Society
The High Court’s Eminem decision will burn in the ears of the sound-alike industry
Yesterday’s ruling offers useful guidance on assessing the line between inspiration and infringement, but we haven’t heard the last on this case, writes intellectual property law expert Kate McHaffie. In a lengthy decision handed down yesterday afternoon, the National Party was found to have infringed copyright in Eminem’s iconic song “Lose Yourself” and was ordered to … Read more
Introducing The Side Eye by Toby Morris
We’re hugely excited to announce that artist and writer Toby Morris is the latest addition to team Spinoff. Below, the Pencilsword creator (and one half of op-ed duo Toby & Toby, along with Spinoff veteran Toby Manhire) introduces his new project. But first, editor Duncan Greive welcomes him aboard. Ever since The Spinoff started, I’ve … Read more
Just let me finish my sentence: On life with a stutter
Today is International Stuttering Awareness Day. Spinoff staff writer Sam Brooks has a stutter; this is what it’s like. Sometimes I can’t be bothered cooking. It’s been a long day of spinoffing at the Spinoff office, I’ve written a lot of hot takes and considered the left-wing agenda. On those days, I might go outside … Read more
What does Jacinda mean for women in New Zealand?
The team from On the Rag weren’t able to get in the same room following Jacinda’s win, so here they are with their feelings. Leonie Hayden I write this from a room filled with Ngāpuhi Māori at the end of the final week of hearings in a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry that has taken seven years – … Read more
Rape culture lives in everyone, not just Hollywood bogeymen
They’re not lurking in bushes. We date them, we love them, we coddle them. The Spinoff columnist Felix Desmarais explores why, in a country that doesn’t teach consent, rape culture thrives. Some names have been changed. Content warning: This post discusses sexual violence and harassment. It may be upsetting to survivors. Please take care. I started … Read more
A decade after Urewera the Terrorism Suppression Act remains a threat to civil liberties
The designation of national liberation groups like the PKK as terrorist organisations, and the scrapping of a planned Law Commission review mean the legislation could be abused again, writes Cameron Walker. The 10th anniversary of the so-called “Urewera raids”, which saw armed police descend on Māori, environmental activists and anarchists, has seen a numbers of important reflections on … Read more
Forget cancelling student fees. Let’s focus instead on fixing student welfare
With three out of the five parties in parliament keen on some form of free tertiary education, reform seems inevitable. That might be great news for graduates, writes Jack Close, but for students it’s a raw deal. In June of this year I finished university with a student loan with way too many numbers at … Read more
‘They speak English and have good lamb’: a Kiwi immigrant’s story
Thirty years ago this weekend, writer and filmmaker Ghazaleh Golbakhsh arrived in New Zealand with her family, immigrants from war torn Iran. Inspired by Duncan Garner’s recent outburst, she reflects on life so far as an immigrant New Zealander. I was not surprised by Duncan Garner’s hideous column about immigrants at K-Mart. He comes from … Read more
What did you just yell at me?
Every day, women with the temerity to go out onto our streets are subject to catcalling, harassment and abuse – and women who run have it especially bad, writes Megan Hunt. The worst case of catcalling I’ve experienced was more of a chase. I was out for a run in Ōhope, a small coastal community … Read more
Radical: the story of Arthur Desmond
He started life as a left-wing advocate for downtrodden workers; he ended it as a hero to proto-Nazis. William Ray looks at the life of Arthur Desmond, the New Zealand author of the book Might is Right. This is the latest episode of Black Sheep, a Radio NZ series about the shady, controversial and sometimes … Read more
Why Mental Health Week can make you feel like crap (and what to do about it)
Mental Health Week tells us is ‘it’s OK to be not OK’. A noble idea, but there’s a catch, writes Graham Panther. So we’re coming to the end of Mental Health Week , our yearly reminder that some of us are doing it tough. The thing is, as a sensitive soul, I often end up feeling … Read more
Victoria is planning to revolutionise rights for renters. Why isn’t NZ doing the same?
The State of Victoria has just announced a raft of reforms aimed at strengthening the rights of tenants. NZ-born, Melbourne-based tenancy lawyer Joe Nunweek reviews the changes – and the chances of New Zealand following suit. For three years as of last month, I’ve been living in the State of Victoria. There’s living here, and … Read more
Congratulations, She’s a Boy: How to be friends with me
We’re back for month three of Congratulations, She’s a Boy, a monthly column following Felix Desmarais’ female-to-male (FTM) transition. I’m sorry I’m late, dear readers. I’m just continuing a long tradition of being a disappointing white man. Calm down, #notallmen. Eye roll emoji. Seriously though, September was a busy month so apologies to my niche … Read more
Forget Garner’s undies: What works when it comes to immigration policy?
Duncan Garner’s recent column on immigration and K-Mart underpants has had the unfortunate – though highly predictable – effect of reigniting New Zealand’s often-poisonous ‘immigration debate’. But there’s a better way, writes Jess Berentson-Shaw. Immigration has never been an easy thing to talk about in New Zealand. When it gets raised in a public forum, … Read more
‘It’s deeply disappointing, but it’s not gay’: About that Rainbow Youth ad
Last week LGBTIQ organisation Rainbow Youth released their first ever TV spot to combat homophobia. Sam Brooks does a close read of the ad, what it means, and where the conversation goes next. “If it’s not gay, it’s not gay.” Rainbow Youth’s viral ad has a simple concept and a simple message. We’re in some … Read more
The weapons expo is a marketplace for misery
This week’s NZ Defence Industry Association Forum is a chance for the weapons industry to woo politicians and entice officials to spend more on the military. But are fancier killing machines really the best use of our taxpayer dollars, asks peace activist Jessie Dennis. This year’s election campaign captivated people across the country. Whether hoping … Read more
‘Blood on your hands’: activists get ready to protest the weapons expo
Call it the NZ Defence Industry Association Forum or the Weapons Expo – peace activists want it stopped. As the 2017 forum gets ready to open on Tuesday, Alex Braae discovers how protesters are planning to disrupt it. The lines of protesters are sitting on the ground, arms linked. They’re blocking the door behind them, … Read more
Abortionist: The story of Annie Aves
Black Sheep is a Radio NZ series about the shady, controversial and sometimes downright villainous characters of New Zealand history, presented by William Ray. Here he introduces the story of Isabel “Annie’ Aves, the backstreet abortionist whose life ended in violence. Content Warning: This article deals with abortion and infanticide. Some may find it distressing. … Read more
On the Rag: We’ve all got one of those gross taxi stories
Listen to Alex Casey, Leonie Hayden and Michele A’Court tackle the past month in women, news and popular culture. This month the gang is back together to tackle the past month-ish in New Zealand media, news and general bullshit, with help from our glorious new sponsors at twenty-seven names. We dive deep into the horrific online … Read more
The Waitara Lands Bill: ‘The land was stolen, therefore return it’
Carl Chenery appeals to other Pākehā to be courageous in commemorating the Land Wars and for peace in Waitara today. Courage is turning towards hard truth, not turning away. The same goes for our colonial story here in Aotearoa. On 28 October, just a month after our elections, we will see the first national commemoration … Read more
Power to the people: cutting through the confusion of the financial services industry
For the first ever World Investor Week, the Financial Markets Authority wants Kiwis to learn some home truths about investment. Richard Meadows gives consumers some advice on how to take the power back. The thick and seemingly impenetrable fog that swirls around KiwiSaver is one of the great frustrations of being a financial journalist in New Zealand. … Read more
‘Literacy sets everyone free’: A message to prison inmates who are learning to read
Yesterday Rimutaka Prison celebrated graduates from the Howard League literacy programme, part of the league’s wider work equipping inmates with skills to help them while in prison and on their release. The keynote speaker was Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias; this is her speech. Some of the earliest and happiest memories I have are of … Read more
Kiwis of Snapchat: Malcolm Dobb, plastic bag user
In our video series Kiwis of Snapchat, comedian Tom Sainsbury sources exclusive Snapchat footage of Kiwi citizens and luminaries making the news. Today: a desperate plea to New World and Countdown supermarkets. Click here for all our Kiwis of Snapchat videos
Bigger than agriculture: How design became a multi billion dollar industry
According to a new report, the design sector contributed over $10 billion to the New Zealand economy in 2016. Henry Oliver asks Thomas Mical, the head of AUT’s School of Art and Design, what that means for New Zealand design. Designers know that their work creates value, but a recent report from DesignCo – commissioned … Read more
‘Before you teach me, you have to reach me’: The case for better alternative education
With more than a decade’s experience as an educator, Ngā Rangatahi Toa founder Sarah Longbottom argues that those in alternative education deserve the same standards of teachers and classrooms as their mainstream peers. This is the first of a series of columns following her experiences in the field. The the cool thing about an election … Read more
Offshore scams and cold calling tricksters: a guide to protecting your investment
The Financial Markets Authority wants Kiwis to learn some home truths about investment. For the first ever World Investor Week, FMA’s Paul Gregory shares some tips on being a smart investor. As New Zealand’s financial markets regulator, the FMA is both guard dog and guide dog. The guard dog is how we regulate and investigate … Read more
Why we should cherish the World of Wearable Art
Sam Brooks has never been to the World of Wearable Art before. He reports on his experience as a first-timer to the show and a long-time lover of pretty things. On one level, the World of Wearable Art is the most lavish catwalk show in the world. On another level, it’s an art exhibition blown … Read more
Ethnicity and diversity: Why we need top of the cliff solutions
The experiences of migrants and refugees are addressed in an annual summit hosted by AUT’s Immigration and Inclusion Research Group. This year a range of speakers will be tackling the workplace. “We are in a woven universe, so how do we create a weave that doesn’t fray?” This is the question at the core of … Read more