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Sports

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Dave Rennie has something in common with a host of All Blacks coaching greats. (Image: Calum Henderson)

Dave Rennie possesses the most important attribute for an All Blacks coach

All the best All Blacks coaches look more or less permanently like they've just watched someone open-mouth sneezing into their meal.
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By Hayden Donnell | 4th March, 2026
Senior writer
NZR couldn’t lose by announcing Dave Rennie as new All Blacks coach

NZR couldn’t lose by announcing Dave Rennie as new All Blacks coach

This is their chance to flip the script.
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By Dylan Cleaver | 4th March, 2026
Contributing writer
16-year-old running phenom Sam Ruthe.

Why Sam Ruthe runs so fast

The Tauranga teenager may be the greatest prodigy in the history of running. What's his secret?
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By Joel MacManus | 27th February, 2026
Senior writer
The biggest scandals of the 2026 Winter Olympics

The biggest scandals of the 2026 Winter Olympics

Sport brings out both the best and the worst in us, so here’s some of the biggest scandals to come out of the 2026 Winter Olympics – so far. 
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By Tara Ward | 20th February, 2026
Staff writer
Cool fashion. (Photos: Getty. Design: Tina Tiller)

The freshest, funkiest, most fashionable fits from the Winter Olympics 2026

From beautiful bombers to hand-painted curling shoes, these are our highlights.
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By Emma Gleason | 18th February, 2026
Contributing writer
State of Origin 1988 and New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon (Image: Getty / The Spinoff)

Fact check: The prime minister’s parents let him stay up late to watch State of Origin

Question for the right honourable Christopher Luxon: name three players.
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By Calum Henderson | 17th February, 2026
Production editor
SailGP in Auckland (Photo: Getty Images / Design: The Spinoff)

SailGP New Zealand: Where to watch, how it works and what are the Black Foils’ odds?

The world’s fastest sailing race returns to Auckland this weekend. Curious? Here’s what you need to know.
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By Calum Henderson | 14th February, 2026
Production editor
How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics from New Zealand: Everything you need to know

How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics from New Zealand: Everything you need to know

When it’s on, how to watch, our medal hopefuls, and one prediction.
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By Calum Henderson | 7th February, 2026
Production editor
90s Raglan grommet life (Photos: Olly Coddington)

Surfing’s elite are coming to Raglan. But I was there when a great slipped in to ride our waves

The time some of Raglan's most annoying little shits spotted an international surfing legend riding the left-hand break.
By Luke McPake | 3rd February, 2026
Guest writer
Photos: Getty Images
Opinion

Why the All Blacks will kick off Aotearoa’s psychedelic future

We have a brand new tool for mental health that isn’t being properly used. To break the taboo, there needs to be a cultural circuit-breaker – like public endorsement from a high-profile sportsperson.
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By Zac Thomas | 28th January, 2026
Guest writer
No matter the trail, New Zealanders can be seen ploughing through all kinds of abominable conditions in their shorts (Illustration: Talisker Scott Hunter)

You can spot a NZ hiker by their shorts. Here’s why we won’t don trousers

Even in the dead of winter, New Zealanders refuse to wear trousers to hike – and there’s practical and historical reasons as to why.
By Talisker Scott Hunter | 26th January, 2026
Guest writer
David Kirk, Scott Weenink, Jennie Wyllie, Noeline Taurua and Scott Robertson – some of the major players in the tumult (Photos: Getty Images)

Rugby, netball and cricket’s leadership breakdowns all have one thing in common

Last year was a calamitous one for the leaders of the country's three biggest team sports – and this year hasn’t started any better.
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By Dylan Cleaver | 20th January, 2026
Contributing writer
A noted New Zealand sports writer is calling for Noeline Taurua to swap jobs with Scott Robertson
Opinion

Why don’t Scott Robertson and Noeline Taurua just swap jobs?

A radical last-minute proposal to solve New Zealand’s two biggest coaching conundrums at once.
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By Calum Henderson | 15th January, 2026
Production editor
Ben Hildred rode 3048 vertical metres a day for 100 days. He achieved his goal – now what? (Image: Callum Wood Photos)

Meet the man and mind that biked a million vertical feet in 100 days

Ben Hildred spent three months riding uphill. Now he's learning to stop.
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By Shanti Mathias | 3rd January, 2026
Contributing writer
Wellington-based unicyclist Ken Looi.

One wheel drive: the Ken Looi story

Nearing the end of his career, the world’s greatest unicycle racer chases the sport's most elusive record.
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By Joel MacManus | 2nd January, 2026
Senior writer
Why can’t I just be happy for Auckland FC?

Why can’t I just be happy for Auckland FC?

A Wellington Phoenix supporter watches the new Auckland FC documentary.
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By Calum Henderson | 1st January, 2026
Production editor
New Zealand’s F1 golden boy Liam Lawson (Photo: Getty Images)

New Zealand’s love for Liam Lawson, explained

Who is he and what's driving the never ending pile-up of headlines about him?
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By Emma Gleason | 23rd December, 2025
Contributing writer
A Black Caps bowler haunted by the ghosts of dropped catches past

The Black Caps have lost what used to be their best quality

Even in the darkest times, we could always take pride in the Black Caps' fielding. Those days appear to be gone.
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By Hayden Donnell | 12th December, 2025
Senior writer
Scotty Stevenson has apologised – and it was a good apology.
Opinion

Scotty Stevenson, ‘syrup suckers’ and the teen bombs hidden within us all

A whole arsenal of offensive stuff we rarely think of or examine sits in our brains, and sometimes it goes kaboom.
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By Greg Bruce | 8th December, 2025
Guest writer
An excited Tongan crowd celebrating the second tackle of a set.

Tongan rugby league fans are the greatest show in sports

Forget the game. The highlights of Sunday's Kiwis vs Tonga test happened in the stands.
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By Joel MacManus | 3rd November, 2025
Senior writer

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