David Farrier

Contributing writer

David Farrier is a journalist from Auckland who reports for the news. He recently made a comedy with Rhys Darby called Short Poppies. He’s currently making a documentary about Competitive Endurance Tickling.

Music

Apr 16, 2018

Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan on resurrecting A Perfect Circle

David Farrier talks to one of the most wildly enigmatic frontmen in music, Maynard James Keenan, and his partner in crime, Billy Howerdel about 18 years of friendship, music, and being very, very enigmatic.

Auckland

Mar 14, 2018

The clamps fall silent: a eulogy for Bashford Antiques

Eighteen months after David Farrier first reported on the strange antics of Bashford Antiques, he returns a final time to bid it farewell.

Media

Mar 13, 2018

David Farrier talks with his old friend who had sex with a dolphin

Seven years after first interviewing him about having sex with a dolphin, David Farrier reconnects with Malcolm Brenner for an update.

The Best Of

Mar 9, 2018

The mystery of Zach the miracle AI, continued: it all just gets Terribler

Earlier this week David Farrier lifted the lid on the very strange case of the Christchurch AI that would supposedly revolutionise global medical practice. What has he discovered since?

The Best Of

Mar 6, 2018

The mystery of Zach, New Zealand’s all-too-miraculous medical AI

An artificial intelligence bot called Zach is creating a stir in the medical community. But AI experts are not convinced. David Farrier goes in search of Zach.

Music

Feb 21, 2018

David Farrier goes to the David Duchovny show, alone

Last night David Farrier took himself to see one of his non-musical heroes, X-Files star David Duchovny, play music. Here's what happened.

Television

Feb 5, 2018

‘It felt like he was making TV specifically for me’: David Farrier on his love for Jeremy Wells

Ahead of Jeremy Wells' return to television tonight, David Farrier looks back at some of his favourite moments from the deadpan broadcaster.

Music

Dec 21, 2017

Fazerdaze, from Morningside to the world

Since releasing her debut album Morningside in May, Amelia Murray has had a whirlwind year, but finally catching her breath back in New Zealand for Christmas.

Media

Dec 11, 2017

Breaking: New Zealand mobile news alerts are intensely weird

Originally conceived to notify you of important breaking news, news alerts in New Zealand have morphed into something altogether stranger. David Farrier reports.

Business

Oct 10, 2017

The Bashford Antiques saga, part III: $760 for a half hour’s parking

A Sunday night in Ponsonby revives the Bashford Antiques saga, with revelations it's still unlicensed and still clamping – now for a scarcely believable amount. David Farrier investigates.

Television

May 29, 2017

WATCH: Here’s all the Real Talk with Dave, Cam and Ben that didn’t make the cut

In the final episode of Real Talk with Dave, Ben and Cam, we present the glorious outtakes.

Television

May 28, 2017

WATCH: Shortland Street’s Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss objectification with David Farrier

Today, Shortland Street's Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss the objectification of men.

Television

May 27, 2017

WATCH: Shortland Street’s Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss cyclists with David Farrier

Today, Shortland Street's Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss cyclists with David Farrier.

Television

May 26, 2017

WATCH: Shortland Street’s Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss conspiracy theories with David Farrier

Today, Shortland Street's Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss their favourite conspiracy theories.

Television

May 25, 2017

WATCH: Shortland Street’s Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss outrage culture with David Farrier

Today, Shortland Street stars Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss the culture of outrage with David Farrier.

Television

May 24, 2017

WATCH: Shortland Street’s Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss the internet with David Farrier

Today, Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss the perils of the internet age with David Farrier.

Television

May 23, 2017

WATCH: Shortland Street’s Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss women with David Farrier

Shortland Street's Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones discuss women, gender and the all-important radiance.

Television

May 22, 2017

WATCH: David Farrier interviews Shortland Street’s Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones about the origins of life

For the Shortland Street 25th anniversary week, we're reissuing David Farrier's phenomenal 2014 'Real Talk' interview series with two of the soaps's biggest stars – Ben Mitchell and Cam Jones. Today, the trio discuss the origins of life.

Music

May 19, 2017

David Farrier remembers Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell died this week. David Farrier writes about what Cornell's music meant to him, and the day he met his hero.

Media

May 13, 2017

Welcome to the violent, viral world of Cold Steel Swords

On YouTube, every conceivable interest is catered to – including the brutal power of top quality, highly engineered swords. David Farrier talks to Lynn Thompson, founder of viral video makers Cold Steel Swords.

Music

Apr 22, 2017

Who is Fazerdaze? A year with NZ’s next indie darling

The international music community is beginning to take notice of Amelia Murray, who has been releasing music as Fazerdaze since 2014. After seeing her play in April last year, David Farrier followed Amelia Murray over the following year as she completed her album, Morningside, and prepared her band to take on the world.

Television

Apr 21, 2017

It never stops: David Farrier descends back down the Tickled rabbit hole

David Farrier was sucked into a tickling vortex back in 2014, and spent the next few years immersed in the world of Competitive Endurance Tickling. Throughout 2016 he took the resulting film, Tickled, to festivals around the world and followed it up with The Tickle King on HBO last month. After three years he was ready to move on. But the internet had other ideas.

Television

Feb 15, 2017

Documentary makers David Farrier and Reggie Yates meet in a hotel and eat breakfast

Tickled director David Farrier talks to Reggie Yates, TV host turned documentary extraordinaire, over breakfast in LA.

Society

Jan 23, 2017

David Miscavige’s Auckland Scientology HQ launch speech: as interpreted by David Farrier

At the jaw-dropping opening of the New Zealand Church of Scientology on Saturday, David Miscavige spoke directly to the crowd. Here, top NZ Scientologist David Farrier attempts to explain what Miscavige is on about.

Music

Jan 2, 2017

Summer reissue: The story behind that amazing Rihanna death metal logo

A Rihanna logo inspired by death metal bands featured prominently at the VMAs this year. David Farrier followed some rabbit holes to locate the designer behind the whole thing.

Society

Nov 21, 2016

‘Hello, my name is Ally’ – how children are being exploited by YouTube predators

David Farrier, director of docu-thriller Tickled, stumbles into another deeply disturbing instance of vulnerable people being exploited online – this time children, on YouTube.

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