The Spinoff

Politics

How an overhang (or two) could decide the election, in one simple table

The scenarios offered up by the latest poll data.

Toby Manhire

29 Oct 2026

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi smiles while greeting another person wearing a black Māori-branded jacket. Waititi wears a wide-brimmed black hat, sunglasses and a black-and-white varsity jacket.

Ātea

From exam season to death itself, eight Aucklanders give their reasons for advance voting

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

28 Oct 2026

Politics

From exam season to death itself, eight Aucklanders give their reasons for advance voting

RNZ-Reid Research poll: National below disastrous 2020 result as Opportunity surges

Craig McCulloch of RNZ

29 Oct 2026

Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon at election 2026

Politics

RNZ-Reid Research poll: National below disastrous 2020 result as Opportunity surges

Craig McCulloch of RNZ

29 Oct 2026

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Politics

Conflicting official advice on ‘time off to vote’ raises concerns

Alice Neville

29 Oct 2026

An orange sign saying "voting" with an arrow pointing left, against a black and white background, with stickers in either corner of the image saying "election 2026".

Politics

Conflicting official advice on ‘time off to vote’ raises concerns

Reserve Bank’s surprise OCR hold: economists ‘flabbergasted’, borrowers relieved, savers stuck

Henry Oliver

29 Oct 2026

Politics

Reserve Bank’s surprise OCR hold: economists ‘flabbergasted’, borrowers relieved, savers stuck

Chlöe Swarbrick on being painted as ‘bogeyman’ of the 2026 election

Toby Manhire

28 Oct 2026

Politics

Chlöe Swarbrick on being painted as ‘bogeyman’ of the 2026 election

Toby Manhire

28 Oct 2026

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The cost of being: A public servant who just bought their first home

The Cost of Being

27 Oct 2026

David Seymour on working with ‘that clown’

Toby Manhire

27 Oct 2026

I had to breastfeed other people's babies at Gloriavale

Rosanna Overcomer

28 Oct 2026

Find a way to make it work: Why Aotearoa needs engineering consultants

Toby Morris

27 Oct 2026

New polling shows overhang could hand the coalition a second term (and other news)

Henry Oliver

28 Oct 2026

A man wears a black jacket and stands with his arms on his hips in a scene from Happiness

Culture

‘We’re defined by our compassion’: Harry McNaughton on finding true Happiness

Dating Files: A woman in Wellington who's not fussed about her partner's gender

'I enjoy serendipitous finds in the community libraries': Richard Wolfe's rich reading life

The Spinoff Review of Books

28 Oct 2026

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Kai

New and approved: Feri Cuisine, Auckland

New polling shows overhang could hand the coalition a second term (and other news)

Parliament may soon run out of literal seats. Here’s their plan for more furniture

Paul Goldsmith says he wants to win Epsom, but he doesn’t seem to be trying very hard

I had to breastfeed other people's babies at Gloriavale

Rosanna Overcomer

28 Oct 2026

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Latest podcasts

Chlöe Swarbrick on being cast as ‘bogeyman’ of 2026 election

Toby Manhire speaks to the Green Party co-leader about being the bête noire of the right, the possibilities of an overhang and whether they can really work alongside Labour.

At Large with Toby Manhire28 Oct 2026

David Seymour on division, ‘dropkicks’ and working with Winston

Toby Manhire speaks to the Act Party leader about the treaty principles bill, coalition stability and his working relationship with Winston Peters.

At Large with Toby Manhire27 Oct 2026

Gone By Lunchtime: The campaign has entered its ouroboros phase

Like a self-consuming serpent, the 2026 election has begun to feed on itself. With just a few days till advance voting begins, Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas gather to feast upon a lively final pair of leader debates and look at what comes next.

Gone By Lunchtime22 Oct 2026

Qiulae Wong on the backlash and the bottom lines

Toby Manhire speaks to the leader of the Opportunity Party about affecting political change, allegations of a toxic work culture and whether or not fourth time will be the charm.

At Large with Toby Manhire21 Oct 2026

The bizarre story of the Kiwibank sheep that conquered the world

Toby Manhire speaks to Hayden Donnell about the saga of Buck the sheep, and to Lyric Waiwiri-Smith about the case for making political party campaign buses mandatory.

At Large with Toby Manhire20 Oct 2026