There are only five days until 2017’s shortest day, and we’re celebrating the oncoming slide towards summer with a quiz about all things short and small. It’s not a big thing, but we think you should take it. Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here.
I realised that politicians can’t always be trusted to act in the best interests of the people or the planet, and felt compelled by an irresistible force to do something, writes Sarah Thomson, ahead of a date at the High Court in Wellington this month The day it really hit home was when I listened to James Hansen … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Calum Henderson tries the New Zealand sweetie fusion to (hopefully) end all New Zealand sweetie fusions. “Oh they haven’t, have they?” – Toby Manhire, Spinoff Politics editor, 9:15am Oh yes they have. Pascall – the confectionery company owned by … Read more
A dark advertisement for a dairy assistant in South Canterbury promised accommodation sharing with rodents, minimum wage, and drug tests. Josh Drummond applied for the role, and investigated what the classified says about the New Zealand dairy industry today. It may not be what you’d think. It started, as so many things do in New Zealand, … Read more
As the debate around the value of private tertiary education providers sharpens with Labour’s immigration policy release, a new bill proposes substantial changes to the wider sector. Nicola Gaston has some serious reservations. “Increase funding flexibility in the tertiary education system, strengthen the accountability, and monitoring of tertiary education organisations, and ensure consistent treatment of … Read more
A financial adviser has recommended young Kiwis give up their dreams and pursue something economically realistic. Derek Handley, part of the panel of futurists on TVNZ’s What Next, says we should all ignore her advice. The adventure of creating a life worth living is a visceral and human rite of passage. It shouldn’t be driven … Read more
To finally get to our dream jobs at The Spinoff, our staff have been through some pretty terrible employment. From flagrant sexism to gagging on fur balls from beard clippings, we at The Spinoff were exploited and used by our former employers. But now you don’t have to suffer the indignity that we endured, because … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: José Barbosa reflects on an essential item of his wardrobe. First, let’s get something straight: this hat is fucking dope. It has dope embroidered on the front in mint-as gold thread. The ‘O’ of the dope is extra wide and … Read more
As emitter-in-chief Donald Trump pulls out of the Paris Climate Accord, the time has come for a top-down approach to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Jack Close explains. Environmentalists are quick to sing out about New Zealand’s excessive greenhouse gas emissions – and rightly so. In the large part, we are a gas-guzzling, river-polluting, plastic-bag-wasting … Read more
Immigration politics are coming to New Zealand – but are we ready? David Hall introduces some fascinating new survey data. New Zealanders are facing a great flood, a tsunami of immigration politics that will submerge us all in the lead-up to the election. Wellington will turn on the tap of water-based metaphors. Auckland will burst at the seams … Read more
Interested in getting kinky but don’t know where to start? A spanking class could be just the introduction you’re looking for. Rebekah Holt went along to one. It’s April 2017, a sunny afternoon in Melbourne, and I am down on all fours in leggings and a shirt in front of another woman. She’s pleasant, youngish, … Read more
Colin Craig says he has filed defamation proceedings against his former secretary Rachel MacGregor, just one of at least five cases the former the Conservative Party leader currently has before the courts. Otago University law professor Andrew Geddis looks at whether Craig’s seemingly never-ending legal actions can be stopped. One of the earliest publicly screened … Read more
The Lions are here and the UK is counting votes in a momentous general election. This week, it’s got to be a quiz about Great Britain and Ireland. The best of British luck to you! Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here.
The news that the Greens’ medical marijuana bill is to go before parliament has prompted speculation that cannabis law is set for a long-overdue change. Catherine McGregor sat down with law reform advocate Professor Max Abbott to discuss all things marijuana. When it comes to cannabis law reform in New Zealand, it can often feel … Read more
Alex Casey, Leonie Hayden and Michele A’Court tackle the past month in women, news and popular culture. And, Wonder Woman. Michele’s back from drinking absinthe with Stevie Wonder, Leonie’s swanned in on a wave of Kit Kats from the bustling streets of Tokyo, and Alex hasn’t moved an inch either way. It’s the latest episode … Read more
Food writer Delaney Mes has eaten at, blogged about and worked through Visa Wellington on a Plate since day one. As the countdown to this year’s festival begins, she shares her 10 favourite memories of the country’s greatest food fest. Wellington, New Zealand. Our nation’s capital. Truly terrible weather, but consistently excellent coffee. With its … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Madeleine Chapman makes a pilgrimage to the frenzy-sparking new Kmart in the Hutt. The staff at the newly opened Kmart in Petone wave green pool noodles in the air to signal an available checkout. It’s funny, it’s genius, and it’s exactly … Read more
In yesterday’s honours list Professor Hamid Ikram was made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit, for services to cardiology and education. His son, Ali Ikram, cheers on an extraordinary Pakistani Cantabrian. Families are stories. The one my father is most fond of telling concerns a visit to his grandfather’s house when he was a small child … Read more
Over the course of her lifetime, an average woman will use more than 11,000 tampons and pads at an estimated cost of almost $16,000. But there’s an alternative: the menstrual cup – an indestructible, environmentally friendly, unlimited use product that fans call ‘life changing’. So why don’t more women use them, wonders MB Acres. I … Read more
It’s Queen’s Birthday weekend and what better way to celebrate than by dusting up on your Commonwealth knowledge. All results will be sent to the Queen herself. Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here.
In our video series Kiwis of Snapchat, comedian Tom Sainsbury sources exclusive Snapchat footage of Kiwi citizens making the news. Today, Roger Merkin attempts to navigate NZ’s traffic with some grace.
If our native bird species could text the New Zealand public and let us know how they’re doing, what would they say? Forest & Bird’s Kimberley Collins decodes the stats from a new report. Yesterday the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released a new report on the “desperate situation” our native birds face. Because I … Read more
Newly announced PPTA guidelines about gender neutral toilet and uniform options generated an inevitable round of dismissive opinions from the likes of Barry Soper and Mike Hosking. Sam Orchard, a queer trans man who went to high school, attempts to educate them. This week the Post Primary Teacher’s Association (PPTA) published their new guidelines urging schools to … Read more
Eamonn Marra infiltrates the ‘Men’s Summit’ in Wellington, and finds a group of damaged men. They seem like sympathetic characters. Then the presentations start… Update, May 30 2017: Hans Laven, the clinical psychologist who appears in this story, has contacted The Spinoff contesting the account of his speech. Please scroll to the foot of the article … Read more
It’s New Zealand’s most successful city slogan by far, and the council had nothing to do with it. Angela Cuming finds out how a grassroots social media movement created an explosion of civic pride. A hot November afternoon, 2012, and a lime green picnic bench flashed up on my computer screen. It was from a … Read more
The robots are coming to take our jobs – so what should we be doing for work (and our workers) when they arrive? Rod Snodgrass, director of The Exponential Agency, says it’s time for New Zealand business to start preparing for the digital future. I read a brilliant Guardian article recently that pondered life after … Read more
Thousands of Filipinos have been killed in Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘bloody war’ on drugs. As he approaches a year in office, extrajudicial and vigilante killings remain a daily reality, and countries such as NZ need to speak up, says Amnesty International’s Wilnor Papa in an interview with the Spinoff. Since he came to power in June last year … Read more
With the release of #Budget2017 this week, it’s the perfect time to test your knowledge of government spending. Having trouble viewing the quiz? Take it here.
Getting Your Shit Together is a new monthly column on everyday mental health from Auckland mindfulness educator Kristina Cavit. Ahead of Pink Shirt Day tomorrow, Cavit talks to two teenage friends about their experience of bullying – and the techniques they’ve developed to fight back. I was lucky enough to work with 15 year old … Read more