With the first week of The Bachelor: Australia coming at us full noise, there was every worry that the show could only go downhill. Fear not, for the Honey Badger and his competing ladies are back with more drama than ever. Miriam Moore recaps. Week two starts with a bang: The Honey Badger delivers the … Read more
Team Gone By Lunchtime gathers to discuss the important political issues of the day, from Clare Curran getting the boot to Party of Five. A relatively forgettable leak has transmogrified into a long-running story around the leak of the National leader’s expense details. Annabelle Lee of The Hui and Ben Thomas of Exceltium chew over the … Read more
Alice Neville enjoys a crisp pilsner with a pleasing chilli kick, while Henry Oliver joins Reese Witherspoon in singing the praises of a pastel pink number from Central Otago. MCLEOD’S FAR NORTH CHILI PILS 5.2%, 500ml, $9.99 from Fine Wine Delivery Co Ah, beer and chilli. Name a more iconic duo. No wonder Hallertau Brewery … Read more
“The boys are conscious there’s a massive inequality issue in Aotearoa New Zealand.” Starring Ra Pomare.
Entrepreneur Derek Handley is reportedly on the verge of being appointed the CTO of the whole country of New Zealand. And the tech community is not happy about that at all, reports Duncan Greive. Much of New Zealand’s tech community has reacted with derision to a report entrepreneur Derek Handley is all-but-certain to soon be … Read more
Discussions about family surnames in the media tend to ignore the fact that many queer families have been tackling the issue for far longer than most of their heterosexual counterparts. Lisa Melville talked to some two-mum couples about their approach to family names. With so much choice around surnames, how do two-mother families decide what … Read more
Swearing, nudity, blasphemy and Clarke Gayford – these are just some of the things New Zealanders have been vehemently complaining about to the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) over the past year. Blasphemy Using the Lord’s name in vain is always a big no-no for many God-fearing New Zealanders. The ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) gets plenty … Read more
Journalist Aaron Smale went along to the Criminal Justice Summit hosted in Porirua last week, and discovered one crucial missing voice. “All those people are looking at me like I shouldn’t be here.” It was a comment made in a whisper but it spoke volumes. Sam* did stand out in this particular crowd. With full … Read more
Last week the government announced the next step in their One Billion Trees programme: $240 million towards new tree planting projects. While this a win for our native habitats and the fight against climate change, businesses shouldn’t use this as an excuse to pass the buck in funding native forestry, writes Stephen Tindall. I’ve always … Read more
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Government makes moves on business confidence, National wants US military whistleblower kept out of NZ, and schools strugging with stand-down rates. The Prime Minister has made a big push to bring business back onside, after the government has spent much of the year dogged by low … Read more
Whether you’re on the left or right, it’s obvious that Manning should be allowed to speak in New Zealand, argues Act leader David Seymour. And the same goes for Molyneux, Southern and Brash. Here we go again. Another polarising person who will infuriate at least half the population is having their right to speak challenged. … Read more
The debate around girls playing in boys’ sports teams has resurfaced. Just let them play, says Madeleine Chapman. When Pennsylvania beat Tennessee in the opening round of the 2014 Little League World Series, it made the news. The Pennsylvania pitcher, who pitched a shutout, was congratulated by world famous athletes and invited to appear on … Read more
“We rule the book-reading world”: Catherine Robertson reports from the Romance Writers of New Zealand annual conference. “Charlotte Stein writes the best cunnilingus scenes. And I’m a gay guy. Think about what I’m saying.” Damon Suede cannot shock his audience. This is the Romance Writers of New Zealand annual conference, held recently at the Novotel … Read more
With business confidence having plunged, the prime minister’s goal this morning was to get the big beasts back onside. Did her speech, and her announcement of a new advisory council, do the trick? Toby Manhire went along to the breakfast to find out. Jacinda Ardern has talked a lot about elephants and rooms lately. In … Read more
The upcoming visit of the US intelligence whistleblower appears to have some on the right reassessing their commitment to free speech and open debate. How quickly they forget, writes Danyl McLauchlan. Back in the very distant past of two weeks ago, amidst the clash and clamour of the Great Debate about freedom of speech provoked … Read more
Mothering is wonderful and exhausting. It’s hard, but incredible work. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes talks about how life becomes easier when you surround yourself with brilliant and amazing women. Mothers don’t just exist. We become mothers through a process that some think only involves birth. But we know – those of us who are … Read more
Crazy Rich Asians has been lauded for its groundbreaking representation of Asian-Americans – but how is Asian representation looking in our own country? “Why would you actively try and get into a space where no spaces exist for you?” says Alice Canton, an Auckland-based actress and theatre artist. “If I wasn’t creating my own opportunities, … Read more
It’s time we viewed the restrictive philosophy peddled by ‘influencers’ and corporates as what it is: dangerous, manipulative crap. My firmly held belief that wellness culture is a fucking scam is met by scepticism and bemused looks at every turn. Everyone I know and their mother is trapped in a chase for the panacea of … Read more
Kia ora Papercuts listeners! You are listening to a podcast all about books on The Spinoff. Louisa and Jenna come to you from the NZ Booksellers Conference at the Rydges Hotel in Auckland. We talk about the Book Industry Awards, interview the owners of New Zealand’s best bookshop 2018, and Louisa talks to Shaun Bythell, … Read more
In Napier’s poorest suburb, empty lots sprawl where state housing once sat, unemployment dominates, and, each evening, with few street lamps around, ‘The Nui’ falls into darkness and synthetic cannabis joints are lit. By Anusha Bradley of RNZ. Read the full story here. Children as young as 11 are hooked on synthetic cannabis in the … Read more
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Government signals intent on renting and tenancy laws, gang tensions in Whanganui, and the humanities are under pressure at two universities. The government has released a discussion document, with the aim of changing renting in New Zealand. Released by Phil Twyford and Marama Davidson, it will … Read more
US prisoners went on strike last week to protest the exploitation of their labour. And the conditions they’re protesting aren’t that different to those in New Zealand. Starting on August 21st, hundreds of prisoners in dozens of American prisons declared they were going on nationwide strike. Jailhouse Lawyers Speak, an organisation of prisoners’ rights advocates … Read more
The media approach following Greg Boyed’s death shows just how much our mental health reporting needs to change, writes TVNZ journalist Jehan Casinader. Greg Boyed had already left the airwaves, but they were still humming with his presence. In the hours after our colleague’s death, his name echoed through every newsroom, and his face glowed … Read more
Bob Dylan played Spark Arena in Auckland last night. Ol’ buds Henry Oliver and Harry Cundy were there and emailed back-and-forth about it afterwards. Henry Oliver: We’ve been to many of the same Dylan shows over the years, sometimes together. This one was like many of them but also like no Dylan show I’ve seen … Read more
Introducing our new series “Why I love”, where friends of The Spinoff share their favourite eating and drinking establishments. First up, Business is Boring host Simon Pound introduces one of his happy places, Gogo Music Cafe in Balmoral, Auckland. I don’t like to exaggerate, but I have been known to say that Gogo Music Cafe … Read more
While some kids may skate through their parents’ separation relatively unscathed, many may suffer at least some short term, if not longer term distress. Psychologist Rachael Sharman has some advice. As an adult, you’ve likely forgotten just how central your family was to your sense of stability and even identity. Children have yet to develop autonomy, independence … Read more
Next year will mark 20 years since Neopets materialised on the World Wide Web, and with most of its former user base now in their 20s and 30s, it seems the time is ripe for a nostalgic resurgence. We remember the glory days of this internet phenomenon, but also: the hacking, the gambling, and the … Read more
With a career that has taken her from Whakatāne to Otago, to the hallowed halls of Harvard, to the front line of Standing Rock, lawyer Natalie Coates has fought for Māori and indigenous rights wherever she’s been needed. She has appeared in the Supreme Court for the Urewera ‘anti-terror’ raids case, and volunteered in ‘war-like’ … Read more
“I’m 27, and winning national media awards,” writes Lizzie Marvelly, in this edited extract from That F Word. “I’m 28, and writing a book.” I’ve never shied away from a challenge. Which is lucky, because life seems to come at me hard and fast. When I pause to look back over my shoulder, I see … Read more