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

Business

Sep 19, 2019

The rise of the ethical sex toy industry

Vegan lube? Faux feather strokers? Condoms made by employees paid the living wage? Emily Writes delves into the world of having ethical sex.

Television

Jun 3, 2019

Emily Writes: The 11 hottest cartoon characters, according to me

Cartoon characters can be almost anything – people, animals, figments of your imagination. And they can also be hot as hell.

Parents

May 28, 2019

Emily Writes: How childbirth works, according to a man

It's 'important for mothers and midwives to plan well ahead of their delivery', according to the head of the Southern DHB. Intrigued, Emily Writes decided to find out more.

Food

May 21, 2019

Emily Writes: Say no to KFC’s PR bullshit and stand with the striking workers

While KFC staff are desperately trying to draw attention to their terrible working conditions, people are losing their shit over a chicken burger.

Society

May 17, 2019

Five things parents can do to support the teachers

The biggest education strike in New Zealand history, including primary and secondary school teachers, and principals, will take place on May 29. But what can parents do to help?

Parents

May 13, 2019

Incompetent dads aren’t funny. They’re just shitty partners

If you're a man who isn't sure that you're a good partner to the mother of your children, then you're probably not.

Society

May 7, 2019

Plunket’s founder was an awful person obsessed with eugenics

Emily Writes speaks to researcher Leimomi Oakes about Plunket's dark past and the despicable views of its founder Sir Frederic Truby King.

Society

May 2, 2019

A leaked transcript from the Farmers Mother’s Day catalogue planning meeting

Emily Writes has been leaked the minutes to a Mother's Day gift guide focus group for Farmers department store.

Parents

Apr 30, 2019

Emily Writes: Another Royal Baby has arrived*

Emily Writes heads over to Harry and Meghan's whare to discuss the impending (or maybe it's happening right now) birth of the next royal child.

Politics

Apr 18, 2019

The rich get richer, the poor get poorer: The CGT failure is a story of modern NZ

Emily Writes was disappointed by yesterday's capital gains tax news – but after years of government inaction on housing inequality, she wasn't surprised.

Television

Apr 10, 2019

Help, emergency, I’m addicted to 9-1-1

Ryan Murphy? A procedural show? Connie Britton's hair? Emily Writes is hooked on 9-1-1, now showing on Lightbox.

Parents

Apr 9, 2019

Stop taking your kindergarten for granted and get them some bloody funding

Longer hours have some parents up in arms, but Emily Writes argues that kindergartens are only doing what they have to in order to survive.

Society

Apr 2, 2019

Too rude: the Wellington Zoo capybaras are going at it like rabbits

Forget Married at First Sight, the craziest hookups are happening at Wellington Zoo. Capybara reporter Emily Writes reveals all.

Television

Apr 1, 2019

Television doesn’t need to make someone else’s agony our entertainment

The three-part mini-series Three Girls tells the story of the horrendous Rochdale child rape ring in the UK. It's a harrowing watch, says Emily Writes, but it's important we don't look away – on screen and in real life.

Parents

Mar 25, 2019

How to keep your kids safe online in the wake of the Christchurch attack

Following the Christchurch terror attacks parents around the world have been concerned about what their children might see online and how they might cope with the immense tragedy of the events.

Society

Mar 18, 2019

Visions of hope: Wellington rallies together

Wellingtonians gathered at the Basin Reserve last night to mourn the loss of 50 lives, grieve together, and stand against terrorism, Islamophobia and white supremacy, reports Emily Writes.

Society

Mar 14, 2019

The kids of NZ are absolutely owning adults and it’s bloody magnificent

This week, and pretty much all the time, young people are putting to shame the aged moaners among us, says Emily Writes

Parents

Mar 9, 2019

Emily Writes: Surviving without YouTube Kids

YouTube has been in the news a lot in the last few weeks and parents around the world are considering whether they should allow their kids to watch. Emily Writes decided it was time to give it up.

Television

Mar 5, 2019

RIP Luke Perry, the TV bad boy we all wanted to save

The actor Luke Perry, whose performance as Dylan McKay in the TV show Beverly Hills 90210 was an early '90s cultural phenomenon, has died aged 52. Emily Writes pays tribute.

Media

Mar 1, 2019

A tribute to the now redundant workers of Reading Cinema, Wellington

Staff at the Reading Cinema complex in central Wellington have been made redundant. Emily Writes hopes they'll be looked after, because they're all amazing.

Society

Feb 26, 2019

World exclusive: an interview with the Gigantic Hand

There's something about that Wellington-bound sculpture, but Emily Writes can't quite put her finger on it.

Food

Feb 19, 2019

These are the 10 best sandwich fillings

Emily Writes is hungry so she wrote about sandwiches, the most perfect food in the universe.

Society

Feb 18, 2019

Some of the thousands of people you should interview before Jordan Peterson

With screeds of media coverage of self-help strange tie fan Jordan Peterson, Emily Writes ponders if there possibly might be anyone more interesting to get on your podcast.

Society

Feb 16, 2019

How to decorate your home to make men horny for you

A reporter for the Daily Mail interviewed some "interiors therapists" who warned her that her home was repelling men. Here's a handy solution from Emily Writes.

Parents

Feb 15, 2019

Therapy for parents who are struggling to cope with the news that Blippi shat on someone

Emily Writes unpacks the biggest news story of the year for the toddler set.

Society

Feb 15, 2019

Wish you weren’t here: Anti-natalism is just immensely sad

The anti-natalism isn't funny, says Emily Writes. It's just very sad.

Television

Feb 12, 2019

Five shows to watch with your kids that won’t make you lose your will to live

Emily Writes picks some kids shows you can watch without wanting to poke your eyes out with a blunt stick.

The Spinoff is made possible by the generous support of the following organisations.
Please help us by supporting them.