Listen to Alex Casey, Leonie Hayden and Michele A’Court tackle the age-old conundrum: how do you cope with Christmas without exploding? As we roll into December on a one horse open sleigh, the Christmas stress is beginning to set in. So we asked our listeners for their own festive conundrums, tips and gift ideas, in … Read more
In our video series Kiwis of Snapchat, comedian Tom Sainsbury sources exclusive Snapchat footage of Kiwi citizens and luminaries making the news. Today, Patricia wants you to know that this silly season is getting ridiculous. Click here for all our Kiwis of Snapchat videos
‘Tis the season to be jolly – unless you work in retail. Long hours and bustling crowds mean the holiday season can turn into a living hell for those working through the thick of it. So to make life just a little bit easier, a handful of retail workers offer their best tips on how not … Read more
Is Christmas Day the best or worst day of the year? Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes has crowd-sourced a list of the characters you’ll break bread with this Christmas. Tis the night before Christmas, and your house is a mess. The kids have gone feral, and you’re not feeling #blessed. You’re starting to sweat about lunch the … Read more
Every family celebrates Christmas in their own way. This week we’re hearing from families around New Zealand explaining what they celebrate and why they do. Here Eliza Jane talks about letting go of Christmas after converting to Judaism. Christmas was not a religious holiday in our family. More than anything, it marked the start of the … 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: troubadour James Milne and his new ready-for-action Christmas song. Just in time for the holidays comes Jingling Christmas Eve, a new Lawrence Arabia song created with James’ childhood friend Norman Angel. Henry Oliver and … Read more
Thalia Kehoe Rowden, a former Baptist minister, and a mother of two writes about why God is part of her Christmas. Last Christmas we were in Thailand, where it’s not a public holiday. Santa is in every mall, but Jesus? Not so much. It didn’t make too much difference to us. The meaningful parts of … Read more
For many families Christmas isn’t about the birth of Jesus. Angela Cuming explains why she chooses to have a life, and Christmas, without religion. I was five years old when the Catholic Church told me I’d never get into heaven. An unbaptised child of two Roman Catholic parents, it had been a great aunt’s dying … Read more
Tis the season to be jolly? Oh fa-la-la-la-f**k off. If you hate Christmas, in-house therapist Ms X feels your pain and has some tips for getting through the season. Dear Ms X, I simply hate Christmas. I would much prefer if we went around singing summer songs, instead of carols. How simple would it be … Read more
Ever noticed that every summer news story is recycled from previous years? Former sadsack reporter Hayden Donnell designs a drinking game to improve, or at least anaesthetise, your holiday news reading experience. Soon everything will stop happening. The holidays will arrive in a blissful swirl of sunshine. Politics will retreat into its sooty tomb. Gareth … Read more
One good reason for keeping the belief in Santa alive as long as possible? The awesome power of The Threat of Santa. Simon Sweetman explains how, when it comes to kids at Christmas, a little psychological manipulation can go a long way. A Facebook friend posts that she’s angry and upset – some punk-ass little … Read more
No-so-secret metalhead Emily Writes guides you through the best metal covers of Christmas classics. In the world of metal you’re classified by what you like – you can’t really just say you like ‘metal’, you have to specify your genre. And then chances are, especially if you’re a woman, you’ll be lectured in a blisteringly … Read more
Christmas is a time for togetherness and giving, with one golden rule: don’t be a dickhead. Emily Writes shares her guide to not being a dickhead, making Christmas Day fun for kids, and being kind at Christmas time. Whether you have wee ones or not, Christmas can be a stressful time. Or a magical time. … Read more
The effortlessly stylish Spinoff Parents editor walks us through the decorating ideas that transformed a suburban Wellington family home into a magical Christmas wonderland. How does she do it? Welcome to this week’s issue of Parents Who Are Very Tired Monthly. It’s the very special Christmas issue! It’s jam packed with wonderful Christmas WHAT ARE … Read more
Have you heard? If you lie about Santa you’re a monster and your children are going to need therapy forever. Nonsense, says Angela Cuming – maintaining the Santa myth will be the best gift you give your kids this Christmas. When my father died in May 1990, Christmas died with it. A wonderful, kind and … Read more
Tis the season to be frothing at the mouth over beat-up stories about the PC brigade wanting to throw children’s Christmas stockings into a pit of fire. Beat-ups about do-gooders wanting to “ban Christmas” have become a mainstay of the leadup to the festive season the world over. This year in New Zealand, the target … Read more