Featured

Ardern apologises as Royal Commission on March 15 attacks calls for spy agency overhaul

by

The Royal Commission into the Christchurch attack has made 44 recommendations, including a sweeping overhaul and expansion of New Zealand’s national security state. Justin Giovannetti reports from parliament. New Zealand’s security services knew almost nothing about the the terrorist’s intentions before the Christchurch attack and could have done very little to stop him, the long-awaited … Read more

Conversations across time: Toi Tū Toi Ora and the power of Māori art

by

A morning spent exploring the new Toi Tū Toi Ora Māori contemporary art exhibition at Auckland Art Gallery with curator Nigel Borell stirred up many complex feelings, writes Ātea editor Leonie Hayden. Te ihi, te wehi, te wana are concepts in te ao Māori that provide a handy vocabulary, lacking in English, for describing great … Read more

For Niko Walters, the pressure doesn’t change the passion

by

On the back of the arrival of his debut album late last month, we caught up with the fast-rising young New Zealand artist to learn how it came together and what’s led him to this point. Niko Walters grew up immersed in music, but it wasn’t until he left the country that he found himself … Read more

An open letter to Jacinda Ardern from a desperate small business owner

by

With nowhere else to turn, a small business owner issues a plea to the prime minister to level the playing field between tenant and landlord. Dear Ms Ardern, First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your re-election, and your second term in government. I hope it will be a successful three years … Read more

There is already a tax that targets people seeking capital gain on land. Why not apply it?

by

And it’s not the only existing provision the Inland Revenue could look at enforcing in the face of runaway house prices and wealth inequality, writes Terry Baucher.  Thirty-one years ago this month, then-Labour finance minister David Caygill proposed a comprehensive capital gains tax including the family home. The proposal was made following the release of … Read more

Reckon houses are expensive? Try buying a puppy

by

If you’ve been dreaming of that cute little cavoodle, prepare to end up locked in a bidding war with hundreds of equally desperate buyers. Nothing gets New Zealanders hot under the collar than a story about the rampant housing market. With travel – our traditional outlet of escapism – barred to most of us, we’ve … Read more

The Bulletin: Labour enjoys winner’s bonus in first post-election poll

by

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: First poll after election shows Labour surging, Treasury officials sounded alarm about uncapped film rebates, and full scale of Napier flood damage becoming clear Labour has taken a significant winners bonus in the first poll run after the election. The One News Colmar Brunton survey had them on … Read more

The cannabis vote was a disgrace. And the court case to overturn it is doomed

by

Sorry, but you can’t go in front of a court after an election (or referendum) and simply say, ‘I don’t like how things were done – so let’s have another go’, writes Andrew Geddis. The narrow “no” vote in September’s cannabis referendum was A Really Bad Thing. I recently summarised my thoughts on it for … Read more

Coming Home: For many returning New Zealanders, it’s been a bumpy landing

by

In part four of Coming Home, hosts Duncan Greive and Jane Yee find out what returning to New Zealand this year was like – and why it didn’t always go as smoothly as anticipated. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you usually listen to podcasts. Everyone we spoke to for this episode had a … Read more

A visual history of the New Zealand parliament – 2020 edition

by
Visual history of New Zealand parliament

Three years after its debut, Chris McDowall releases an updated version of his epic graph view of our national political history. Prior to the 2017 general election, I worked with Tim Denee to create a graphical history of New Zealand’s parliaments. It was an attempt to map parliamentary representation back to the first election in … Read more

Live updates, December 7: Poll sees Collins drop further as Labour maintains election lead

by

Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for December 7. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz 7.00pm: The day in sum The Human Rights Commission is investigating the pay gap and lack of equal employment opportunities experienced by Pacific communities in New Zealand. The Whakaari alert level for the volcanic island has been lowered to 1 (Green) … Read more

Mass vaccination is beginning around the world, but NZ will wait for a Covid jab

by
injecting vaccine

The first people in the UK will be getting a Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday, while in New Zealand, the wait could be for several more months. Here’s the government’s plan to vaccinate Aotearoa. Mass vaccination efforts against Covid-19 are underway around the world, but in New Zealand the government is asking for patience as the … Read more

Why medicinal cannabis suffered after the October cannabis referendum

by

Medicinal cannabis stocks took a dive in the aftermath of the cannabis referendum. Here’s why it happened. In the aftermath of the cannabis referendum on October 17, stocks for the two NZX-listed medicinal cannabis companies both sold down. While the referendum concerned the recreational, not medicinal use of cannabis, medicinal cannabis companies say there may … Read more

Review: Ready Player Two deserves a ruthless force-quit

by

Nine years ago, the author Ernest Cline published the monster hit Ready Player One. Somehow, despite being a huge gamer nerd, Sam Brooks managed to avoid it – until now. We also made him read the sequel, which came out last month. Sorry, Sam.   Ready Player One is an ode to the kind of white … Read more

A stake in the ground

by

The declaration of a climate emergency tells the people of New Zealand, and the international community, that this is who we are and this is where we are going, writes James Renwick, a climate scientist and member of the NZ Climate Commission. Last week Jacinda Ardern tabled in parliament a motion to declare a climate … Read more

Guns have no place in a peaceful society

by

We need to follow a public health approach and prevent people from harm. That means disarming both the public and the police, writes Laura O’Connell Rapira. Last week, a petition was delivered to parliament calling for harsher and more punitive approaches to individuals convicted of killing a police officer. The petition was initiated by Diane … Read more

The Bulletin: Tauranga council drama comes to a head

by

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Mahuta signals intent to replace Tauranga council with commissioner, Super Fund keen on local infrastructure, and Safety Warehouse panned for idiotic cash drop stunt. Local government minister Nanaia Mahuta has started the term with a big call. After months of dysfunction and infighting around the Tauranga … Read more

10 x 100: What Wellingtonians think of Wellington. And what they think of Aucklanders

by

In a new regular feature, we survey a group of 100 people via Stickybeak and ask them 10 questions. Today, what do Wellingtonians think about perceptions of their city? And what do they think of Aucklanders? Can’t beat Wellington on a good day? Andrea Vance can. Wellington based Stuff columnist beat the city to a … Read more

Drug law reform’s best hope? My grandma

by
The author's grandma, Kate Harcourt (Photo: Getty Images)

Despite legalisation’s failure, in recent years the number and diversity of New Zealanders willing to break our drug laws has radically increased – and that should give advocates for change hope. Over a family dinner my little sister decided to bring up cannabis. The legalisation referendum was weeks away and the topic had been bouncing … Read more

Everything you need to know about the new brainbox on The Chase

by

There’s a new Chaser in town, and it’s finally time to meet them.  At the start of every episode of The Chase, amiable host Bradley Walsh introduces the Chasers. Only one of these five quiz brain boxes can stroll through the giant C, ready to smash hopes and dreams with their infinite powers of wisdom … Read more

Live updates, December 5-6: Zero new Covid cases; Royal Commission report goes to families

by

Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for December 5. Get in touch at info@thespinoff.co.nz 2.00pm: Cases continue to surge in hotspots The sunny news of zero new cases in New Zealand finds its tragic contrast in ongoing reports around the world. In Brazil, for example, the latest officially reported tally recorded 43,209 new cases and … Read more

The Unremembered, a short story by Patricia Grace

by

This short story, The Unremembered, appears in the new collection Scorchers: A Climate Fiction Anthology, alongside stories from celebrated Australian and New Zealand writers such as Tulia Thompson, Renee Liang and Witi Ihimaera. There was this woman named Rona. She was the one pulled up to the moon for swearing. Rona was ordinary – wife, … Read more

When I am farther away

by

Michelle Langstone runs away to the Marlborough region to find some peace in the quiet. There are things you can learn from the wild. If you go farther away, the messages get clearer, delivered uninterrupted down the wires of birdsong and through the swift-running currents of rivers. Where I stay, there is no light pollution … Read more

What happens to NZ summer festivals if Covid-19 returns?

by

Despite an incredibly rough year for the events industry, some organisers are feeling optimistic about the upcoming season. Others, however, are choosing to err on the side of caution. There’s no doubt this year has involved more risk than usual for event producers. With no insurance available for Covid-related financial losses, there’s a lot to … Read more

The 1999 doco that shows how affordable Auckland home ownership once was

by

Let’s travel back in time to 1999, when Location Location Location was a Mike Hosking-fronted documentary about Auckland property – and a three-bedroom house there cost $159,000. Great news New Zealand – the best time to buy a house was 20 years ago. A recent report found that if you bought property in 2000, you’ll … Read more

Review: The Modern Māori Quartet is a celebration of the magic of a crowd

by

Imagine a raucous garage party, with better talent, lighting and sound: welcome to the Modern Māori Quartet’s new show at Auckland’s Civic. There are many lessons to learn from 2020, but if there’s one I hope sticks, it’s the lesson to not to take shit for granted. Seize the day, seize the minute, seize the … Read more