The Spinoff

Composite graphic of Kerrin Leoni and Labour leader Chris Hipkins against a pale blue background, with two broken red hearts and Election 2026 branding.

What happens if Kerrin Leoni wins Tāmaki Makaurau?

The Labour candidate resigned, but then chose to remain in the race as an ‘independent’. If she wins, it gets complicated.

GONE BY LUNCHTIME - Youtube 16:9

Gone By Lunchtime: Panic stations with a week to go?

Gone By Lunchtime

Bags of chicken nuggets.

The chicken nuggets of New Zealand, ranked from worst to best

GONE BY LUNCHTIME - Youtube 16:9

Gone By Lunchtime: Panic stations with a week to go?

Gone By Lunchtime

Bags of chicken nuggets.

The chicken nuggets of New Zealand, ranked from worst to best

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending October 30

The Spinoff Review of Books

A Court of Thorns and Roses cover on a stool with colourful shapes behind it.

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending October 30

The Spinoff Review of Books

A definitive guide to the rule-outs of Election 2026

Henry (2250 x 1350 px) - 24

A definitive guide to the rule-outs of Election 2026

TVNZ’s kaupapa Māori debate had an unc problem

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

TVNZ’s kaupapa Māori debate had an unc problem

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

The Kaupapa Māori debate and the numbers behind it

Henry (2250 x 1350 px) - 26

The Kaupapa Māori debate and the numbers behind it

Chris Hipkins: in defence of ‘solid incrementalism’

Chris Hipkins in the podcast studio.

Chris Hipkins: in defence of ‘solid incrementalism’

Help Me Hera: How do I allow myself to enjoy frivolity again?

Hera Lindsay Bird

Help me Hera_2250x1350 - 8

Help Me Hera: How do I allow myself to enjoy frivolity again?

Hera Lindsay Bird

Popular

The chicken nuggets of New Zealand, ranked from worst to best

TVNZ’s kaupapa Māori debate had an unc problem

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

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

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

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

Help Me Hera: How do I allow myself to enjoy frivolity again?

Hera Lindsay Bird

Shalako Rameka smiles for a photograph inside a library, wearing a sage-green T-shirt, with bookshelves behind him and four colourful Election 2026 graphics framing the image.

The mature student splitting his vote between Te Pāti Māori and the Greens

Characters of the Campaign Trail

Election 2026 graphic featuring seven New Zealand political figures, including Rawiri Waititi, against a textured red background with blue geometric shapes and election branding.

Election 2026: The 1News kaupapa Māori debate, as it happened

a haunted looking image of a bare forest in the background, with the headshots of a man and a woman overlaid on an orange colour splotch

What Noelle McCarthy and Tom Sainsbury are reading for Halloween

Noelle McCarthy

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

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

Toby bits - 26

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

Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon at election 2026

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

Craig McCulloch of RNZ

Henry (2250 x 1350 px) - 22

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

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".

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

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Latest podcasts

Chris Hipkins: in defence of incrementalism

Chris Hipkins: in defence of incrementalism

Toby Manhire speaks to the Labour Party leader about bold political statements, education reform and the philosophical teachings of the stoics.

At Large with Toby Manhire29 Oct 2026

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

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

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 - 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

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

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

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

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

'I was like, ‘oh shit, maybe I should go’. Because Dad was like, ‘if you don’t vote, don’t complain to me about everything.’

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

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

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

Partner stories

Shane Liu at Chom Na Thai Food.

Nocturnalists: Shane Liu on finding balance and doing business after dark

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

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

Jack Young at his Auckland bar No. 7

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

Digital exclusion concept image showing a smartphone and a padlock

‘Constantly seeking access': The young people locked out of a connected world

A cut-out illustration of an older car on the road

Where I went wrong buying my secondhand car

Chris Parker, Poi Eruera & Emma Gleason enjoying Auckland by night

What does an ideal night out in Auckland look like?

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A frazzled dad asks: Could a smart home save my sanity?

Sophie Gilmour

Nocturnalists: Sophie Gilmour has a genius tip for a great night out

Latest video

A black-and-white cut-out image of Robbie Nicol holding up a finger. A fire-danger-style sign is in front of him. Behind him is an abstract orange background.

How much can a politician lie in a NZ election campaign?

A cut-out black-and-white photo of Robbie Nicol and a hand holding a glass of wine. An abstract pink background.

NZers drinking less booze; doing other drugs more

Abstract pink and blue background. Cut-out black-and-white images in the foreground of the beehive, a pokie machine and Robbie Nicol.

NZ's new $15m online casino gambling licences, explained

Abstract collage background, with a black-and-white cut-out image of Robbie Nicol turning to look at us while holding a clipboard.

What is the MMP overhang?

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?

Our writers

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Veronica Schmidt

Politics

Culture

Articles by author

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

Veronica Schmidt

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

Veronica Schmidt

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Alice Neville

Alice Neville

Politics

Kai

Articles by author

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

Is David Seymour steadying the ship or stirring the pot?

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Toby Manhire

Toby Manhire

Politics

Culture

Sport

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Chris Hipkins: in defence of ‘solid incrementalism’

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

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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

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Liam Rātana

Liam Rātana

Ātea

Politics

Sport

Articles by author

What happens if Kerrin Leoni wins Tāmaki Makaurau?

Election 2026: The 1News kaupapa Māori debate, as it happened

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Hayden Donnell

Hayden Donnell

Politics

Society

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Problem? Auckland’s trains smell like piss

How the final leaders' debate went down

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Emma Gleason

Emma Gleason

Culture

Business

Kai

Articles by author

The chicken nuggets of New Zealand, ranked from worst to best

Nocturnalists: Shane Liu on finding balance and doing business after dark

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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

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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

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Joel MacManus

Joel MacManus

Politics

Business

Kai

Articles by author

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

What is Winston Peters' dream date?

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Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

Politics

Ātea

Culture

Articles by author

TVNZ’s kaupapa Māori debate had an unc problem

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

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

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

More articles by author

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?

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Henry Oliver

Henry Oliver

Politics

Business

Music

Articles by author

The Kaupapa Māori debate and the numbers behind it

A definitive guide to the rule-outs of Election 2026

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

Madeleine Chapman

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

Madeleine Chapman

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