The Spinoff

Taika Waititi's new film is a big ol' hunk of nothing.

Taika Waititi’s new film isn’t as bad as the critics say it is – it’s even worse

What has he done to Klara and the Sun?

Pip Adam wins the Ursula K. Le Guin prize for fiction in a first for Aotearoa

An overworked freelancer asks: Could the right tech setup increase my income?

Pip Adam wins the Ursula K. Le Guin prize for fiction in a first for Aotearoa

An overworked freelancer asks: Could the right tech setup increase my income?

An election update from The Spinoff’s CEO

A grid of headshots of Spinoff staff

An election update from The Spinoff’s CEO

Labour has a gang problem. But not in the way you might think

Labour has a gang problem. But not in the way you might think

What is Winston Peters' dream date?

A black and white image of a smiling man wearing a suit against a background of calendar dates, a geometric green shape and yellow starbursts. In the top right corner is a black sticker with the words Election 2026.

What is Winston Peters' dream date?

Nocturnalists: Jack Young knows how to have a good time in Auckland

Jack Young at his Auckland bar No. 7

Nocturnalists: Jack Young knows how to have a good time in Auckland

How do you solve a problem like the Australian women’s cricket team?

cal pix (2250 x 1350 px) - 1

How do you solve a problem like the Australian women’s cricket team?

The hard-fought history of women’s public toilets in New Zealand

A white art deco building with LADIES REST above the door against a blue sky

The hard-fought history of women’s public toilets in New Zealand

Popular

Labour has a gang problem. But not in the way you might think

What is Winston Peters' dream date?

The hard-fought history of women’s public toilets in New Zealand

Taika Waititi’s new film isn’t as bad as the critics say it is – it’s even worse

High Court overturns puberty blocker restrictions

Three book covers with textured coloured shapes behind them.

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending October 23

Uploaded Image

All the best things to watch this Labour Weekend

Henry (2250 x 1350 px) - 20

Enrolment deadline nears with youth enrolments still behind 2023

An Auckland Transport train with blue, grey and green livery sits in the left of the screen with a nose on its front and a peg on its nose.

Problem? Auckland’s trains smell like piss

Job-seeking teens are being asked to submit videos as part of their applications.

Job-seeking teens are being asked to submit videos now

cal pix (2250 x 1350 px) - 1

'That blew my head off': Charlotte Grimshaw on the fallout from her family memoir

Subscribe to The Spinoff to stay updated on all things

View our newsletters

Latest podcasts

GONE BY LUNCHTIME - Youtube 16:9

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

AL - Cover images - 10

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

Uploaded Image

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

Ali Mau on Tika, and the experiences that built it

Ali Mau on Tika, and the experiences that built it

Toby Manhire speaks to Ali Mau about Tika, a pioneering new online service for survivors of sexual harm, and the experiences that lead her to this point.

At Large with Toby Manhire19 Oct 2026

Uploaded Image

Gone By Lunchtime: We are all covered in ash and yearning for the ocean

There are somehow still three weeks to go but fear not: we're here to give you the energy and optimism you need to make it to election night.

Gone By Lunchtime16 Oct 2026

High Court overturns puberty blocker restrictions

Is David Seymour steadying the ship or stirring the pot?

What happens if this tight election delivers a hung parliament?

High Court overturns puberty blocker restrictions

The court has ruled the government’s regulations banning new prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria were unlawful, finding the consultation inadequate and the restrictions a breach of the Bill of Rights.

Is David Seymour steadying the ship or stirring the pot?

What happens if this tight election delivers a hung parliament?

Latest video

A black-and-white cut-out image of Arena Williams on an abstract orange background.

What does the Labour Party have to offer young NZers?

A black-and-white cut-out image of Marama Davidson on an abstract orange background.

What does the Green Party have to offer young NZers?

A black-and-white cut-out image of Vicky Hau on an abstract orange background.

What does NZ First have to offer young NZers?

A black-and-white cut-out image of Antonia Modkova on an abstract orange background.

What does the Act Party have to offer young NZers?

A black-and-white cut-out image of Qiulae Wong on an abstract orange background.

What does the Opportunity Party have to offer young NZers?

Our writers

Tara Ward

Tara Ward

TV & Film

Politics

Society

Articles by author

‘I loved this story’: Alice Oseman on saying goodbye to Heartstopper

Who deserves a seat at the Celebrity Traitors NZ round table?

More articles by author

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

Politics

Ātea

Culture

Articles by author

Labour has a gang problem. But not in the way you might think

Paul Henry hits the strategic-vote speed bump

More articles by author

Joel MacManus

Joel MacManus

Politics

Business

Kai

Articles by author

What is Winston Peters' dream date?

The Stuff leaders' debate had two losers: Christopher Luxon and Ryan Bridge

More articles by author

Calum Henderson

Calum Henderson

Culture

Sport

Articles by author

Sky Sport’s Betcha ad shocker – what actually happened?

How to keep watching football now the World Cup is over

More articles by author

Madeleine Chapman

Madeleine Chapman

Politics

Culture

Sport

Articles by author

Rage against the machine: I refuse to join any supermarket rewards programmes

NZ’s retirement village population is almost entirely white. Where is everyone else?

More articles by author

Hayden Donnell

Hayden Donnell

Politics

Society

Articles by author

Problem? Auckland’s trains smell like piss

How the final leaders' debate went down

More articles by author

Emma Gleason

Emma Gleason

Culture

Business

Kai

Articles by author

Nocturnalists: Jack Young knows how to have a good time in Auckland

What’s your local? Where (and what) election candidates like to eat in their electorate

More articles by author

Chris Schulz

Chris Schulz

Society

Music

Business

Articles by author

Taika Waititi’s new film isn’t as bad as the critics say it is – it’s even worse

Job-seeking teens are being asked to submit videos now

More articles by author

Henry Oliver

Henry Oliver

Politics

Business

Music

Articles by author

Enrolment deadline nears with youth enrolments still behind 2023

High Court overturns puberty blocker restrictions

More articles by author

Alice Neville

Alice Neville

Politics

Kai

Articles by author

Is David Seymour steadying the ship or stirring the pot?

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

More articles by author

Uploaded Image

Veronica Schmidt

Politics

Culture

Articles by author

Luxon flubs minimum wage fact and other depressing takeaways from the leaders' debate

The reason Jack Tame kept saying 'to the waaaall' during the TVNZ leaders' debate

More articles by author

Toby Manhire

Toby Manhire

Politics

Culture

Sport

Articles by author

Opportunity Party rules need further ‘rethink’, says Qiulae Wong

Democracy idea: An independent unit for enforcing breaches of bottom lines

More articles by author

Liam Rātana

Liam Rātana

Ātea

Politics

Sport

Articles by author

Rugby League World Cup 2026: Why I’ll be watching every Kiwis game for my dad

The battle for Te Tai Tonga: Four candidates, one enormous electorate

More articles by author

Alex Casey

Alex Casey

TV & Film

Culture

Society

Articles by author

Review: Big Girls Don’t Cry captures the endless ache of adolescence

Buyer beware: New pineapple Fruju found cosplaying as grapefruit

More articles by author

Claire Mabey

Claire Mabey

Books

Culture

Articles by author

How one man's passion for rugby league is getting kids into reading

Meet the tiny indie publisher behind the New Zealand novel of the year

More articles by author