Burqas are so rare in New Zealand that most of us have likely never seen one in real life, but that didn’t stop TVNZ asking online readers whether they should be banned outright. Let’s worry less about how women choose to dress and more about the ongoing vilification of Muslims in the media, says Donna … Read more
Ben Thomas clasps his silver ticket and braves the Washington throngs to watch the inauguration, those watching it, and the squirrels. Complete with data analysis via Grindr. “This is the least attractive group of Americans I have ever seen,” my DC-based friend David said with a furrowed brow. We were standing on the Washington Mall, … Read more
A new film depicting the extraordinary contribution of African-American women at Nasa during the space race offers a powerful and timely reminder of the contributions to science of people whose stories are too often hidden from view, writes Kate Hannah Last weekend, Hidden Figures knocked the Star Wars universe film Rogue One off top place … Read more
Compiling the best reading from your friendly local website. Alex Casey: Shocker: Turns out Jimi Jackson’s a misogynist bully too “The real kicker is that this wasn’t even conducted outside a vineyard, or inside a fictitious locker room where there might have been a vague thought that only a handful of people would ever see … 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 Abbey Road producer and engineer, Guy Massey. Henry Oliver talks to Guy Massey about remastering the Beatles and how to make even non-Beatles records sound really good. Either download (right click to … Read more
Watching Donald Trump deliver his inaugural address as US president isn’t the same without second-screening Donald Trump tweeting about it. So here he is. crowds floking into Washington DC with victory on their histories. America is History! pic.twitter.com/wcVsfd9fah — Sad President (@ActualPresTrump) January 20, 2017 Crazy music playing. The greatest music. Beautiful — Sad … Read more
Just how great was the incoming president’s Make American Great Again concert? Let’s cross to Ben Thomas in Washington DC, and pray for him. The early reviews are in on Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again inaugural concert at the Lincoln Memorial and have not been kind. As someone who was there, let me tell … Read more
Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes has not slept for a long time, but suddenly her son who hates sleep has started to sleep through the night. She explains how it happened. For the last almost two years my son has been exceptionally committed to never sleeping. It wasn’t just that he woke many, many times … Read more
Earlier this week we published a post by Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes detailing her sexual attraction for actor Idris Elba. Following a critical response published today on The Pantograph Punch, Emily made the decision to take her post down. She explains her decision here. There are a lot of lessons I try to teach … Read more
Every Friday, ‘The Album Cycle’ reviews a handful of new releases. ALBUM OF THE WEEK Mica Levi – Jackie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) With its keening, disturbing strings, Mica Levi’s soundtrack for Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin (2013) stapled the alienation of its main character to our ears. Jackie has less of the feel of … Read more
In the east of Kaipara the land has been burned a dusty gold and drought tensions among locals are running high, writes Kelly Ana Morey. As the drought in the upper half of the North Island heads into its fourth month, the big dry is starting to leave its mark, especially on Mangawhai, a sleepy … Read more
How well do you know the big numbers of New Zealand? Find out below. Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here.
Ahead of David Attenborough’s New Zealand live show, superfan Anthony Gardiner assembles the great naturalist’s greatest television moments. Ahh David Attenborough <heart eyes>. More so than any other human on Planet Earth, Sir D.A has inspired generations of us to love nature. The modern environmental movement is said to have started in the ’60s. How … 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. Before organics, fair trade, sustainable choices and Vegetarian options were mainstream, Mike … Read more
The signing in of Donald J Trump as 45th president of the United States of America is but hours away. To distract/medicate, play the Spinoff drinking game along with his inaugural address. President-elect Trump thought really hard about his big Day One speech. If you, too, are suffering from anxious, get-me-a-laxative-face in the leadup to … Read more
The original MacGyver is a stone-cold classic, with a likeably earnest hero and a lot of heart. The reboot, which began last night on Prime? Not so much. José Barbosa explains. MacGyver airs 7.30pm Thursdays on Prime This content, like all television coverage we do at The Spinoff, is brought to you thanks to the … Read more
As New Zealand’s Scott Base celebrates 60 years of science on ice, Veronika Meduna looks at one of Antarctica’s most puzzling features – the wayward behaviour of sea ice around the continent. Every southern winter, Antarctica doubles in size. As the sun sets on the continent, the surface of the ocean around it freezes, kicking … Read more
It’s been a long, lazy summer for many of our morning news outlets, which are finally set to return on Monday after a month off air. But who provided the best holiday cover for Hosking, Ferguson, Barry and the rest? Duncan Greive grades the breakfast news stand-ins. Thanks to the internet and aeroplanes and probably My … Read more
Buddy Mikaere reviews the historical recount of New Zealand’s wars and political climates in The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800 – 2000 and the messages it has for the future. I went to a small country primary school in South Waikato and one year we re-enacted the Battle of Pukehinahina/Gate Pa on the … Read more
You’re probably back at work this week. And it probably sucks. But if want to bring some of the light-hearted silliness of the holidays into your fluorescent offices, Josh Drummond has a six-song playlist that’ll be fun. For you. A lot of us are going back to work this week, and it’s a mixed blessing. … Read more
The stationery store Typo is known for its quirky slogans and inspiring messages. Madeleine Chapman followed their advice to see just how positive it really is. Whenever I buy stationery, it’s aspirational. I aspire to be more organised and write in a planner every day. I aspire to buy a pad of refill and use the … Read more
Close to 100 cricketers have represented New Zealand in limited overs internationals since numbers were added to the backs of players’ shirts, but none have ever worn the number 69. Why not? Calum Henderson investigates. When Lockie Ferguson runs in to bowl for the Auckland Aces in T20 and one-day cricket, he does so with … Read more
The American foreign intelligence bureau yesterday posted online for the first time millions of pages of declassified documents. Toby Manhire scrolls through some of the intel published on New Zealand The Central Intelligence Agency is America’s foreign spook outfit, famous for interfering in other countries’ elections, complaining about other countries interfering in US elections and … Read more
Whether its a whistle, an unwelcome comment or – that old favourite – someone telling you to smile, being on the receiving end of street harassment can be a demeaning and infuriating experience. Ta’ase Vaoga has had enough. Dear Cat-Caller, Please don’t cat-call me or any other woman who happens to walk past your current … Read more
Many parents struggle to work out how to talk to their children about their bodies. They want them to have confidence in how they look, but also make it clear that the way their appearance is far from the most important thing about them. Trudy Kessels writes about her hopes for her daughter’s experience with … Read more
If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, you’re in luck. Using Ubisoft’s open world hacker-fest Watch Dogs 2, which is conveniently based in the city, The Spinoff has compiled a grand tour of the city with plenty of tips for the new visitor. May contain scissor lifts and banjos.
Under Prime Minister Key and settlements minister Chris Finlayson deeds of settlement have been finalised with nearly 50 Māori groups. That’s an impressive number, but the drive to reach deals may have been overhasty, argues Ngāi Tahu Research Centre lecturer Martin Fisher. As New Zealand adjusted to the idea of one of its most popular … Read more
Poor old Donald Trump, struggling to get any of those liberal whack job musician types to take part in his inauguration celebrations this week. But maybe The Donald has missed the ace sitting right there in his deck all along, says Pete Douglas. Unless you have been living in a cave or have been mercy … Read more
New Zealand woke up to the presence of a huge new internet celebrity this week thanks to the controversy around Jimi Jackson’s ‘blackface’ imagery. But a gross reply to a woman who commented on the image suggests his attitude to women is disastrous too, says Alex Casey. Who would have thought it would only be … Read more