Toby MorrisToby Morris

Toby Morris is an Auckland based illustrator, comic artist and writer. He is the author of The Spinoff's non-fiction comic series The Side Eye, won the Voyager award for Cartoonist of the year for 2019 and in 2020 his Covid-19 collaborations with Dr Siouxsie were shared around the world.

Face, name, tick: An analysis of NZ’s good, bad, and very bad election hoardings

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This year’s crop of local election signs range from the inspired to the utterly terrifying. Professional illustrator Toby Morris delivers his analysis of the best and worst designs. The Spinoff local election coverage is entirely funded by The Spinoff Members. For more about becoming a member and supporting The Spinoff’s journalism click here. Faces, faces … Read more

Beastwears: A tribute to NZ’s best metal band, back from the dead

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Ahead of their new album release, Toby Morris wore a different Beastwars t-shirt every day. He reflects upon his week and the entire Beastwars catalogue. Monday This week the impossible is happening: the mighty Beastwars, probably New Zealand’s most beloved metal band are back from dead (almost literally) with a new album. I’ve decided to … Read more

10 New Zealand cartoonists you can read instead of Garrick Tremain

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Now that the Herald has dropped its syndicated Alex cartoon, there’s a glimmer of hope that New Zealand’s moribund newspaper cartooning scene might finally let in some new blood. Toby Morris has 10 suggestions for cartoonists to consider. If you get your news from social media, you might be feeling like the state of cartooning … Read more

Laneway in pictures: An illustrated review by Toby Morris

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Illustrator and writer Toby Morris spends a day in Albert Park for Laneway 2019. Who is that big sweaty bearded guy with his notebook out watching a band? Wait, is he… drawing? Why? (All fair questions.)   First impression is always the styles. This year at least 1999 men dressed in prints.   Second impression, at … Read more

The Side Eye: Everything to Everyone – understanding the teacher crisis

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The job’s got harder, the pay’s got worse. Toby Morris spends a day with two primary teachers and finds out what the teaching crisis is all about.     The Side Eye is a monthly non-fiction comic by Toby Morris, supported by NZ On Air. Read more comics here The Bulletin is The Spinoff’s acclaimed, free … Read more

The Side Eye: The Truth is Dead

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    The Side Eye is a monthly non-fiction comic by Toby Morris, supported by NZ On Air. Read more comics here The Bulletin is The Spinoff’s acclaimed, free daily curated digest of all the most important stories from around New Zealand delivered directly to your inbox each morning. Sign up now Email *

The Side Eye: Drug Zealand

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    The Side Eye is a monthly non-fiction comic by Toby Morris, supported by NZ On Air. Read more comics here For more on drug law reform in Portugal read Max Harris’s reporting for The Spinoff here The Bulletin is The Spinoff’s acclaimed, free daily curated digest of all the most important stories from … Read more

Who’d win in a fight: Burger King, Liquor King, Salmon King or Storage King?

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Writer and illustrator Toby Morris finally answers a question that’s been keeping him up at night. There are a lot of things wrong with this world, but if there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s false claims of glory. Like wearing fake war medals, it’s delusional and disgraceful. Case in point: There are several businesses … Read more

The Side Eye: Inequality Tower 2018

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Imagine all the wealth in NZ as a ten-storey apartment building. Imagine half of NZ crammed in a tiny corner of the bottom floor.     Read the Inequality Tower 2015 on the Wireless here. Fill your boots with Side Eyes here. The Bulletin is The Spinoff’s acclaimed, free daily curated digest of all the most … Read more

Who Drew That? The true story of the Peach Teats calf

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The Peach Teats billboard is a legitimate cult classic. In the first of a new series uncovering the stories behind classic New Zealand illustrations, Toby Morris meets the artist responsible for State Highway 1’s favourite cheeky calf. If you’ve ever driven State Highway 1 through the central North Island, you’ll have seen it. And if … Read more

The Singapore swing: the Kim-Trump summit status in real-time

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The Spinoff geopolitical-science panel is assessing the progress of the historic talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his American counterpart, President Donald Trump, as it happens, and delivering its verdict on the state of talks, by Toby Morris.  Our latest forecast, based on data plugged into our proprietary Armageddologorithm™ … And the full range: … Read more

The Side Eye: Kings and Commoners

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Two Auckland schools went into lockdown recently, so why did one dominate the coverage? The Side Eye looks into the way King’s College and Ōtāhuhu College featured in reporting.   The Bulletin is The Spinoff’s acclaimed, free daily curated digest of all the most important stories from around New Zealand delivered directly to your inbox … Read more