Today would have been the 67th birthday of broadcasting legend Sir Paul Holmes. To celebrate, Pete Douglas looks back on that strange time when a broadcaster could release an album on a major label for seemingly no other reason than shits and giggles. “Hi there – do you … Read more
One of the single biggest health issues facing the planet, antimicrobial resistance, is being tackled by vets in this country. NZ Veterinary Association head Mark Ward explains the steps being taken to severely curtail the use of antibiotics on pets and farm animals. The World Health Organisation has named Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) one of the greatest … Read more
The Spinoff and Spark proudly present Pod On The Couch, a weekly podcast exploring music and the people that make it. This episode: Henry Oliver talks to Coco Solid and Trixie Darko about Equalise My Vocals. Spinoff Music editor Henry Oliver talks to Coco Solid and Trixie Darko about Equalise My Vocals, a panel event and music showcase on gender … Read more
Seven years after he hung up his headphones at bFM, Mikey Havoc – musician, trouble maker, radio talent extraordinaire – is back at the station that made him. Ahead of his first Breakfast show on May 8th, Havoc sat down with his former producer José Barbosa to explain what lured him home. Mikey Havoc, the old … Read more
The excitement then the pain that follows – the experience of miscarriage has devastated many families. Rebecca Lewis sheds light on the private sadness that many families suffer in silence. Content warning: Rebecca Lewis talks about her experience of miscarriage in this post. If you have suffered a miscarriage this post may be upsetting for you. … Read more
World Veterinary Day is tomorrow, 29 April. To celebrate veterinarians and the pets we love, here’s the story of Daniel, his survival, and the very special home he has with Amy Wilson-Hughes and her wife Frith. It’s 2am, and my wife’s phone is ringing. Groggy, she answers the call and places it on speaker. It’s … Read more
The Spinoff Music team review albums from David Dallas, Gorillaz, John Mayer and Craig Finn. ALBUM OF THE WEEK David Dallas – Hood Country Club D.Dot grows up gracefully Aging gracefully in the world of rap has never been easy, especially not in New Zealand. Name an artist that has come anywhere close to longevity and there’s guaranteed … Read more
Sam Brooks talks to the three Williams siblings – all comedians – about growing up in a loud, competitive household, their mum’s sideline in character comedy, and their plans for a family stand-up tour. You can find part one of this interview here. Part two of the interview starts with Maria making a discovery on … Read more
Israeli-born Yael Shochat is the owner of much-loved Fort St institution Ima Cuisine. She writes about the essential role immigration plays in her restaurant – and why the Labour leader’s vow to slash immigrant numbers by ‘tens of thousands’ has her deeply worried. Two years ago, after 17 years living here, I received my New … Read more
Over lunch at Balmoral Chinese restaurant Spicy House, Henry Oliver asks David Dallas about how growing older, getting married and watching Roger Federer all influenced his new album, Hood Country Club. This has been the longest gap between albums for you, right? Everyone’s saying that. It doesn’t seem as long as it is, but when … Read more
Spinoff Comedy co-editor Natasha Hoyland shares her highlights from the Flick Electric Co. Comedy Gala, New Zealand’s biggest night in comedy. Boy, oh, boy, last night was incredible! I think, in fact, that it was probably the best comedy gala I’ve ever been to. Although it was three hours long, the programmers balanced the acts … Read more
With the penultimate season on Lightbox this week, Alex Casey does a deep dive into Reddit to find all the Psycho references in prequel series Bates Motel. As the Scary Movie franchise has demonstrated, nothing gets the party started like a pop culture reference, however slight or heavy. Bates Motel, both a prequel to and … Read more
A new public discussion series explores the link between primary products – dairy, meat, wine and wool – and New Zealand national identity. Victoria University’s Prof Lydia Wevers introduces the series. Every Kiwi baby-boomer remembers having to drink quarter-pint bottles of warm milk at playtime, which at my school had been left outside on the … Read more
The best-selling books at the world’s best two bookstores. WELLINGTON UNITY 1 The New Zealand Project by Max Harris (Bridget Williams Books, $40) Max! Number one in both Wellington and Auckland. He’s cool. 2 Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo (Particular Books, $40) Inspirational role modelling. 3 Rule of … Read more
Who the hell is John Gallas when he’s at home? And is he ever at home? Bill Manhire talks to the elusive, much-travelled New Zealand poet. John Gallas must be New Zealand’s least visible poet. He left the country in 1970, has mostly lived in the UK since then, but is back in New Zealand for extended periods … Read more
Has the New Zealand film industry been expanding or shrinking? Find out by taking the quiz below. Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here.
Auckland based Grinding Gear Games will launch its blockbuster PC game Path of Exile on Xbox One later this year. It’s a big move for the company that has seen continuous growth in player numbers with every expansion and currently boasts a serious player base of 16 million. José Barbosa took a slow train to Henderson … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Madeleine Chapman caught the latest musical in town with the longest name. When I was younger, I watched a DVD of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat almost every day during one school holidays. And in all those viewings, … Read more
In the fourth of Guyon Espiner’s extended interviews with former prime ministers for RNZ, Jenny Shipley mounts a robust defence of the welfare reforms she oversaw as minister under Jim Bolger, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of Winston Peters, and points to sexism in political commentary. In the hour-long conversation, Shipley, who was PM from 1997 … Read more
Alex Casey talks to comedian Ed Gamble about his time impersonating a prince on Almost Royal, and how to catch a catfish. The BBC America series Almost Royal follows the aristocratic sibling duo Georgie and Poppy Carlton – supposed descendants of the royal family – as they travel to the United States to meet the … Read more
The minister of finance just announced a multi-billion dollar spend up – and Auckland should be very worried. Simon Wilson explains how the government’s traffic plans are badly stuck. Congestion for motorists on Onewa Rd isn’t any better than it ever was, Cr Richard Hills told his colleagues on the Auckland Council today. Despite all … Read more
Would witnessing terminations change your view on abortion? Student midwife Lucy Kelly explains how an abortion clinic placement made her rethink her assumptions about women who end their pregnancies. Every single day of my work and study involves seeing new life, and celebrating new life with families. My studies, my degree, my career, and my purpose … Read more
As part of Equalise My Vocals, a new Spinoff project focusing on equality in the music community, Coco Solid speaks with musician and audio engineer Jana Whitta. Jana Whitta (Ngāti Kahungunu) is a local audio engineering/music community overachiever who has seen and literally heard it all. Her journey in music has taken her from a teen … Read more
Spinoff Comedy co-editor Sam Brooks talks to the Williams siblings about family dynamics , what lead them into comedy, and who’s the funniest (spoiler: it’s dad). The Williams siblings are fast becoming a New Zealand entertainment dynasty. Guy, the eldest, is a Billy T Award winner and a regular on Jono and Ben; Paul, the … Read more
Auckland Transport wants a rail line from the CBD to the airport. Council does too. So why does a start date seem further away than ever? Simon Wilson examines what’s gone wrong and how to make it right in the dispute over rail to the airport. Light rail is trams and heavy rail is trains … Read more
Following that Waikato Times column about blokes suffering from women’s periods (comprehensively rebutted here) Michele A’Court generously proffers some empathy advice for men. Hey Tom O’Connor, I think you’re doing “empathy” wrong. You’re doing that thing where, instead of imagining what it is like to experience something, you just describe what it is like for you to know … Read more
Spinoff Comedy co-editor Natasha Hoyland heads to the Basement Preview Show for a first look at the acts performing there over the course of the comedy festival. The Flick Electric Co. Comedy Gala is happening tonight in Auckland, which means it’s officially time for the NZ International Comedy Festival! To celebrate, I went out to … Read more
In our video series Kiwis of Snapchat, comedian Tom Sainsbury sources exclusive Snapchat footage of Kiwi citizens making the news. Today, Sensing Murder psychic Kelvin Cruickshank attempts to contact Jonah Lomu, again. Click here to watch Kiwis of Snapchat #1 featuring Jami-Lee Ross
Madeleine Chapman flew to Los Angeles on United Airlines and flew back on Air New Zealand. One was better. You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. Is something that annoying people love to say out of context. But sadly it’s true, and no more so than when a New Zealander finds him or … Read more