The Spinoff

Winston Peters, a smiling man in a suit and tie, stands facing the camera with his arm held out, in a mall setting. A woman with white hair is a the left of the image, back on, and a photographer can be seen at the right.

Politics

Walking with Winston: The NZ First leader takes his campaign to the streets (and malls) of the North Shore

Winston Peters did three walkabouts in five hours. The Spinoff tagged along on all of them.

Hayden Donnell

07 Oct 2026

Kai

From rosettes and pamphlets to promotional condoms: Inside the world of election ephemera

Tara Ward

06 Oct 2026

Four political posters from the 1960s and 1970s sit against a blue backgroun

Politics

From rosettes and pamphlets to promotional condoms: Inside the world of election ephemera

Tara Ward

06 Oct 2026

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Would anyone like to be the prime minister?

Toby Manhire

07 Oct 2026

Walking with Winston: The NZ First leader takes his campaign to the streets (and malls) of the North Shore

Hayden Donnell

07 Oct 2026

Chris v Chris: Hipkins takes the win while both struggle to win over voters

Henry Oliver

07 Oct 2026

Lobbying tactics have become perverse. I should know, I'm a lobbyist

Holly Bennett

06 Oct 2026

Election 2026: Here's how the first leaders' debate unfolded

Alice Neville

06 Oct 2026

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi stands with his arms crossed against a stylised Election 2026 graphic.

Ātea

Rawiri Waititi is miles ahead in Waiariki – but the party vote is a three-way scrap

NZ First calls National's foreign aid cut promise desperate, Act hails it as win

Russell Palmer of RNZ

06 Oct 2026

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An orange bingo card with the title 2026 Leaders' Debate Bingo and 20 squares with various statements, against a blue background with a white and green starburst motif.

Politics

Election 2026 leaders' debate bingo (or drinking game if you like)

Maipi-Clarke leads Hauraki-Waikato as party vote remains neck and neck

Why are so many Māori voters turning to the Greens?

The near miss at Greens' rail crossing announcement (and other thoughts about the election)

Henry Oliver

06 Oct 2026

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Latest podcasts

A political lobbyist on ‘rephrensible’ tactics in NZ democracy

A political lobbyist on ‘reprehensible’ tactics in NZ democracy

Toby Manhire speaks to Holly Bennett, founder of government relations agency Awhi, about the reality of lobbying in Aotearoa, and to Spinoff deputy editor Alice Neville about the very best of canned margaritas.

At Large with Toby Manhire06 Oct 2026

The army of indies igniting election 2026

Toby Manhire looks at the independent creators attempting to address the problems with youth enrolment, before speaking to Shanti Mathias from Policy.nz and Jean Donaldson from On the Fence about how their respective tools can help voters find clarity during a hectic election campaign.

At Large with Toby Manhire05 Oct 2026

Gone By Lunchtime: The debate explosion

Reuniting IRL in the Spinoff podcast studio, our hosts dissect the first action-packed week of the 2026 election campaign.

Gone By Lunchtime02 Oct 2026

Winners and losers in debate for Mt Albert, the box-office contest of election 2026

Toby Manhire speaks to Spinoff writers Hayden Donnell and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith to assess the highs and lows of The Great Mt Albert Debate.

At Large with Toby Manhire02 Oct 2026

The pre-election books are open – is Nicola Willis right to cheer?

Toby Manhire speaks to Bernard Hickey, fresh from the pre-election fiscal update lockup, to assess the state of our national accounts, and to Chris Schulz about a teaser clip for Nathan Fielder's upcoming documentary.

At Large with Toby Manhire29 Sep 2026