Yet another Spinoff Review of Books exclusive as we break the 6:00am embargo by 60 seconds and present, as of 5:59am, the shortlist of the 2017 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards featuring Ashleigh Young. Ashleigh Young and some other writers have made it onto the shortlist of the 2017 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Young, 33, the … Read more
This week sees the launch of a nationwide eSports league featuring more than 50 teams from high schools around the country. But is this whole thing legit? Like, are they actually going to let kids play computer games as a sport? We sent Eugenia Woo to the High School League open night to find out. Parents … Read more
Pushing the retirement age to 67 by 2040 reshapes the debate in election year. The boomers will be happy, but what about the rest of us? Ben Thomas writes It didn’t seem likely during the prime minister’s Monday morning interview circuit, after two studio interviews ended in mocking laughter from media hosts, but Bill English … Read more
With two young children the nights can be long, so very, very long. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes writes about one marathon night among many. The night shift started with an attempt to write something and ignore the pitter patter of feet on the stairs. I knew they belonged to my four-year-old. He knew he … Read more
‘Best Songs Ever’ features various contributors to The Spinoff Music assessing recent songs and singles. SONG OF THE WEEK Lorde – ‘Green Light’ (of course!) (For nine actual reviews of ‘Green Light’ click here – and excuse the weird 15/16 timing of the above video, it’s the best we could do) Arca – ‘Anoche’ Holy shit! … Read more
The star of a confrontational new television commercial explains why she felt compelled to help save hens from the cruelty of battery cages. Update: Late last week, in apparent response to the upcoming SAFE ad, Countdown supermarkets announced they will remove battery-caged and colony-caged eggs from their own-brand range by 2022, the same year battery … Read more
The use of ‘degrading’ and ‘dehumanising’ restraints in New Zealand prisons has been found by the Ombudsman’s Office to breach the UN Convention on Torture. This is no time to be making excuses, writes Elizabeth Stanley. In New Zealand, “At Risk Units” hold prisoners who are considered at risk of suicide or self-harm. They are … Read more
Our in-house animal reality TV expert Tara Ward reviews Keeping Up With the Kattarshians, a reality series which is about exactly that you think. When the world turns to hell in a handcart, it makes sense that we find solace in the peculiarities of the animal kingdom. Actually, it makes no sense at all, because … Read more
Spoiler: he wants you to wait and see a lot. In a tweet mysteriously deleted over the weekend, Bill English announced, “We’re not here to shy away from the hard issues.” And that not shying away extended unmistakably across the weekend and Monday-morning interview flurry. He would most definitely be dealing directly with issues around … Read more
The annual Billy T Jams showcases the nominees for the Billy T Award, New Zealand’s biggest prize for comedy. Former Billy T winner Hamish Parkinson reviews Friday night’s show in two parts: the first the show itself, the second what this year’s lineup can tell us about the state of local comedy in 2017. Review … Read more
Max Key is touring the country to promote his new single ‘All The Way’. The Spinoff sent known recluse Madeleine Chapman along for the full 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 … Read more
Some say we have got it just right. Some are completely opposed. Others say we haven’t gone far enough. But the overall response to our project has been heartening, writes Geoffrey Palmer. While some may believe New Zealanders are never interested in constitutional matters, my recent meetings around the country prove that to be wrong. … Read more
Contrary to media reports, a new study by policy thinktank the NZ Initiative does not recommend performance pay for high achieving teachers, says its author Martine Udahemuka. But still, she asks, shouldn’t parents and educators at least be having the conversation? First, let’s set the record straight. A couple of weeks ago we released a … Read more
Compiling the best reading from your friendly local website. Sam Brooks and Natasha Hoyland: Mining the comedy gold for you: The Spinoff’s pop-up comedy section is here! “We’re not going to be a bunch of old white guys just writing reviews and spoiling jokes. We care about comedy, and we care about people who care … Read more
When your first album sees you described as the savior of folk music, how do you turn around and make a second album that’s even better? Nadia Reid talked with Calum Henderson about her new album Preservation, released yesterday. For months after Nadia Reid’s debut album Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs came out, … 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: songwriters Mike Elizondo, Emily Warren, and James Newman join host Henry Oliver to talk about the modern pop songwriting process. Spinoff Music editor Henry Oliver talks to Mike Elizondo (credits include: Eminem, Jay-Z … Read more
Alex and Joseph sprinted to Spinoff HQ to record this Pop on the Couch emergency after Lorde dropped her new single ‘Green Light’ on Friday morning. It’s been a long week of teaser clips, green beaches and smoking cars, but Lorde finally released the first single ‘Green Light’ from her sophomore album Melodrama on Friday morning. … Read more
Charlotte Fielding wants another child. In this, the first in a four-part series, she writes about why she turned to the dating app Tinder in an attempt to complete her family. What if I had a baby and it didn’t have a dad? I asked my six-year-old son this question, as if it was rhetorical, … Read more
Alex Casey compares the dramatic re-enactments of Sensing Murder to fellow bad creep show Celebrity Ghost Stories, to find the true winner in the art of the corny reconstruction. The dramatic recreation remains the hokiest thing to ever grace the creepy TV genre from Sensing Murder to Celebrity Ghost Stories, consistently bad and funny no … Read more
Jane Yee, Duncan Greive and Alex Casey gather around the oval table and talk about the latest happenings in New Zealand television and real life in New Zealand. It’s a massive week on The Real Pod as Alex, Jane and Duncan discuss the one-two punch of Lorde’s new single and the nation’s new Bachelor. After a ten … 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. How do you grow a company overseas? Should you take the leap … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Calum Henderson watches Australasia’s fast and furious new bowls tournament. The North Shore Events Centre was absolutely going off last night, but not as the result of a Mika Vukona putback dunk to send a Breakers game to overtime or … Read more
New verse by New Zealand-Tongan poet Simone Kaho. Pretty Some people say You’re too pretty to be Tongan which is funny because it’s usually Tongans who say it. It is a short-cut to make a big distance between us and casually call me Pālagi at the same time. I can hardly … Read more
Natasha Hoyland gets to know the Billy T nominees ahead of their showcase at Q Theatre tonight. To be in the running for the biggest and most prestigious prize in New Zealand comedy, budding comedians are required to pitch their show ideas to a panel of industry judges and perform in an applicants showcase. The … Read more
House prices have apparently gone down in Auckland, but does that mean the average worker can afford a home? Take the income quiz below. Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here.
New Zealand’s most fucked up show is back on the air after a merciful hiatus. Duncan Greive says that Sensing Murder is a crime against television – and now, due to a big format change, even worse than it was the first time around. Sensing Murder, one of the most preposterous shows in New Zealand … Read more
The Spinoff Music weighs in on the only song that matters, Lorde’s ‘Green Light’. Amanda Robinson Lorde’s ‘Green Light’ is perhaps the perfect pop song. It’s the kind of track you can sing along to after the first listen, and – like the reflection of the traffic light on the wet road – it signals … Read more
Great news for young people struggling to buy a house while spending up large on window washers, cat whisperers and feng shui consultants. Inspired by big bank economist Tony Alexander, the Spinoff has one hundred thousand dollars for you. A huge couple of days for li’l New Zealand. Lorde has released a superb new record. … Read more
The week’s best-sellers at the two best stores in the Western world. AUCKLAND STORE 1 Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis (HarperCollins, $35) by JD Vance We will almost certainly run a review by former bFM deity Joshua Hetherington next week. 2 Lincoln in the Bardo (Bloomsbury, $33) by George Saunders The year’s … Read more