It might seem unbelievable to today’s students, but it’s true: once upon a time students regularly drank in bars, lured there by cheap drinks and a crude culture of excess. Chelle Fitzgerald looks back on the student pubs Dunedin has loved and lost, and talks to Marc Ellis, the celebrity sportsman who tried to resuscitate … Read more
The Side Eye is a monthly non-fiction comic by Toby Morris, supported by NZ On Air. Read more comics here
If you’re among those calling for a harsher penalty for the hit-and-run killer of Nathan Kraatskow, fine. But at least be honest about what you’re after, writes Aaron Hendry. Two lives, not one, were destroyed that night. Young Rouxle made a terrible mistake, with horrific consequences. One life was ended, another was altered completely. It is … Read more
A chronic illness is a life-changing experience for anyone – but what if it stops you from doing the one thing you’re best at? Dick Widdison writes about his year writing with a chronic illness. I’ve never found writing hard. It’s the brag that I genuinely never intend as one – it’s just that the … Read more
In a foreshadowing of the excruciating debate to come, FamilyFirst have gone head-to-head with an actual scientist on the issue of marijuana. But there’s an agenda on both sides, writes Don Rowe. In one of the many not at all unhinged conversations in our Twitter mentions yesterday, FamilyFirstNZ went head to head with another user over … Read more
A Malaysian company that produces one in four rubber gloves on the planet has come under serious heat in the last week over a series of explosive investigations alleging forced labour and migrant worker exploitation throughout their vast network of factories. New Zealand needs to step up on these sort of questions, writes Edward Miller … Read more
After writing about fetish videos involving kids on YouTube two years ago, the problem has only got worse, writes David Farrier. Way worse. When will Google do something about it? Editor’s note: While we have endeavoured to protect the identities of the children involved, we recognise that by publishing this story their privacy may be … Read more
Feeling a bit Grinchy this year? Heartwarming new research indicates the real reason we buy gifts comes from a place of selflessness, not guilt. ’Tis the season for gift-giving and for the scrooges among us to complain about the wastefulness of gift-giving. Why give gifts, they say, when people know what they want better than … Read more
Emily Writes goes to war with Elf on the Shelf and its disturbing surveillance agenda. A 2015 picture book introduced Elf on the Shelf. Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell wrote the book to apparently spread Christmas cheer. The story describes how “Santa’s elves” watch over children at Christmas time then report to Santa. Have they been naughty … Read more
They may denounce violence, but the attitude of many young New Zealand men towards women remains toxic, says Dr Christina Vogels. Over the past two weeks a number of narratives have threaded their way through the conversation about the Grace Millane tragedy. The primary one has been disgust and anguish that a young woman on … Read more
What do you get your drunk uncle for Christmas? What about your aunty who believes in conspiracy theories? Or your cousin’s wife who is super racist? Emily Writes has your back. Buying Christmas presents is heaps of fun when you like the people you’re buying presents for. But what if you get the family dickhead … Read more
In the wake of the death of Grace Millane, violence against women has prompted the usual round of complaints that not all men are violent. Shut it down, says Sophie Bateman for Newshub. In this unpredictable, ever-changing world, a few things remain absolutely dependable. The sun will rise every morning. Babies will be born. Aucklanders … Read more
Summer is here, and with it the holidaying and party season. When you’re away from home and socialising more than usual the risk of having a contraception or protection fail can go up. Family Planning’s National Nurse Advisor Rose Stewart shares her tips for staying safe between the sheets this summer. Nobody wants to worry … Read more
The Spinoff partnered with UMR to survey the attitudes of our readers, and the nation as a whole. Today, how social are The Spinoff readers? And how much do we suck at chores? Turns out The Spinoff readers love having friends more than anything else in this tumultuous journey we call life – including having … Read more
Every day in the lead-up to Christmas, open the door to reveal a Spinoff writer’s short, sizzling commentary on a weighty subject. Our arbitrary and strictly enforced word limit: 365. Today: Mark Kelliher on attitudes of New Zealanders who’ve returned home. I moved home from a six-year stint abroad in January and I don’t regret … Read more
When she lived in New Zealand, Elle Hunt never really understood the fuss about Christmas. That all changed when she moved to London, she writes in the latest instalment of her Elleswhere series about life as a New Zealander in London. “36 degrees? Yes thank you I WILL get 97% of my legs out,” my … Read more
The Spinoff partnered with UMR to survey the attitudes of our readers, and the nation as a whole. Today, how much meat is the country eating? And is that changing? You’ve probably got stereotypes in your head about vegetarians. You’ve definitely got stereotypes in your head about vegans. But would it surprise you to know, … Read more
What does it mean to step out into the world on your own as a young woman? Three days after my 21st birthday, I jumped on a plane and went to Europe. I spent five months in London studying for a semester at UCL, and then another five months traversing much of the continent. Other … Read more
This week it was announced that Auckland Theatre Company’s Shortland Street: The Musical would be cancelling its planned 2019 tour. Sam Brooks asks why the show fell short of its ambitions – and what it says about the industry. Shortland Street: The Musical had the potential to a be a long-running, bonafide hit. It was … Read more
Every day in the leadup to Christmas, open the door to reveal a Spinoff writer’s short, sizzling commentary on a weighty subject. Our arbitrary and strictly enforced word limit: 365. Today: Duncan Greive on why churches (and other religious institutions) should start paying tax. It’s the season of giving, so when asked to nominate a … Read more
The Spinoff partnered with UMR to survey the attitudes of our readers, and the nation as a whole. Today, what do we reckon about drug reform? And what lessons can politicians take from the answers? If you’re reading this right now, there’s a reasonable chance you’re either high, or reckon people should be able to … Read more
Every day in the lead-up to Christmas, open the door to reveal a Spinoff writer’s short, sizzling commentary on a weighty subject. Our arbitrary and strictly enforced word limit: 365. Today: Alice Neville on why you should tell your kids that Santa isn’t real. Santa controversy upon Santa controversy has beset us this festive season, so … Read more
The shameful culture of violence against women in New Zealand must urgently change, writes Women’s Rights Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo. Grace Millane’s death is an absolute tragedy. While the details of the case are still emerging, our hearts rightly ache that we couldn’t protect Grace, a visitor to our country. Grace’s death also reminds … Read more
Many of us, especially young women, have been experiencing dark thoughts and emotions in the aftermath of Grace Millane’s death. It’s called vicarious trauma, writes 20-year-old Waveney Russ, and it’s a totally valid response. Yesterday was a day like any other, a day when I let routine guide my path through the city. It was … Read more
Here are some actions that you can take to redirect your anger and sadness following the death of Grace Millane. Attend a vigil Many New Zealanders are struggling with how they can express their grief, anger and sympathy for the family and friends of Grace Millane. There are a number of vigil events in the … Read more
Karla, Kirsa, Kirsty, Teresa, Christie, Sophie, Grace. Every woman has the name of another who taught them it’s not safe to be a woman. But what are men being taught? They were known as the Bega Schoolgirls but I’ll always remember their names. Lauren Margaret Barry and Nichole Emma Collins. They were 14 and 16. … Read more
The Spinoff and UMR this year undertook a major research project, surveying 1000 readers and 1000 general population on a range of contemporary issues. Each day this week we’ll release a different set of data, beginning with Alex Braae analysing five graphs which collectively give an overview of scope of the project. Earlier this year, … Read more
Ben French asked his colleague what she wanted for her Secret Santa. She requested that he turn one of his regular rants into a piece of writing. Gifts – a nicety, once considered essential in any respectable human relationship – have slowly become a socially pressurised test of manners and protocol. In spreading needless, excessive … Read more
In the final part of our series profiling people from refugee backgrounds who now call New Zealand home: Patrick Lam, who fled from Cambodia to Vietnam, and then Australia, and is now an award-winning piemaker in Tauranga. Patrick Lam has already been at work for a couple of hours by the time the sun starts … Read more