Amid the millions upon millions of views you gave to us – your friends – here are the stories you read most. 10. Leonie Hayden: Grateful horis and model minorities: why don’t we know we’re racist? “Lately a lot of people have objected to the observation that cis-gendered, heterosexual, white, able-bodied men are over represented nearly everywhere that power … Read more
This year was monumental for The Spinoff’s video department, producing all manner of documentaries, exposés and real crackup shit – plus two bloody telly shows! We select 10 of our favourite videos, in no real order, as decided by fierce internal debate. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
What did some of our contributors realise about their much-beloved artform – the vaunted video game – this year? Sam Brooks, gaming editor: You don’t have to do it. There’s always a ‘you gotta do it’ aspect to any form of media – be it a film, a television series, an album, a book, a … Read more
Jacinda Ardern’s full speech to the United Nations General Assembly. This post, first published September 28 2018, was viewed in tens of thousands. The NZ prime minister’s speech called for kindness over fear, accountability, and collectivism on inequality and climate change. E ngā mana nui o ngā whenua o te ao Tēnā koutou katoa Nei rā … Read more
The prime minister delivered many speeches, but only one baby, in 2018. There was only one way to cover the leadup, and that was our liveblog, which became a minor global sensation. To enjoy it properly, please scroll to the end and read from bottom up. This liveblog was first published in June 2018 Updates … Read more
Every day in the lead-up to Christmas, the Spinoff has been swinging open the squeaky hinges on calendar doors to reveal a short, sizzling commentary on a weighty subject. Our arbitrary and strictly enforced word limit: 365. Today, to mark the birth of Christ, 20 Spinoff writers have combined to create the most nuclear take … Read more
Seasons greetings from everyone at The Spinoff. Here’s a little extra scene shot for our Lightbox TV series Get It to Te Papa that sadly didn’t make the cut, featuring host Hayden Donnell and former Māori Party MP Marama Fox. Watch all six episodes of Get It to Te Papa on Lightbox now by signing … Read more
Bringing you the best weekly reading from your friendly local website. Tina Ngata: Once were gardeners, lovers, poets… and warriors “We are not a warrior race. We are, and always have been, a race of voyagers, scientists, gardeners, lovers, poets, composers, philosophers, artists, orators, mathematicians, dancers, astronomers, builders and healers. We were peacemakers and keepers as much as … Read more
In the now-annual event of the year, five of our podcasts’ hosts join forces like a mighty end-of-year podcast rat-king. Join Gone by Lunchtime, On The Rag, The Real Pod, Pod on the Couch and Dietary Requirements in regurgitating the highlights and lowlights of the year that was, and pondering the year that will be. In … Read more
In a very special Christmas episode of Get It to Te Papa, our series following journalist Hayden Donnell on an ambitious quest to collect underappreciated Kiwi cultural artefacts and get them into our national museum, Hayden sets out to restore the winking eye and beckoning finger to Auckland’s Giant Santa. Episode one and two of … Read more
Bringing you the best weekly reading from your friendly local website. This week the country was shaken by the news of English backpacker Grace Millane, who was murdered on the eve of her 22nd birthday. We spent a lot of time here at The Spinoff considering how to cover the horrific story. What was useful? … Read more
Here are some actions that you can take to redirect your anger and sadness following the death of Grace Millane. Attend a vigil Many New Zealanders are struggling with how they can express their grief, anger and sympathy for the family and friends of Grace Millane. There are a number of vigil events in the … Read more
Bringing you the best weekly reading from your friendly local website. Madeleine Chapman: My beef-only week living as Jordan Peterson “My first meal of plain mince with a dash of salt tastes surprisingly good. While I eat, I read the first chapter/rule of Peterson’s: Stand up straight with your shoulders back. I read about lobsters and the … Read more
This week Massey University released its annual ‘Quote of the Year’ competition, serving up a shortlist of 10 to vote to the 2018 title. And, look, some of them are fine! But in the spirits of breadth and plurality, our quote-loving team has produced its own crop of 10 for the inaugural Spinoff Alternative Quote … Read more
McDreamy’s new show, a mid-aughts mum classic and two of the year’s most fun films – they’re all on Lightbox this month! Plus, what you need to catch before it leaves. Book Club (movie from December 5) 2018 is the year that I embraced the book club, and it has enhanced my life in ways I … Read more
Get It to Te Papa follows journalist Hayden Donnell on an ambitious quest to collect underappreciated Kiwi cultural artefacts and get them into New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa. And you can watch the second episode right here – for free. But first, watch episode 1, in search of the Waitangi Dildo, here. In episode … Read more
Get It to Te Papa follows journalist Hayden Donnell on an ambitious quest to collect underappreciated Kiwi cultural artefacts and get them into New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa. And you can watch the first episode right now, for free. The first episode sees Hayden and José embark on a desperate quest to find the … Read more
A hugely important report seeks to effect a ‘paradigm change’ in NZ mental health services. Here are the essential findings and recommendations. The Minister of Health today released He Ara Oranga (Pathways to Wellness): the Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, a publication which followed a series of meetings nationwide by … Read more
Bringing you the best weekly reading from your friendly local website. Alex Braae: Who wore it stupider? Comparing Hosking and Hawkesby on cycling “There’s a rumour about Newstalk ZB’s ratings that perhaps explains a lot about their hosts’ opinions. The station first really boomed in the early 90s, coinciding with the mass importation of Japanese cars. … Read more
The hairiest show on TV (and online streaming services) is back, and there are legitimate questions to be asked – mainly, why is Ivar such a loser? But while Vikings characters may break our hearts, their beards are forever. The Spinoff’s resident facial hair expert Madeleine Chapman ranks them. You can watch all of Vikings … Read more
Want to give to charity this Christmas? Hold the tinned tomatoes – here’s what they really want. Right now charities and community groups are being flooded with gifts, food and goods from well-meaning Samaritans looking to share a bit of Chrimbo goodwill. But the most valuable thing you can give to charity, it turns out, … Read more
While the suffrage anniversary offers real cause for celebration, not everyone exercises their right to vote. In the second of two films in our Aren’t Can’t Don’t series, made with the assistance of NZ On Air, women explain why they don’t vote. One hundred and twenty-five years after women voted for the first time in a … Read more
While the suffrage anniversary offers real cause for celebration, in 2018 not everyone has the right to vote. In the first of two films in our Aren’t Can’t Don’t series, made with the assistance of NZ On Air, women explain what it meant to be denied an opportunity to vote while imprisoned. One hundred and twenty-five … Read more
Bringing you the best weekly reading from your friendly local website. Emily Writes: Great mates: The prison inmates caring for retired greyhounds “A prisoner in the unit said that working with greyhounds has taught him to trust again. He says working with the greyhounds has taught him communication skills. Another said it has taught him to … Read more
Bringing you the best weekly reading from your friendly local website. Emily Writes: Inside the secret world of co-sleepers “Oh god there is a dad here. I ask if he’s lost. He tells me that he’s a proud co-sleeper. This is outrageous. Men don’t co-sleep. Men are meant to want their “marital bed” back. Does he … Read more
Bringing you the best weekly reading from your friendly local website. Alex Casey: The Chemist Warehouse is pure hell and I love it “A woman with blue eyeliner and thick framed glasses was desperately trying to get the best price per gram on vitamin C for someone on the phone, not unlike like a proxy bidder … Read more
Howdy, and welcome to The Spinoff’s live blog of the 2018 US midterm elections, brought to you by Catherine McGregor, Toby Manhire, Alex Braae, and maybe some of your other mates at The Spinoff. We’ll see how it goes. 9.07pm: Union-busting Wisconsin governor Scott Walker lost his re-election bid. The unions issued this six word statement … Read more
Bringing you the best weekly reading from your friendly local website. Hayden Donnell: If you think Lime scooters are a safety menace, wait till you hear about cars “It’s encouraging to see people getting so worked up and uncompromising about road safety, because they’re right: New Zealand is facing a transport emergency. There are death traps … Read more
Time travel, a bleak dalliance with the French King, and some dubious flatmates – is Jamie and Claire’s relationship actually worth it? Fictional relationship expert Madeleine Chapman passes judgement. Season Four of Outlander drops weekly on Lightbox from Monday November 5, and you can binge the three previous seasons there as well!