A film that positions France as everything New Zealand vintners should aspire to is looking at the world of wine through a narrow lens, argues wine writer Joelle Thomson. Does the New Zealand wine industry deserve a seat at the international wine table? It’s a big question with lots of different answers depending who you … Read more
With just one more episode to go until the end of an explosive season of Love Island UK, Alex Casey has already crowned her winner. I’m always worried about being too thirsty. Not in the sexy, online way either, more like the desperately parched man in a terrifying Paul Jennings story I read as a … Read more
Two months of sustained coverage of the local elections, all around New Zealand – brought to you by The Spinoff Members. Plus, a week concentrating on climate change. A month ago, we launched The Spinoff Members – a new initiative to enable our readers to contribute to our work both financially, and with editorial guidance. … Read more
Do New Zealand firms still think greed is good – or are the days of unfettered pursuit of profits over? In a three-part series we get business bosses to front up over capitalism’s fault lines. Rob Everett knew he was setting the cat among the pigeons. No, he hadn’t “gone communist”, the Financial Markets Authority … Read more
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: National launches major policy on cancer drug funding, popular support swells for Ihumātao protectors as govt steps in, and ski industry workers face snow drought. National have announced big plans for cancer drug funding if they win in 2020. At the party’s annual conference, leader Simon … Read more
The just completed party conference confirmed a widespread unity under Simon Bridges, while Jacinda Ardern is under more pressure than ever. If the cards fall benignly, it’s far from impossible, writes Liam Hehir At the conclusion of a solid 2019 conference, the National Party’s path to victory in 2020 has not changed – it remains … Read more
Fears are growing about the seemingly unstoppable descent into alt-right radicalisation many young men are falling into. A visiting expert says it doesn’t have to be like that, reports Sophie Bateman. Since the Christchurch mosque attacks, a number of urgent changes have been made in New Zealand: semi-automatic weapons have been banned, media guidelines for … Read more
A little bit of effort and a few weeks of patience will reward you with a secret weapon that’ll jazz up all manner of dishes. This pickle packs a serious flavour punch and if you’re anything like me, it will fast become a staple on your pantry shelves. It has a wonderful lime scent, is … Read more
Jean Sergent reviews Prime TV’s Manson: The Lost Tapes, a documentary that looks inside the Manson Family and sheds light on the darkest ‘family’ in recent American history. It’s going to be a glut season for Manson Family content, with the 50th anniversary of the Tate Labianca murders in early August. Tom O’Neil’s new book … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today, Josie Adams eats packing peanuts. To avoid a lawsuit, let me first state that Pop Starch packing peanuts do not call themselves edible. The word “edible” is nowhere on the product. In fact, the product description says “not meant … Read more
It’s a common argument for religious belief: if you believe that everything ends with death, then what’s the point of life? But the finality of death is exactly what gives value to life, writes atheist Baal Caulfield. “The universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent.” – Carl Sagan The other day, while outside filling … Read more
Artist Nikau Hindin is reviving a contemporary form of Māori art that was largely lost after the extinction of the aute plant in Aotearoa. Ngāpuhi and Te Rarawa artist Nikau Hindin has recently been taught by ancestors in Hawai’i the skills of beating tapa or barkcloth, reviving as contemporary form a Māori art largely lost … Read more
Welcome back to Papercuts, our monthly books podcast hosted by Louisa Kasza, Jenna Todd and Kiran Dass. In this episode we give advice on how to tackle the ever growing tower that is the ‘To Be Read’ pile, discuss a recent release that didn’t quite hit the spot, and bring you our usual book reviews … Read more
The Lightbulb asks innovators and entrepreneurs how they turned their ideas into reality. This week we talk to Arash Tayebi, co-founder of Kara Technologies which uses AI and digital humans to translate content into sign language. First of all, give us your elevator pitch for Kara. Kara translates different materials – books, audio, video – … Read more
Please take a moment to pay tribute to the glories of New Zealand hair salon names. Julie Hill consults an expert. A decade ago, a linguistics lecturer named Martin Paviour-Smith published seminal work for Massey University’s Linguistics Department, on what was then known as a “blog”. The subject: linguistic strategies used in hair salon names … Read more
The current standoff at Ihumātao has deep roots in the legacy of colonialism and land confiscation. Historian Vincent O’Malley writes about how it was taken by the Crown, and why that matters today. The New Zealand Wars may have ended nearly 150 years ago. But their consequences continue to be felt today. Nowhere is that … Read more
The state-owned broadcaster has quietly announced it sees no prospect of paying a dividend in the ‘foreseeable future’ TVNZ has told its government owner that it will in effect become a not-for-profit, with the goal of returning a dividend jettisoned in favour of a focus on “the future sustainability of the business”. In the annual … Read more
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Vaka Interactiv CEO and co-founder Jesse Armstrong. This week’s Business is Boring podcast talks with an entrepreneur who … Read more
DiscoveryCamp gives Māori and Pacific high school students the chance to experience science at a tertiary level. Alice Webb-Liddall finds out why it’s important to get these young people interested. Māori and Pacific people have been experts in science for thousands of years. They navigated the earth using astronomy, grown food with biology and created … Read more
Spark has issued a blunt invitation to Sky TV to get into the ring over the fight for Kiwi sports fans and their eyeballs. This week Sky’s CEO took that up. There were moments at Sky TV’s relaunch of its sports product which felt like those famous Apple annual conventions the late Steve Jobs used … Read more
Since their first single release in 2015, Leisure has had over 75 million streams and a handful of sold-out international concerts. Jaden Parkes sat down with Josie Adams to talk about the secret of success: leisure time. Leisure is made up of the New Zealand music industry’s shining stars, and its quiet heroes. They’re writers, … 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 Three Women by Lisa Taddeo (Bloomsbury, $35) “Taddeo writes like it’s all brand new. Like she’s high, perfectly high, punching … Read more
For Auckland is a Spinoff podcast of civic conversations with people working to create and sustain a better Auckland for all. In episode seven, host Timothy Giles speaks to Penny Hulse, longtime Auckland councillor and former deputy mayor, about her time in council, why she’s stepping down and her hopes for the future. There’s never … Read more
Emily Writes dives once more into the frozen gaping maw of online news, so you don’t have to. What a week! Boris is PM and he’s already fucked off the Queen by revealing the sweet nothings she whispered in his ear. He said the Queen told him privately: “I don’t know why anyone would want … Read more
A poem by Primo Levi (1919–1987), translated by New Zealanders Marco Sonzogni and Harry Thomas. Samson Son of a sterile mother, I also was announced By a messenger, a man Of terrible countenance. I was a child of the Sun, And was myself the Sun. I had the Sun’s force … Read more
They call themselves conscientious objectors, but doctors opposed to abortion are causing significant harm to patients, according to a new study. Alex Casey reports on a call for a crackdown. Patients seeking abortion care in New Zealand are experiencing significant delays, financial cost and feelings of stigma and embarrassment as a result of the broad … Read more
Outsized economic growth is becoming more of a threat than an opportunity in the Mediterranean tourist Mecca and New Zealand should take note, writes financial planner Chris Lee. Any business – indeed, any country – that does not carefully consider ‘right sizing’ is at risk of failure caused by inappropriate, unsustainable growth. Ask former Fletcher … Read more
The revolution in Gilead has finally begun, and it’s taking place one batch of muffins at a time. Tara Ward recaps the latest episode of The Handmaid’s Tale. The revolution we’ve waited nine long episodes for is here at last, and how do we know? Muffins. It turns out the network of Marthas’ have a … Read more
Sam Brooks reviews The Boys, dropping today on Amazon Prime, and finds it far from the critique of superhero fantasies he was promised. In the third episode of Amazon Prime’s new superhero series The Boys, newly-official superhero Starlight (Erin Moriarty) has a meeting with corporate to discuss her new outfit, which is decidedly skimpier than … Read more