The evidence about Grace Millane’s past put forward by the defence team was not only directly relevant, but treated carefully and with respect, argues Khylee Quince, associate professor in the School of Law at AUT. When Oscar Wilde referred to the practice of law as “vulgar” he was likely thinking of the contest that is … Read more
Emily Writes and her son pay a visit to the brand new ‘playground’ on the Parliament lawn. I heard there was a new park at Parliament only when I was asked to review it. Somehow it slipped under the radar despite the fact that I care deeply about new playgrounds. As a mum of two … Read more
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Grappling with the aftermath of the Grace Millane murder trial, prisoner voting restoration proves controversial, and red meat prices way up. News broke on Friday afternoon that the man charged with murdering Grace Millane had been found guilty. He is now awaiting sentencing, and continues to … Read more
Why do we keep falling for politicians who promise that the latest crackdown on crime will work? Former National MP and justice reform advocate Chester Borrows weighs in. Removing the right of prisoners to vote is back on the agenda. The High Court found that the removal of the right of a prisoner, whose sentence … Read more
If Labour MPs are serious about the Treaty and its promise of power-sharing – and if the members and delegates are keen to honour their party’s special history with Māori – the answer is clear, writes Morgan Godfery. “Parliamentary party leader” is probably the only decent demographic where Māori make up a majority. I mean, … Read more
Sascha* Stronach’s new book The Dawnhounds is about queer folk who refuse to ‘die pretty’. Here, he heralds a queer revolution in science fiction and fantasy. It’s an archetype we’re all familiar with: the tragic and noble LGBTQIA character who shows up to support the hero, and then dies beautifully while the straight folks run … Read more
A meatless pulled pork substitute is taking the vegan market by storm. The Spinoff did a deep and serious dive into jackfruit, the most meaty of fruits, to bring you the facts. I first encountered “pulled jackfruit” on a trip to my local Mexican joint. A long-time vegetarian with a long-time craving for meat, I … Read more
The world is more connected than ever and hundreds of racist attitudes are just a click away. From well-meaning to outright hateful, when you’re a young Māori journalist working in the mainstream media, the sheer volume can be overwhelming. My alarm goes off. Still half asleep, I rummage around the side of my bed until … Read more
Host of personal finance podcast Cooking the Books and now author of a book dubbed ‘the realest guide to money’ Frances Cook tells us why it’s so hard for people to be open about money, finding new ways to channel her spending habits, and why more young women should look to invest. Read more: … Read more
Himali McInnes has been torn between identities and countries her entire life. Here, she tells her story: of Sri Lanka and civil war, of the UK and normality, and of New Zealand and its unspoken past. “I stick it like I’m cinnamon ..I live it like a citizen” – Luka Lesson, ‘Please Resist Me’ The … Read more
Many prisoners who had the vote taken away from them will now see their rights restored. Otago University law professor Andrew Geddis outlines how we got here, and why he’s so pleased to see the change. Today, the Labour-NZ First (with support from the Greens) government announced it will repeal the complete ban on prisoner … Read more
Farmers on social media and National MP Amy Adams have responded with fury to an NCEA English exam question that included discussion of water quality. But what was the question actually asking? In 2017, NZ Geographic published a long feature about the impact of agriculture on the Taieri River in Otago. ‘Troubled Waters’, by vastly … Read more
At the start of the month, a makeup launch broke the internet and sold out of over a million products in under an hour. Alex Casey and Jihee Junn dissect the YouTube documentary series that led to its success. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZywVlyogLYM&t First off, who is Jeffree Star? Who is Shane Dawson? Jeffree Star is an internet … Read more
Fast-rising Auckland rap duo Church & AP talk us through the ten tracks of their debut album, Teeth. A year ago today, Church & AP were set to explode. The pair were just weeks away from the release of ‘Ready or Not’, the single that would lead to everything from summer festival slots to an … Read more
Hannah McGowan has written before about the untold harm done by WINZ restrictions on beneficiaries forming romantic relationships. She thought she knew how bad it could get, and then she heard Amy’s story. Names have been changed to protect privacy. A response from the Ministry of Social Development is below. Seven years ago, a young … Read more
At a recent Aotearoa Climate Emergency meeting in Wellington, the topic under discussion was a Citizens’ Assembly to work towards cross-party agreement on climate action. Nadine Hura went along to ask what a citizen looks like and who gets to decide. I went to listen. I wasn’t planning to speak. I arrived late and sat … Read more
Though a government scheme to get rid of school donations is yet to begin, schools are looking for ways to push its rules to the limit. Radio NZ’s education correspondent John Gerritsen asked principals how funding changes will affect their schools. There are serious question marks over the future of lemon slice at Pakuranga College. … Read more
Since the death of of Grace Millane, a visitor to New Zealand, last year, countless emotions have been stirred. The trial of recent weeks will have returned those to the surface. In this post, updated from an earlier version published in December, we offer some suggestions on how to channel the sadness, hurt and anger. … Read more
A jury at the Auckland High Court has this evening unanimously agreed a guilty verdict against the 27-year-old charged with the murder of Grace Millane. He is remanded in custody until sentencing on February 21 next year. The decision brings justice for Grace’s family. But in the course of the trial, and the laying out … Read more
Like it or not, plant-based meats are coming to a burger near you. Does this spell the end for animal agriculture, or just a shift in attitudes? This fake meat business might seem like a hot new trend, but China has been doing it for 1000 years or so. Mock meat, or fanghun, was developed … Read more
Hidden in the deep bowels of the internet is an episode of television too good to be true: Tipping Point Lucky Stars, featuring the geniuses of The Chase. Tara Ward watches the crossover episode of your TV dreams. The world is filled with unexpected joys, and discovering the episode of Tipping Point: Lucky Stars featuring the … 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 #NoFly by Shaun Hendy (Bridget Williams Books, $15) “I was flying as if I didn’t believe in climate change. Even … Read more
What, for example, is a pitchfork wrapped in tinsel doing over there, leaning up by an umbrella? Toby Manhire writes a speculative article. A tumultuous week for Winston Peters and his New Zealand First Party has seen story after story raise troubling questions around donations. He’s not happy about it. What do you do when … Read more
A new poem by Belfast-based poet J. Taylor Bell. the other day i witnessed a man seize with epilepsy in the produce section then the bottom fell out of the plastic bag on the long diaspora between self-checkout and the deserts of the kitchen counter i felt like napoleon the morning after waterloo surveying the … Read more
From academia to activism to media, Asian women are often ridiculed, overlooked and dismissed. Helen Yeung talks to Asian New Zealand women about the everyday racism they face – and how they’re fighting back. Last year, I was at the launch of an academic journal which included my essay on East Asian erotica. The essay … Read more
New Zealand leaves Australia for dust on internet speeds and our children are practically born using fibre, but major challenges lie ahead, writes Rohan MacMahon. Congratulations, New Zealand: three quarters of you now have ultra fast broadband (UFB). This week Chorus hosted an event at Parliament to mark the completion of Phase 1 of the … Read more
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Focus shifts to lawyer in NZ First Foundation scandal, Canterbury hail smashes crops, and tobacco companies cynically raise prices under tax cover. Around this time last year, a party leader had just brazened out a week of scandal, much of it focused on allegations of … Read more
Our kinship with plants is etched out in the mythology on which our societies are founded, and in the web of life it is a scientific fact that we are indeed close kin to the plant kingdom. So why do we not live like we are, asks Matt Hall. There are no prizes for guessing … Read more
There’s been outrage since it was revealed that up to one in five final year medical students at the University of Otago falsified their overseas placements by spending portions of that time travelling instead. But GP registrar and former Otago medical student Toby Hills finds himself empathising deeply with his younger colleagues. One of the … Read more