Toby ManhireToby Manhire

Toby Manhire is the editor of the Spinoff. Email him on toby@thespinoff.co.nz

‘They’ll back us, or we’ll go down in flames’ – an interview with Gareth Morgan, cat man turned TOP dog

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Millionaire investor and political agitator Gareth Morgan’s launch of The Opportunities Party has been welcomed with Donald Trump comparisons and terrible cat puns. Toby Manhire asks him what he’s up to. Iconoclastic economist, motorcyclist, political agitator and cat predator Gareth Morgan this morning announced a new political party, promising “the opportunity to get a fair … Read more

David Cunliffe is quitting politics. These are his Kodak moments

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As the polarising former Labour leader announces his parliamentary retirement, Toby Manhire recounts the most vivid Cunliffe memories – from poetry to beach pics to cats So farewell then, David Cunliffe. The New Lynn MP and former leader of the Labour Party announced this morning he won’t be standing in next year’s election. What memories … Read more

Auckland librarians have been issued a script to answer cutback queries. We’ve done them one, too

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Reports of cutbacks at Auckland libraries have prompted the council to issue librarians with a question-and-answer script, so that they might deal appropriately with public inquiries. The script, obtained and published by RNZ, beneficently enables librarians to recite bureaucratically approved, leaden sentences. Lucky things – it’s almost as if they’re call centre operators or, even … Read more

Police admit they mounted a sham breath-testing checkpoint, and it stinks

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Targeting people who attended a euthanasia advocacy group meeting under the guise of a road safety operation is deeply disturbing. The police minister needs to condemn it immediately, writes Toby Manhire Breath-testing checkpoints have these days become a staple of the New Zealand driving experience, as reliably familiar and cheering/infuriating as flocks of sheep being … Read more

Hillary v Donald from Vegas in five minutes: the third US presidential debate digested

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Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have met for the third and final debate of a face-melting US presidential race. Toby Manhire distills the exchanges into a vile tongue burning hooch. Moderating the 90-minute debate at the University of Nevada is Chris Wallace of Fox News. It is being broadcast on all the world’s channels, streaming … Read more

Who is Bill Cashmore, Auckland’s new deputy mayor?

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The King of Clevedon, the Franklin guvnor: Bill Cashmore is to be Phil Goff’s No 2 at Auckland Council. The National-Party-supporting councillor popped in to Spinoff HQ a few weeks back. Here’s what he told us. The New Zealand Herald‘s Bernard Orsman has the scoop: the newly elected Mayor of Auckland, Phil Goff, has chosen … Read more

‘Digging the hole and filling it up forever’: the search for a fix to the homeless crisis

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Blaming homelessness on bad choices misses the core of the problem  – we created the circumstances that allow such deprivation to flourish, Moira Lawler of Lifewise tells the Spinoff. Images of families living in cars and dilapidated garages thrust the plight of homeless people into headlines in 2016. One of the groups at the sharp … Read more

Hillary vs Donald, digested: the second US presidential debate in five minutes

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Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump meet again for the second of three debates in the most bonkers and disturbing campaign in the history of the universe. Toby Manhire watches and boils it down into a sticky raspberry jam.  Read the five-minute version of the first debate here. Co-moderator Martha Raddatz of ABC: I’m Martha Raddatz. … Read more

Moon landing: fake or real? And other public-submitted questions for Hillary and Donald

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For the second presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the American people of the internet have been asked to submit their own ideas for questions. Toby Manhire goes in search of some of the best America is all about its ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’ ethos, and when Abraham … Read more

The War for Auckland is over! Here’s who won what…

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You won’t believe who’s won the Auckland mayoralty race (you will), and all the other outcomes of interest. And the new Mayor of Auckland is … They tried, oh how they tried, to sex up the contest. Guyon Espiner called the leadup to Phil Goff’s candidacy announcement “the longest striptease in history”; Hayden Donnell made … Read more

The Uncountables: NZ can’t set a target on child poverty, unlike just about everything else

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The government has formal yardsticks and ‘ambitious targets’ coming out its ears. But not on child poverty. “It sounds airy-fairy but it’s the advice we get.” That was the prime minister this morning on RNZ Morning Report, in response to questions from Guyon Espiner over the government refusal to set a target for reducing child … Read more

Having trounced Colin Craig in comedy-horror libel case, here’s how Jordan Williams could spend his $1.27m

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It’s a struggle to like either of the creeps who locked horns in the High Court, but the measure of the winner’s character will be in how he spends the damages, writes Toby Manhire The Hollow Men was turned into a stage play. Secret Power was adapted into a visual art spectacular. And now another … Read more

Hobson’s Pledge: just a bunch of diverse, united, anti-separatist New Zealanders

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A new ‘one nation’ New Zealand movement has sprung up, albeit from the usual suspects. Toby Manhire is captivated by the unique face of modern, anti-separatist New Zealand. Like sands through the hour glass, so are the anguished screams of “Māori special treatment fnarrrrrr!” The latest caterwaul comes in the form of Hobson’s Pledge. You … Read more

Hillary v Donald digested: the US presidential debate in five minutes

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The big debate might have been broadcast, streamed and live-blogged by pretty much every person alive, but only the Spinoff (probably not only the Spinoff) has digested it into a five-minute read. NBC Moderator Lester Holt: I’m Lester. That’s Donald. That’s Hillary. That’s the audience. They’re going to stay quiet. Let’s talk about income. Democrat … Read more

Get your shit together, world – John Key’s big speech at the United Nations, in 150 words

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The prime minister took to the stage at the UN General Assembly in New York today. Watch a video of his address, and read the completely mature digested version. If the video fails to load, you can always click here to watch. Gidday world. I’m from New Zealand and I’m here to tell you to … Read more

Secret Power, tech culture, critique and complicity – a conversation with artist Simon Denny

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Newly purchased works from the acclaimed NZ entry at the Venice Biennale have just been unveiled at Te Papa. Toby Manhire caught up with the artist at the notorious Urban Cafe in Newmarket to discuss the politics of his exhibition, the appeal of technology, and whether he might yet get into watercolours. When Simon Denny’s … Read more

New mayoral poll: Goff maintains big lead but here comes the Chloenator

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Phil Goff remains well out in front in the contest for the big job in Auckland but young pretender Chloe Swarbrick has built support against the odds. A new poll published today by the Spinoff shows Phil Goff on course to succeed Len Brown as mayor of Auckland, maintaining a comfortable lead over his closest … Read more

Mark Thomas, the most tragic man in NZ politics, just became more tragic

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The most upbeat runner in the Auckland mayoral race has felt obliged to perform a weird half-withdrawal. And not for the first time, writes Toby Manhire Nudges and winks to the electorate have become a familiar part of MMP politics in New Zealand, with messages beamed to loyal supporters about how to vote strategically. This … Read more

Seven high-level findings from the RNZ/AUT Auckland mayoral debate

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Four of the would-be mayors gathered with RNZ’s Guyon Espiner for a breakfast barney at AUT this morning. The Spinoff’s Toby Manhire was there, too. Assembled in the television studio at AUT for an 8am start were mayoral hopefuls Mark Thomas, John Palino, Vic Crone and Phil Goff, with Guyon Espiner chairing and Todd Niall … Read more

Ranking Winston Peters’ sick burns – NZ First conference edition

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New Zealand First’s eternally puckish leader delivered a typically pugilistic key-note speech at the party’s annual gathering in Dunedin yesterday. But which sledges sledged the sledgiest? The New Zealand First leader took to the stage in Dunedin yesterday afternoon following a rousing, bagpiped Flower of Scotland. “We remember where we came from”, rasped the pin-striped, … Read more

‘The building is going to get scalped tomorrow’ – architects head to Urewera in attempt to save John Scott classic (UPDATED)

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Gregory O’Brien is one of dozens of artists, architects and others hoping to get between the Āniwaniwa Visitor Centre and the DOC demolition crew, which is set to begin work on Monday morning (SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATES) A bevy of architects are on the road to Te Urewera this evening, hoping to stop the Department … Read more

One in three Aucklanders has recently considered quitting Auckland because of house prices – poll

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The Spinoff/SSI survey reveals the extraordinary impact of housing crisis on residents of New Zealand’s biggest city – and the extent to which Aucklanders blame foreign speculation. There is a housing crisis in Auckland, and it has already bitten hard across the city, according to the latest results from polling conducted by SSI for the Spinoff … Read more

Good news: Massive majority of Aucklanders back Unitary Plan – Spinoff/SSI poll

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Turns out that the people of Auckland think the blueprint for the future of the city is pretty bloody good. The Unitary Plan, which The Spinoff and others have been banging on about recently, was signed off by Auckland Council with a surprising lack of rowdy opposition last week. It turns out our newly reformed pro-density … Read more

Live blog: Don Brash, David Rankin, and a man ‘on P’ wielding a sword

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We have been waiting for a dramatic political event to live blog, and the unraveling events of yesterday’s ghastly meeting of local politics and a ceremonial sword fit the bill. 8.45am: As politics editor of the reality-television-and-housing-issues-focused New Zealand website The Spinoff, I have been waiting for an opportunity to launch a live blog. Preferably … Read more

Exclusive: new Spinoff/SSI poll shows Phil Goff with huge lead in Auckland mayoral race

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A survey commissioned for the Spinoff’s War for Auckland pop-up site puts the Labour MP well in front of his nearest rival, Vic Crone, just weeks out from voting. But many remain undecided. Phil Goff has established a commanding lead in the Auckland mayoral race with less than four weeks until voting begins. The former … Read more

The real war for Auckland: billboard supremacy

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Which of the mayoral candidates have the most effective hoardings, and what hidden meanings do they reveal? The Spinoff’s chief billboard semiotics correspondent, Toby Manhire, reports. It’s just like Christmas but without anything remotely joyful. All across the country, the mugs of the brave individuals hoping to represent their communities in local body politics have … Read more

‘Strap them on and get a bit braver’ – Penny Hulse’s advice to would-be Mayor Phil Goff

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Deputy mayor and Unitary Plan hero Penny Hulse has told the Spinoff she is ‘vaguely uninspired’ by the candidates for the Auckland mayoralty, saying she’s waiting to hear some ‘genuine vision’. It is an irrefutable fact that the most exciting things to happen in the Auckland mayoralty race so far have been: first, the bizarro … Read more