Moa, singer-songwriter: ‘Most people don’t show their full selves because they’re scared to be vulnerable’

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Henry Oliver talks to Anika Moa about humour, vulnerability, family and her new self-titled album. Anika Moa is fucking funny. She’s fucking funny on her newest show Anika Moa Unleashed. She’s fucking funny on Seven Sharp. She was fucking funny on Maori TV and The Herald before that. She’s fucking funny performing for kids. And … Read more

Marlon Williams on his Silver Scroll winning song: ‘I think it’s the best song I’ve ever written’

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Tonight, Marlon Williams won the 2018 APRA Silver Scroll for his song ‘Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore’. He talked to Henry Oliver about why it’s the best song he’s ever written. The Spinoff: I assume you’re the one who entered ‘Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore’ for a Silver Scroll. Why this song?  Marlon … Read more

Project Runway Power Rankings, week one: The opposite of Scandinavian

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Welcome to the very first episode of Project Runway New Zealand, in which the designers had to make a cocktail dress inspired by a soft drink so inspiring nearly everyone used white. Henry Oliver ranks the results. Watching the first episode of a competition-based reality show always feels a little sadistic. Who is going home … Read more

Now That’s What I Call 1997: I get knocked down, but I get up again!

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1997 was a simpler time – British anarchists topped the charts and you could buy collections of the day’s hits on little plastic discs. It was also the year the very first local edition of Now That’s What I Call Music was released. Henry Oliver takes a listen to Now! Vol 1. It’s the end … Read more