Jack Tame and some polling clips.
Politics

Can we really trust the polls?

A polling expert on how simultaneous polls can tell such different stories, and the choices media make in reporting.

Toby Manhire03 Nov 2026
A grey building resembling the Beehive teeters on the edge of a cliff over a body of blue water with black shark fins protruding from it
Politics

An overhang election could be terrible for our democracy

Hayden Donnell
03 Nov 2026
imageT - 34
Politics

All the angry dads drowning out National's 2026 campaign

Toby Manhire
03 Nov 2026
Politics

How long will coalition negotiations take?

Joel MacManus
03 Nov 2026
Culture

The life and times of a 19th century Wellington bug collector

Liv Sisson
03 Nov 2026
Society

The cost of being: A mental health worker who's started tracking their spending in a spreadsheet

The Cost of Being
03 Nov 2026
Politics

A Greens-Labour voter who worries about her student loan

Characters of the Campaign Trail
03 Nov 2026
Politics

Election update: A quarter have voted, National targets Swarbrick, and Labour’s last-minute policy

Henry Oliver
03 Nov 2026
Politics

A bland election? Not in this box-office electorate

Toby Manhire
02 Nov 2026

Popular

The new poll that tells the true story of the 2026 election

Toby Manhire
02 Nov 2026
1

Every electorate race in Election 2026, ranked from least interesting to most interesting

Joel MacManus
02 Nov 2026
2

Cost of living vs the overhang

Henry Oliver
02 Nov 2026
3

An overhang election could be terrible for our democracy

Hayden Donnell
03 Nov 2026
4

Love, actually, at 35: 'We're no longer a free-spirited, carefree couple'

Love actually
01 Nov 2026
5
New to streaming 2250x1350 - 1
Culture

New to Streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week

Thomas Giblin
02 Nov 2026
Chris Parke
Culture

‘Better than The Chase’: Chris Parker on why live art is so good

Life Advice
02 Nov 2026
Māori artist Atarangi Anderson stands with her hands on her hips in her Grey Lynn studio, surrounded by barkcloth, tools, shelves of materials and hanging strips of aute.
Ātea

Atarangi Anderson wants aute to be more than a museum piece

Chevron Hassett
02 Nov 2026
Henry (2250 x 1350 px) - 27
Politics

Cost of living vs the overhang

Henry Oliver
02 Nov 2026
cutout images of two white men in suits and ties staring earnestly off-camera. there's an orange splash in the bakcground and in the foreground two black and white petrol nozzles
Politics

The new poll that tells the true story of the 2026 election

Toby Manhire
02 Nov 2026
A close-up of a name tag being held by two hands. The name tag says in white against a red background "Hello my name is", with the face of a man and a woman in black and white from the nose up.
Politics

The most popular names among political wannabes

Alice Neville
02 Nov 2026
Hūhana Lyndon and Chris Bishop with popcorn boxes in front of a map of New Zealand electorates.
Politics

Every electorate race in Election 2026, ranked from least interesting to most interesting

Joel MacManus
02 Nov 2026
love actually template with green nature background and arms holding a baby bottle of milk and a wooden spatula
Society

Love, actually, at 35: 'We're no longer a free-spirited, carefree couple'

Love actually
01 Nov 2026
Subscribe to The Spinoff to stay updated on all things

Latest podcasts

Can we really trust the polls?

Can we really trust the polls?

Toby Manhire speaks to Murray Campbell of Research Association NZ about the methods behind political polls in Aotearoa, how fairly the media represents those polls and why Curia withdrew from the pollsters’ association.

At Large with Toby Manhire03 Nov 2026
The blockbuster seat and the Māori vote, with Te Aniwa Hurihanganui

The blockbuster seat and the Māori vote, with Te Aniwa Hurihanganui

Toby Manhire speaks to Te Aniwa Hurihanganui, TVNZ’s Māori affairs correspondent, about which Māori electorates are the ones to watch as the votes are counted this weekend.

At Large with Toby Manhire02 Nov 2026
GONE BY LUNCHTIME - Youtube 16:9

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

A horrific Halloween poll for the National Party has seen Luxon break with the habit of a lifetime and comment on a poll. What to make of it all? And will this be remembered as the 'Opp-erhang' election?

Gone By Lunchtime30 Oct 2026
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
Embarrassing: Impudent youth are carrying out the best journalism of the election

Embarrassing: Impudent youth are carrying out the best journalism of the election

One elderly journalist pleads with the youth to stop making him and his peers look bad.

Hayden Donnell
31 Oct 2026

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

Characters of the Campaign Trail
30 Oct 2026

The Kaupapa Māori debate and the numbers behind it

Henry Oliver
30 Oct 2026

Partner stories

Shane Liu at Chom Na Thai Food.
Kai

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

Emma Gleason
28 Oct 2026
Uploaded Image
Society

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

Toby Morris
27 Oct 2026
Uploaded Image
Society

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

Greg Bruce
23 Oct 2026
Jack Young at his Auckland bar No. 7
Kai

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

Emma Gleason
21 Oct 2026
Digital exclusion concept image showing a smartphone and a padlock
Society

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

Naomii Seah
19 Oct 2026
A cut-out illustration of an older car on the road
Society

Where I went wrong buying my secondhand car

Chris Schulz
15 Oct 2026
Chris Parker, Poi Eruera & Emma Gleason enjoying Auckland by night
Kai

What does an ideal night out in Auckland look like?

Emma Gleason
14 Oct 2026
Uploaded Image
Society

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

Greg Bruce
13 Oct 2026
Sophie Gilmour
Kai

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

Emma Gleason
07 Oct 2026

Latest video

A cut-out black-and-white image of Robbie Nicol holding a card labelled "QUESTIONS ABOUT SPACE VAPES". There is a black-and-white cut-out image of a vape pod next to him.

Space vapes, explained

Now You Know
03 Nov 2026
1m
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?

Now You Know
30 Oct 2026
1m
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

Now You Know
29 Oct 2026
1m
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

Now You Know
28 Oct 2026
1m
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?

Now You Know
27 Oct 2026
1m

Our writers

More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author
More articles by author