Don Rowe

Staff Writer

Don Rowe (Ngāi Tahu) is a staff writer at The Spinoff. He was the 2015 Canon Media Awards student journalist of the year and the 2017 junior long form feature writer of the year. Email him on don@thespinoff.co.nz

Media
Apr 17, 2018

I got Instagram hacked by the fake Ray-Ban ads, and I'm mad as hell

Ads hawking bogus Ray-Ban sunglasses are springing up all over Instagram feeds. But where do they come from and who is to blame?

Read on.

Society
Apr 12, 2018

How Vector is turning the lights back on after Auckland's worst storm in a decade

After hurricane force winds battered Auckland on Tuesday night, lines company Vector awoke to the task of rebuilding its severely damaged network. Minoru Frederiksens talks Don Rowe through the aftermath.

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Sports
Apr 1, 2018

The view from Cardiff: Joseph Parker is all class to the bitter end

Joseph Parker came up short in his bout against heavyweight superstar Anthony Joshua this evening, but in doing so he might have won a bigger victory yet – that of class over crass. Don Rowe reports from Cardiff. 

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Music
Apr 1, 2018

The new Dunedin Sound

Over the past two years a movement of Dunedin bands have played sold out gigs in all the major centres, riding a wave of hype unseen since the glory days of Flying Nun.

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Sports
Mar 31, 2018

‘He is absolutely massive, innit’: Parker and Joshua weigh in at Cardiff Arena

In the final event ahead of Sunday morning's historic heavyweight title fight, Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua weighed in infront of 4000 drunken fans. Don Rowe reports from Cardiff. 

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Sports
Mar 29, 2018

‘He’s the most unflappable man I’ve ever met’: Parker faces down 80k in Cardiff

This weekend, undefeated heavyweight champion Joseph Parker seeks to unify his belts against British superstar Anthony Joshua. Three days out from the fight, the pressure is mounting on both combatants.

Read on.

Sports
Mar 28, 2018

‘AJ is absolutely furious’ Parker and Joshua are finally face to face in London

This weekend, undefeated heavyweight champion Joseph Parker seeks to unify his belts against British superstar Anthony Joshua. Today they finally squared off. Don Rowe reports from London.

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Society
Mar 22, 2018

Cheat Sheet: the world’s most dangerous drug arrives in New Zealand

An insanely potent opioid has been discovered at a music festival in New Zealand. What is it, and what does its presence in this country mean?

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Politics
Mar 21, 2018

Flight and Fight: Shane Jones versus Air New Zealand CEO Chris Luxon

The Champion of the Regions versus the Corporate Taniwha. The CEO versus the Minister. Susie Ferguson versus a Straight Answer. Who will come out on top? 

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Gaming
Mar 20, 2018

Exclusive: God of War and Kant’s theory of the sublime

Through clever manipulation of scale and mythos, the latest iteration of God of War makes the most of Immanuel Kant's theory of the sublime to deliver a truly beautiful game. Don Rowe travelled to Sydney to gets his hands on a preview. 

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Politics
Mar 16, 2018

Let’s do this? A horror week for the Labour government

With scandals, obfuscation and increasing pressure from both opposition and party faithful, this has been Jacinda Ardern's worst week yet. 

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Society
Mar 12, 2018

Shut out: private college collapse leaves students stranded with visas rejected

International students caught out by the closure of the New Zealand National College have had their lives here put on hold. Don Rowe reports. 

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Science
Mar 7, 2018

Cheat Sheet: Will the Chinese space station kill us all?

Welcome to the Cheat Sheet, a clickable, shareable, bite-sized FAQ on the news of the moment. Today, Don Rowe asks a space scientist if we're all dead courtesy of a Chinese space station set to hit Earth this month.

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Society
Mar 4, 2018

‘One of the great tasks for our generation’: Phil Twyford talks housing

After nine years of carping about National's failure to address the housing crisis, Labour now faces the titanic task of actually making something happen. Don Rowe speaks to Minister of Housing Phil Twyford about what he has planned.

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Media
Feb 28, 2018

Cheat Sheet: Is social media app Vero going to kill Instagram?

Welcome to the Cheat Sheet, a clickable, shareable, bite-sized FAQ on the news of the moment. Today, Don Rowe takes a look at Vero, the so-called Instagram-killer. 

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Business
Feb 26, 2018

Tinder for flatmates: how Flat Candy is improving the flat-hunting experience

A new Wellington-based service is looking to match rooms with roommates with as little pain as possible. Don Rowe talks to co-founder Brayden Gosse about Flat Candy, the so-called 'Tinder of flatting'.

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Television
Feb 25, 2018

Hunted: the show turning ordinary Brits into wanted fugitives

Ten Brits run around the countryside being chased down by investigators (and also a camera crew) in order to win £100,000. Don Rowe watches the show and finds the hunting bizarre and, quite frankly, lacking in actual hunting.

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Media
Feb 20, 2018

‘It’s grim. But this is a grim drug’: The synthetic drugs ravaging our most marginalised

A new documentary released by VICE today reveals an underreported public help crisis. Don Rowe talks to assistant producer James Borrowdale about Syn City, an in-depth look at New Zealand's synthetic cannabinoid epidemic. 

Read on.

Society
Feb 19, 2018

The last days of O-Week

Police and council are trying to throttle the life out of Dunedin’s student culture. We sent a reporter down to experience its exhilarating chaos before it gets too boring. This story …

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Music
Feb 16, 2018

‘I’m the coloniser and the colonised’: Ryan Hendriks on his first solo release

Don Rowe talks to Auckland rapper Ryan Hendriks about music, travel and performative confrontation in the wake of his first solo album, Old Zealand. 

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Gaming
Feb 13, 2018

Art imitates life, and that’s why UFC 3 is predictably disappointing

Tacky aesthetics and an overly faithful reproduction of modern mixed martial arts holds back what is easily the best UFC game yet, writes Don Rowe. 

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Sports
Feb 12, 2018

New Zealand’s next fighting superstar arrives on the world stage

After almost a decade of combat sports experience, New Zealand's Israel Adesanya made a highly anticipated and violent entrance to the UFC on Sunday. Don Rowe reports. 

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Society
Feb 3, 2018

Cheat sheet: where the hell are all the grapefruit Frujus?

Welcome to the Cheat Sheet, a clickable, shareable, bite-sized FAQ on the news of the moment. Today, Don Rowe uncovers an icy scandal that reaches the heights of our primary industries. 

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Auckland
Feb 1, 2018

Cheat Sheet: Is Auckland Council sponsoring a fisting festival?

Welcome to the Cheat Sheet, a clickable, shareable, bite-sized FAQ on the news of the moment. Today, Don Rowe spells out whether or not ratepayers are funding a fisting festival. 

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Society
Jan 26, 2018

Cheat Sheet: Hamilton’s most notorious bar loses its liquor licence

Welcome to the Cheat Sheet, a clickable, shareable, bite-sized FAQ on the news of the moment. Today, Don Rowe explains why shutting down Hamilton's most notorious bar isn't automatically a good idea. 

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Society
Jan 25, 2018

The Spinoff guide to getting some goddamn sleep this summer

As we drag ourselves through the final stretch of what is set to be the hottest January on record, Don Rowe asks one sleep expert how can we get some desperately needed shut-eye.

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