Emily Writes

Parents Editor

Emily Writes is editor of The Spinoff Parents. She is a mother of two, the best-selling author of Rants in the Dark - From one tired mama to another, writer and speaker. He second book Is it bedtime yet? is out now in all good bookstores. Email her on emily@thespinoff.co.nz

Television

May 28, 2020

Emily Writes: In celebration of Soft TV

Emily Writes celebrates wholesome shows and the rise of cosy television.

Television

Feb 16, 2020

Emily Writes: The Goop Lab's orgasm episode fails to reach a satisfying climax

Emily Writes reviews the now infamous orgasm episode of the even more infamous Netflix show The GOOP Lab.

Society

Feb 7, 2020

Emily Writes: 10 reasons you should stop complaining about Wellington's weather

Yes, the capital's having a shithouse summer, but there are plenty of reasons to look on the bright side.

Society

Feb 3, 2020

Taking a dive: The life-threatening crisis in New Zealand kids’ swimming

With school swimming pools continuing to close across the country, it's never been more difficult for a New Zealand child to learn to swim.

Politics

Jan 30, 2020

Canine to five: Why every office should be a dog office

Emily Writes visits Flick Electric Co's HQ to learn why they think having dogs in the office hasn't just made their workplace happier, it's made them more productive too.

Society

Jan 22, 2020

How to afford a holiday if you’re poor? Beryl has some ideas

It can be near impossible for many New Zealanders to afford the most meagre of holidays. But there is an answer, and that answer turns out to be: go foraging berries.

Parents

Jan 19, 2020

Emily Writes and Eddie, 7, review Wellington’s best places for swimming

My name is Eddie and I’m seven and my mum said I have to write about my school holidays and I just want to play Minecraft. I love swimming so these are the best places for swimming by me Eddie.

Television

Jan 15, 2020

Emily Writes: Introducing the boys of The Bachelorette NZ!

Emily Writes got to meet the contestants in the new Bachelorette NZ show, and boy were their teeth shiny.

Society

Jan 10, 2020

Live-blogging the royal scandal

The Spinoff's royal correspondents report live from the thick of the Megxit fallout.

Television

Jan 8, 2020

Emily Writes: Help, I can’t stop watching bonkers new Jason Momoa show See

The new Apple TV+ fantasy series is utterly nonsensical and suffers from a severe lack of sexiness. Still, Emily Writes can't quit it.

Parents

Jan 8, 2020

Emily Writes: How to help kids who are upset about the Australian bush fires

The scale of the horror in Australia right now can be hard for kids to process. Emily Writes explains what she's been doing with her own sons to help them feel a little less afraid.

Society

Jan 2, 2020

An honest living

A column by a 'millennial' pondered why anyone would work in fencing, but it applies to much of manual labour. With her husband's permission, Emily Writes shares his story of what an honest living really is.

Society

Jan 2, 2020

What to do with all your shit that you Marie Kondo’ed

Your house might be tidy but now you're surrounded by garbage bags full of all of your KonMarie'd shit. What do you do? Emily Writes looks for answers.

Science

Dec 17, 2019

Meet Ada the wonder dog

Ada is a dog with a very unusual, life-saving skill: warning her diabetic owner that her blood glucose levels are getting dangerously low or high.

Society

Dec 15, 2019

What to do if you’re sad at Christmas

Emily Writes spoke to two experts about how to deal with Christmas sadness in the face of all that relentless holiday cheer.

Media

Dec 4, 2019

Emily Writes on Frozen 2: Thank God there’s a new one

Emily Writes reviews Frozen 2, the new movie that your kids will be watching until the end of time.

Science

Dec 4, 2019

My son’s diabetes monitor isn’t a biohacking gimmick – it’s a lifesaver

Why did a US writer's story about wearing a diabetes monitor despite not being diabetic raise Emily Writes' hackles? The same device could mean life or death for her son, and it costs her thousands of dollars a year.

Books

Dec 1, 2019

Review: Emily Writes laughs and weeps her way through How To Be A Family

Dan Kois's family memoir is a true delight, and reading him write about NZ is a real trip, says Emily Writes.

Parents

Nov 25, 2019

The Spinoff Reviews New Zealand #103: The kids’ playground at Parliament

Emily Writes and her son pay a visit to the brand new 'playground' on the Parliament lawn.

Television

Nov 21, 2019

Emily Writes: RIP Fanimals, New Zealand’s best kids TV show in years

A few days ago, Fanimals announced it would not be returning for another season. Emily Writes, and her kids, are heartbroken.

Parents

Nov 18, 2019

Emily Writes: All the weird 2019 toys your kids will want for Christmas

It's the most beautiful time of the year! Emily Writes investigates the top 10 toys your ungrateful kids will want this Christmas.

ATMS

Nov 13, 2019

A guide to buying your first sex toy

Emily Writes provides an essential guide through the vast world of sex toys and finds something for everyone.

Television

Nov 7, 2019

Ninja Warrior is what all sport should be

Emily Writes gushes about the show she never thought she'd enjoy so much: the endurance-testing, gravity-defying Australian Ninja Warrior.

Society

Nov 6, 2019

To the person who let off fireworks from 3.30am till 5.20am last night

I will find you. I will make you pay.

Hello Fresh

Oct 30, 2019

What I wish I’d known as a new parent

Emily Writes looks back at the early days of her children’s lives – and wishes she knew that no parent knows what they’re doing.

Parents

Oct 24, 2019

Emily Writes: Enough with treating mothers as punchlines and punching bags

Parents editor Emily Writes on everything wrong with Australian cartoonist Michael Leunig's latest work on motherhood.

Society

Oct 23, 2019

Columnists unite to help save women who are doing it tougher than Meghan Markle

In response to Meghan Markle's admission that she's finding it a struggle to be a new mother in the media spotlight, columnists have banded together in support of all those women who 'have it worse'.

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