Rolling updates as they happen, by Spinoff writers. The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by Spinoff Members. To support this work, join Spinoff Members here. New updates: To read new updates for Tuesday March 17, please join us here. 9pm That’s a wrap for today. We’ll be back up and running from 7am … Read more
In a surprise move this morning, the Reserve Bank has slashed the Official Cash Rate to just 0.25%, down from 1%. So what does that mean for you, and why has it happened now? Just quickly – what is the official cash rate? The OCR is the interest rate at which the Reserve Bank lends … Read more
Amid an outbreak such as the coronavirus Covid-19, the challenge to get people washing their hands properly takes on even greater importance. It’s harder than you might imagine, but we can all do it, especially if we start forming collective habits, writes Dr Sarb Johal, an expert in the psychology of disaster recovery and pandemics. … Read more
Everyone thinks they know satire when they see it. But does that help our understanding of where it should sit within the law? Nicholas Holm explains why it matters. Before the case was cut short, I was scheduled to appear as an expert witness for the Defence in the recent High Court case, Jones versus … Read more
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: New travel restrictions make Covid-19 recession all but certain, further cases of the virus confirmed, and March 15 commemoration called off. Major new travel restrictions were announced over the weekend, making a recession this year all but certain to happen. Toby Manhire has put together the essential … Read more
Both the outbreak and the measures put in place to staunch it are already having a major impact on New Zealand businesses. It won’t solve all your problems, but amid the maelstrom you can introduce some simple practical measures for health and infection control, writes former public health worker Richard Simpson. How do you plan … Read more
Think of the coronavirus pandemic as a bunch of fires erupting around the world. Drastic action is required, and that’s why firebreaks are urgent, writes Siouxsie Wiles. The Spinoff’s coverage of Covid-19 is funded by Spinoff Members. To support this work, join Spinoff Members here. Read more from Siouxsie Wiles here. Dear fellow people of … Read more
Dr Hamimah Tuyan, the widow of Zekeriya Tuyan, the 51st victim of the Christchurch mosque attacks, was to speak at the remembrance service in Christchurch today. This is what she was planning to say. Kia ora. Peace be upon you. Assalamu alaikum. Last March the world witnessed a phenomenal show of your solidarity. You defied … Read more
We don’t need an anniversary to pray for those who died, to honour the suffering of those who survived. But are we ready to face the complexity of the changes that are needed? An essay by Anjum Rahman. Anniversaries are a difficult thing. Muslim beliefs around death are quite different. No grave stones or other … Read more
Mahvash Ali writes about growing up in Pakistan, why she can never move back, and how her mindset changed with March 15. If I had a dollar for each time I’ve been told to go back to where I came from, I would be there right now fixing the problems that made us leave in … Read more
In recent weeks, Christchurch-based Muslims have contributed to the One Year On project, telling their stories in their own words. Here we share a selection. Siham Alsalfiti: ‘Love makes you happy, hatred burns you‘ We were hurt, badly hurt. It’s still incomprehensible, it’s still very difficult that we lost Abdul who was a caring dad, … Read more
Under new, sweeping travel restrictions, pretty much everyone arriving in New Zealand from Monday must undertake a fortnight of self-isolation. Here’s what that involves. The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by Spinoff Members. To support this work, join Spinoff Members here. Who needs to self-isolate? When the clock strikes 12 on Sunday night, … Read more
Siouxsie Wiles on the contrasting responses by leaders in the US, Britain and New Zealand. The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by Spinoff Members. To support this work, join Spinoff Members here. It’s been a whirlwind few days on the Covid-19 front. The biggest headline of today was Jacinda Ardern’s announcement of a … Read more
With the exception of arrivals from the Pacific islands, those coming from every country in the world will be required to self-isolate for a fortnight. It follows the cancellation of the remembrance service scheduled for tomorrow in Christchurch and confirmation of a sixth positive Covid-19 case in New Zealand, a man who had been in … Read more
Justin McLeod invented the dating app Hinge twice: once for smartphones, and once more for romantics. He talks about why being open to change is the best path to true love. Six years ago, the online dating service Hinge threw all its money into a launch party before its app was even approved by the … Read more
What’s your automatic inclination when you wake up feeling under the weather? If you’re anything like Catherine Jeffcoat, you just keep on going. And that’s a problem. Tuesday 3 March 2020: Day minus 02 “Oh by the way, I’ve got a bit of a sniffle”, she said. “I’ll be fine”, I text back, “I … Read more
Former head of Newshub Hal Crawford surveys Australian media, and finds it significantly changed in less than four years. I have a strange relationship with Australian media. In some ways I’m an insider: I’ve worked in the industry for 25 years, I know people from most major companies, and I have a lot of affection … Read more
We must act quickly, with no half-measures. Dr Siouxsie Wiles explains why, with illustrations by Toby Morris. The Spinoff’s ongoing expert-led, evidence-based coverage of Covid-19 is funded by Spinoff Members. To support this work, join Spinoff Members here. Spinoff cartoonist Toby Morris and I recently introduced you to the concept of #FlattenTheCurve. Now we want to … Read more
As the pandemic escalates, New Zealand’s already-struggling restaurants and bars are wondering how they’ll get through. The New Zealand hospitality industry is bracing itself as the coronavirus pandemic continues to escalate. Chinese restaurants have been hit hardest, with many entering their second month of seeing business down by up to 50%. But now, in the … Read more
The spread of misinformation about Covid-19 seems greater than the spread of the infection itself. But what’s the best way to tackle these if they come up in everyday conversation? Is it best to ignore them, jump in to correct them, or are there other strategies we could all use? Public health officials expect misinformation … Read more
Siouxsie Wiles offers some context around a couple of new studies on the coronavirus. Two new studies relating to Covid-19 studies have begun circulating online, with some alarming headlines appearing in the media. Let me put them into context for you. The virus is still spread via droplets As I’ve explained before, all data we … Read more
In an impossibly crowded market, New Zealand beers are rightfully being recognised as some of the world’s best. According to one of the men behind Garage Project, that didn’t happen by accident. New Zealand grows some of the best hops in the world. New Zealand also brews some of the best beer in the world. … Read more
As a new season of My Brilliant Friend lands on TVNZ OnDemand, we take a look at some of television’s most iconic and enduring friendships. Life is for living, so close the curtains, lock the doors, and wrap your optic nerves around My Brilliant Friend. It’s a treat for the eyes and a treat for … Read more
The Real Pod reassembles to dissect the sixth week of The Bachelorette NZ, with special thanks to Nando’s. In this trying times of global chaos and social distancing, we welcome you to join our digital gratitude circle and recap the last week on The Bachelorette NZ. These were happier times when the swimming was synchronised, … Read more
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel (Fourth Estate, $50) Toby Manhire: If someone’s self-isolating, what’s your recommendation, as … Read more
Today marks the sixth consecutive day of no new confirmed cases of Covid-19, but as the severity grows overseas, numerous large-scale public events hang in the balance. Here’s what we know. UPDATE, 14/3: The Christchurch Remembrance Service has been cancelled. UPDATE 15/3: The new self-isolation rules announced yesterday mean that it is likely all events … Read more
Michelle Cruickshanks presents a complete taxonomy of the types of people who’ll be descending on New Plymouth this weekend for Womad. First things first: Womad is going ahead this weekend as planned. You can find more information here, and a statement from it follows: “New Zealand is prepared and ready to deal with a Covid-19 … Read more
A new poem by Mohamed Hassan. The Guest House In this house we have one rule: bring only what you want to … Read more
This is yet another tab clogging up your browser, and that’s fine, writes Sam Brooks. Welcome to this article! Chances are you didn’t read it immediately after it was published. It’s one of however many tabs filling up whatever browser you happen to be using on whatever device you happen to be reading it on. … Read more