In association with our mates Bigpipe Broadband we’re livestreaming a different video game every Wednesday at 7pm on Facebook Live. Join José Barbosa and a cast of roped in innocents for these highlights from a journey into utter mayhem. Laden with costly virtual reality gear host José Barbosa and his mate Ashley Noel Hinton tackle … Read more
Alex Casey speculates as to the meaning of the single white rose, a new addition to The Bachelor NZ as it enters its third season this Sunday. Some intriguing Bachelor NZ news has rippled through the internet this morning like a fart on a pristine beach: they are introducing a mysterious white rose to the proceedings. … Read more
Can the PM recover from last Monday’s ‘wait and see’ shambles, in the face of questions on tax cuts and abortion? Toby Manhire tunes in. You think your Monday morning is a struggle, but spare a thought for the prime minister, whose week begins with four broadcast interviews, pretty much back to back. Imagine trying … Read more
With a water shortage threatened for Auckland, we invited Phil Goff to give us some tips on how to take a short shower. He declined! And then we discovered this… When I was young and devil-may-care I used to ride a motorcycle with the wind in my hair, because that’s how we rocked back then, … Read more
We asked Twitter culinary genius David Parker to create some delicious drinks inspired by shows in the upcoming NZ International Comedy Festival. I made these drinks partly because someone left a bottle of rosé at my house and partly because I can’t resist a good pun. I rarely drink cocktails and almost never make them, but I … Read more
You’ve heard our comedy co-editors picks, and no doubt you’ll be hearing what your favourite Bachelor runner-up’s comedy festival picks are in the coming months. But what about the normal people? What do they want to see? We know what it’s like. You see that 50 page Comedy Fest brochure while you’re waiting for your coffee, … Read more
More than 13,000 abortions were performed in New Zealand last year, yet the reasons why women have one remain largely hidden. One reason for the secrecy: the stigma of abortion, exacerbated by its inclusion in the Crimes Act. Here one anonymous mother explains why an abortion was the right choice for her. Why are we … Read more
An excerpt from The Special Patient, Auckland writer Aimee Inomata’s true story of how her partner was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and sentenced to seven years in a mental health unit. What happens, she asks, if your psychosis is substance-induced, a temporary insanity, and you have to live out your … Read more
Dunedin dad Aaron Hawkins went to the cricket and all he got was his pram banned. Here he questions the decision of New Zealand Cricket to exclude families from watching his beloved game. As a long suffering test cricket tragic it’s my job to pass that obsession on to my one-year-old son, so off we … Read more
Compiling the best reading from your friendly local website. Madeleine Chapman: A harrowing report from the Max Key VIP experience “’You paid to be here? That’s crazy.’ The young man laughed as I hurriedly explained that no, I hadn’t paid $59 for a VIP ticket to Max Key’s DJ gig, my work had. It didn’t … 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: Kate Robertson and Matthew McAuley join host Henry Oliver to talk about recent new releases. Spinoff Music editor Henry Oliver talks to contributing critics Kate Robertson and Matthew McAuley about new music from Lorde, … Read more
Charlotte Fielding wants another child. In a four-part series she writes about her attempts to use the dating app Tinder to find a sperm donor and help complete her family. Read part one of the series here. Sperm. Sperm sperm. Spermspermspermspermspermspermsperm. I think I used up my lifetime’s allotment of talking about sperm early on … Read more
Every Friday, ‘The Album Cycle’ reviews a handful of new releases. ALBUM OF THE WEEK Xiu Xiu – Forget Prolific avant-pop veterans Xiu Xiu are constantly challenging themselves and transforming their sound with each album. Their 2016 release, Plays the Music of Twin Peaks, showcased re-interpretations of Angelo Badalamenti’s soundtrack to Twin Peaks, while their … Read more
It’s not just Lorde releasing hot singles today. The Spinoff Music critics are divided over David Dallas’ latest, ‘Fit In’. Robyn Gallagher Yes, Ddot. This is what getting older feels like. ‘Fit In’ doesn’t have the sound of super-edgy hip hop from 2017, but it doesn’t have to. The lyrics provide Dallas with a clever … Read more
Tara Ward gives a tearful farewell to Deirdre, the bespectacled Black Eyed Pea-fanatic of Coronation Street. Coronation Street is set in a surburban netherworld where trams derail into corner shops and serial murderers drive their families into the canal. Why the heck anyone lives there is beyond me, but Deirdre Barlow loved it so much … Read more
Alex Casey, Leonie Hayden and Michele A’Court assemble in front of a live audience for this International Women’s Day podcast special. ‘Twas a drizzly International Women’s Day when we recorded this live podcast at the Generator, hoping to dissect the previous month in women-hood in New Zealand whilst not throwing up in front of an … Read more
There was a lot of love between the politicians kicking off the campaign with a debate at Auckland University last night, and then it got ugly. Toby Manhire relives the good and the bad of it all. If the curtain-raising set-piece in election year presages the 2017 campaign proper, we can expect an engaging, amicable … Read more
The week’s best-sellers at the two best bookstores in the Western world. UNITY WELLINGTON 1 Rants in the Dark: From One Tired Mama to Another by Emily Writes (Penguin, $35) Oho! 2 Can You Tolerate This? by Ashleigh Young (Victoria University Press, $30) Awesome essays by the world’s most famous New Zealand writer right now. 3 … Read more
Lorde took the pop world by surprise this morning, dropping new track ‘Liability’ just a week after the release of ‘Green Light’, her first single in three years. The Spinoff Music verdicts are in. Henry Oliver When ‘Royals’ was taking New Zealand, and then the world, by storm, it quickly became annoying to hear people … Read more
Pete Douglas runs down his favourite TV soundtracks of all time after killing the mood at a party with some tense Twin Peaks tunes. Here’s a hot party tip: if you play the theme song from Twin Peaks in the middle of a Saturday night gathering it’s a bit of a mood dampener. I learned … Read more
Sam Brooks has watched a lot of stand-up comedy specials in his 26 years on this planet. These are his five favourites. First things first: yes, my five most beloved comedy specials are all by women. That’s not because it’s two days after International Women’s Day but because I always have and always will believe … Read more
The attitudes expressed by a group of Wellington College schoolboys are depressing and infuriating – but not surprising, says sexual assault campaigner and 17-year-old Wellingtonian Eva McGauley. “Fuck women. Not even drunk, pass her out then fuck her job done.” “If you don’t take advantage of a drunk girl then you’re not a true WC … Read more
The Spinoff has been criticised for being Auckland-centric. So here’s a quiz all about Auckland. Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here.
New verse by a Wellington writer who has become the world’s most famous New Zealand author, Ashleigh Young. Ghost Bear On flying ant day, Elliot took me to the glowing sign outside Kenneth Williams’ apartment. We stared at it for the necessary long while. Kenneth Williams said he hated everyone and everything, especially, … Read more
It’s nothing personal, says Aucklander Paul Brislen – the earthquake-prone capital just isn’t secure enough to house our vital government headquarters. Ah, Wellington. As the plane banks and slides in to land, every single time I end up singing the bit that’s not entirely written by Don McGlashan: “And they’re playing the tape for the … Read more
It would mean a great deal to us at the Spinoff if you’d click your way through this quick survey, to help us work out who our audience are, what you’d like more of, and what we should be paying attention to in election year. Last year we ran an online reader survey, which generated … Read more
In the Arts Festival play Cellfish a drama teacher invites a bunch of prisoners to do a Shakespeare class – and it’s not why you think, says Simon Wilson. The rain came down and then it stopped and nothing got cancelled. Five shows opened in the Auckland Arts Festival on Wednesday and this one, Cellfish, … Read more
When Simon Sweetman took his son Oscar to the B4 School Check, it did not go well – and what’s worse, it seemed like Oscar was failing the tests on purpose. A typical toddler tantrum, or something else? I’m not a religious man. If you want to put your faith in, well, faith – good … 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, with the interview available as both audio and a transcribed excerpt. As the VP for Talent at Vend (where she worked with Simon) … Read more