This week the Commerce Commission is set to rule on the wedding of two companies, brought together in the name of rugby, reckons Paul Brislen. The people behind the planned merger of Vodafone and Sky TV are heralding a brave new blended world of content and delivery mechanism, an alliance that will position both companies … Read more
Late last year we asked Anthony Byrt to review a collection of essays by the great John Berger. The author died in January; the review is now a kind of tribute to a writer who was a massive influence on Geoff Dyer, Olivia Laing, and others. When John Berger died in January at age 90, … Read more
Launching on March 1, Horizon: Zero Dawn is the next big AAA IP for the PS4. Josh Drummond has a hoon and finds a game that pulls from everywhere, but transcends its magpie tendencies. A girl, in a world very different to our own, is taken in by a strange tribe and raised as an … Read more
Failed presenter Duncan Greive reviews the first episode of The Project, Three’s new 7pm current affairs show. The lights came on and, after two weeks of as-live rehearsals, they really were speaking to the nation. Even for the show’s guest Rove McManus, who has spent most of his adult life on live television, it was a big … Read more
Duncan Greive settles down to a nice night of linear television in front of TVNZ 1’s Fair Go and Mind Over Money. Like many people under the age of 40 – and a large portion of those older – linear television has almost entirely given way to on-demand in my viewing habits. Linear, scheduled television … Read more
Kat McKenzie writes for The Spinoff Parents about trying to have a family the unconventional way. Here she shares a letter she wrote to her not-yet-conceived baby. Dear Baby, Sometimes it feels like my heart is fracturing and little pieces have broken off and wedged in my throat and burn my eyes, as an aching … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Last year I was a Sandringham resident and caught the 233/243/249 to and from work. There’s nothing special about this route or those buses. Once a week I would need to get to the North Shore after work and I would … Read more
The WikiLeaks founder spoke to audiences in Melbourne and Auckland on Sunday night via video-link from his Ecuador embassy redoubt in London – this time without power drills and Kim Dotcom. The last time Julian Assange was beamed in to a public event in New Zealand, the country was screaming slack-jawed down the final furlong … Read more
‘Best Songs Ever’ features various contributors to The Spinoff Music assessing recent songs and singles. SONG OF THE WEEK Aldous Harding – ‘Horizon’ ‘Horizon’, the first single from Aldous Harding’s forthcoming album Party, is straightforward and certain, rooted in her gothic folk past, but not bound to it. Three piano chords repeat throughout, leaving room … Read more
Kim Dotcom is back in court. He won the battle to livestream it. Until we can bear it no longer we’re liveblogging that. UPDATED with February 2017 ruling. Monday February 20, 2017: We have a ruling! A mere five months on, the ruling is in, and Justice Gilbert says Dotcom and co are eligible for … Read more
With Treat Her Right campaigning to implement the Equal Pay Act of 1972 and close the wage gap in New Zealand, Alex Casey compares the progress of the bill to the career of Karl Urban, also born in 1972. The year was 1972. Karl Urban was born. House parties everywhere were enjoying delicious cheese hedgehogs. … Read more
What will popular music sound and look like in 10 or 20 years time? Gareth Shute looks to Japan, where the era of the ‘authentic’ rock musician has already come to an end. Late last year, I was visiting Ebisu, Tokyo and wanted to see what acts were playing nearby. I discovered online what I … Read more
An extract from Playing for Both Sides, a kind of memoir by Auckland novelist Stephanie Johnson on her love-hate relationship with Australia. In the summer of 2011-12, I lived for a brief period in the hinterlands of Byron Bay. One afternoon I heard on local radio a report about a riot that had taken place … Read more
Who invented Kiwi Onion Dip, and why isn’t there a gold statue of that person on top of Mt Cook? Hayden Donnell goes on a wildly emotional search for an unheralded New Zealand genius, the inspiration for his Get It To Te Papa series The woman on the other end of the phone line sounded … Read more
As obesity and diabetes rates continue their sharp upward rise, calls for a tax on sugary drinks are also on the increase. Today, in the first of a two-part series giving both sides of the debate, the Green Party’s Julie Anne Genter explains why she’s pushing hard for the tax. Let’s start with what we … Read more
For a strange week in November, The Spinoff’s editor Duncan Greive was on the longlist to host Three’s new 7pm current affairs show The Project NZ. Here he gives a blow by blow of a botching. “He’s a household name and needs no introduction – so why am I bothering? Ladies and gentlemen, would you … Read more
The turmoil being witnessed in America at least illustrates the necessity of constitutional checks. It should spur New Zealand to adopt its own written, codified constitution, writes former prime minister Geoffrey Palmer The constitutional turmoil in the United States highlights the value of a written constitution in stopping governments from over-reaching their powers. There have … Read more
Compiling the best reading from your friendly local website. The Spinoff: We are hiring a comedy editor LMAO!! “The Spinoff needs an editor to run our pop up comedy section during the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Sound like you? Read on.” James Dann: The Port Hills fire makes it clear: Our Civil Defence is … Read more
Are all the craft brewers going to be bought by the big guys? Garage Project’s Jos Ruffell tells Duncan Greive that, despite the sale of Panhead and Tuatara, they’re doubling down on the independent route. A couple of weeks ago it was announced that Tuatara had been sold to the Heineken-owned DB Breweries, the latest … Read more
A police takedown of a drunk and belligerent biker in the Auckland suburb of Kingsland went viral this week. Pro fighter Shane Young breaks down the action ahead of his own fight this evening in Auckland. Though its logo might look like the sticker on a New Era snapback, the Portland Public House is a … 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. Situated on Auckland’s Karangahape Road, Coco’s Cantina has become a favourite for … 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: Will Cooper Barling and Nikolai join host Henry Oliver to talk about LGBTQIA+ issues in music. Spinoff Music editor Henry Oliver talks to Will Cooper Barling, who performs as WCB and Nikolai, both of … Read more
Let it Go, Let it Go, please for the love of all that is holy can’t they let that fluffing song go? Kids music can be great and it can also be more painful than childbirth. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes and dad and music critic Simon Sweetman discuss some of the better stuff that can be … Read more
Every Friday, ‘The Album Cycle’ reviews a handful of new releases. ALBUM OF THE WEEK The Nudge – Dark Arts The second album from Wellington psych-rock album is a three song brain-burner, combining all the right spiked ingredients to keep your head nodding while your mind is expanding. Best listened to waking up in a … Read more
Morning Report listeners will be familiar with the crisp British tones of Simon Marks, messenger of daily astonishment from the White House. We asked him about the strange new world, his modest media empire, and the dangers of normalising President Donald J Trump. Don’t know about you but my mornings these days usually begin with … Read more
Alex Casey talks to Tash Keddy and Harry Dickinson of Shortland Street about how the soap consistently progresses LGBTQIA representation like nothing else on local television. Even if you haven’t watched Shortland Street in years, there’s no denying that Ferndale hit a home run last week. All it took was The Cloud, an iPad and … Read more
It is primal. It is the true modern ouroboros. It is Snake, the twisty-turny frenzied reflection of ourselves. In Snake (as in life) the obstacle to overcome is ourselves. Here a bevy of Spinoff writers each play a single round (enforced), compare scores and eventually crown a winner. Mr Duncan Greive My first phone was … Read more
The weekly best-seller chart at the Unity Books stores in Auckland and Wellington. AUCKLAND STORE 1 This Building Likes Me: The Work of John Wardle Architects (Thames & Hudson, $150) by John Wardle Architects & Justine Clark Architects! Ugh. 2 Swing Time (Hamish Hamilton, $37) by Zadie Smith “It covers racism, sexism, inequality, class divides, … Read more
New verse by Wellington poet Tim Grgec. Fergusson Park, Matua Her feet make soft, temporary marks in the sand like yours used to. The woman in front of me. The wind blowing against her brightly coloured hat. Fishermen launch gently from the boat ramp. She looks towards the identical lines of … Read more