Books
Aug 6, 2018
The Monday Excerpt: Tupaia, Banks, and an unnamed Māori trading a crayfish in 1769
The story of Tupaia's famous illustration of an unnamed Māori trading a crayfish with Joseph Banks is told in a beautifully produced book on Cook's three voyages to New Zealand.
Science
Jul 22, 2018
I got a hoax academic paper about how politicians wipe their bums published
Would a journal publish a pseudo-study about arse-wiping? A psychology lecturer decided to find out
Books
Jul 1, 2018
The Monday extract: the rehabilitation of a Māori mentally abnormal offender
Forensic psychiatrist Rees Tapsell tells the story of "Tama", who killed his aunt in a psychotic episode, and was referred to a kaupapa Māori rehabilitation unit.
Books
Jun 18, 2018
The Monday Extract: The secret diary of Charles Brasch
He viewed Greymouth as "sub-human", rather wished James K Baxter would STFU, and regarded the poetry of "plump and round" Bill Manhire as "promising". A new book shares the 1968 diary of Landfall founder Charles Brasch.
Books
Jun 15, 2018
The Friday Poem: ‘Jogging’ by Maggie Rainey-Smith
New verse by Eastbourne writer Maggie Rainey-Smith.
Society
May 30, 2018
We’ve had evidence of hoki dumping for years. Why did no-one act?
For decades, New Zealand consumers have bought hoki on the assumption that it is a sustainable and properly managed fishery. But that's far from the truth.
Society
Apr 25, 2018
How Gallipoli has become part of a key political struggle in Turkey
While Anzac visitor numbers may be dropping, Erdoğan's pious generation' are increasingly heading to a site that has grown in significance since the recent failed coup
Books
Apr 23, 2018
The Monday Extract: The rise and fall of Bull Allen
Veteran Herald sports reporter Wynne Grey has written a new book about what happens to rugby players when they hang up their boots. In this excerpt, Mark "Bull" Allen – the All Blacks prop who led the Hurricanes in the Super 12 in 1996, and played 110 games for Taranaki – tells his story.
Business
Apr 19, 2018
Denise L’Estrange-Corbet slams Trelise Cooper for unethical clothing
If Trelise Cooper is "deeply committed to strong ethical standards" she appears to have a funny way of showing it, says fellow fashion designer Denise L'Estrange-Corbet.
Parents
Apr 19, 2018
How to make a submission to the Law Commission about abortion law reform
Many Spinoff Parents readers have asked how to make a submission on abortion law reform in New Zealand. We asked national president of ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa Terry Bellamak to write a guide for us.
Society
Apr 17, 2018
We’re calling on fellow Uber drivers and users to log out for a day. Here’s why.
The NZ Rideshare Drivers Network is asking Uber drivers and passengers to join a day of action over pay and conditions
Science
Apr 12, 2018
‘To become carbon-neutral by 2050, we need a lot more action’ – the experts’ view
The latest inventory of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions shows a 20% increase in emissions from 1990 to 2016. The Science Media Centre has collected commentary from the experts
Society
Apr 11, 2018
What does heavy weather do to the transport system?
With heavy rain and wind pounding away at New Zealand, what does it mean for the buses, trains and roads? It's a little more complicated than you might think.
Politics
Mar 21, 2018
Why the Cambridge Analytica scandal matters
Facebook's shares have taken a nosedive after something to do with data used by Cambridge Analytica. Confused? Here's what it means, and what could come next.
Books
Mar 19, 2018
The Monday Extract: The incredible story of the desecration of a Whakatane meeting house
In 1879, the Whakatane meeting house Mataatua was taken apart and put on a ship bound for Australia, then England: 'And so began the wanderings of New Zealand’s most-travelled wharenui...'
Books
Feb 28, 2018
Exclusive: The return of Craig Marriner, the lost genius of New Zealand writing
Craig Marriner was a nobody who won the 2002 book of the year award with his first novel Stonedogs, a raw, rough, street-wise tale of bogan life. His second novel sank without trace - and so did Marriner, who disappeared. He returns after a long absence with an evocation of life and literature in his home town, Rotorua.
Television
Jan 31, 2018
An open letter from Screaming Reels to our confused Australian neighbours
The Spinoff asked Screaming Reels co-host Leigh Hart to apologise to Australian viewers for the confusion over whether or not his show is a parody. Instead, his "producers" came back with this.
Society
Jan 29, 2018
Why teacher aides are crucial to classrooms: a principal and an aide write
Many schools are having to cut teacher aide hours due to a budget squeezes: two views from the classroom on why it matters.
Books
Oct 2, 2017
The Monday Excerpt: The coming of the sparrow
From a new anthology of bird writing in New Zealand, the great naturalist Herbert Guthrie-Smith describes the introduction of a bird known by all: the sparrow. This excerpt is from his classic 1921 book Tutira.
Politics
Sep 20, 2017
TOP and Sean Plunket on the Mike Joy endorsement saga
A statement from The Opportunities Party, supplied by its communications director Sean Plunket, responding to Mike Joy's assertion that he did not endorse TOP. Mike Joy has since accepted this version …
Auckland
Aug 4, 2017
The Maungakiekie movie: sometimes it takes a chainsaw to start a conversation
Ready for the last weekend of the Film Festival in Auckland? Chris Davis introduces his movie about Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill) and chooses another film he also wants to see. Part seven of our filmmaker’s choice series.
Auckland
Jul 27, 2017
Top of the Lake and high in the mountains: NZFF filmmakers pick their highlights
Philippa Campbell introduces the second series of Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake and Hugh Macdonald gets outdoors in a different way. Part six of our Film Festival filmmaker’s choice series. Producer Philippa …
Auckland
Jul 26, 2017
Bigger than Ben Hur! Introducing Kim Dotcom, the movie
Director Annie Goldson introduces her Dotcom documentary and the one she calls its antithesis; and Julian Boshier talks about working with Wellington band Head Like a Hole for 15 years. Welcome to part five of our Film Festival filmmaker's choice series.
Auckland
Jul 25, 2017
From sublime to satirical: filmmaker picks in the film festival, part 4
With the Film Festival upon us we asked filmmakers to choose a favourite movie from the lineup and also tell us about their own films in the festival. Here's the fourth instalment of the series, by Catherine Bisley and Shirley Horrocks.
Auckland
Jul 22, 2017
The Film Festival this weekend: four filmmakers choose their highlights
We asked filmmakers to choose a favourite from the Film Festival lineup and also tell us about their own films. This third instalment of the series features Gaylene Preston, Renae Maihi, Paul Oremland and Jackie van Beek.
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