Hayden Donnell is a staff writer for The Spinoff.
The National leader faced criticisms for trying and failing to parrot John Key. Hayden Donnell had a solution
Having nitpicked its way into rejecting two high-density apartment developments near the CBD, does Auckland Council's consents department really believe in the vision of the Unitary Plan?
New Zealanders have woken up to a topsy turvy world this morning, with normally annoying commentators Mark Richardson and Mike Hosking talking a lot of sense, reports Hayden Donnell.
A rogue Auckland Council email footer has sparked a wave of angst and recriminations in Takapuna, providing a glimpse into a broader conspiracy culture in local government.
Facebook streams have been overrun by an army of anti-1080 activists. We go in search of the source of the spam campaign.
The former CEO of the Pike River mine says he doesn’t feel guilty over the explosion that killed 29 of his workers. Here are a few things that should twig his conscience.
Kraft is introducing a new peanut butter to compete with Bega peanut butter, which due to some business stuff is now producing Kraft's original recipe. Hayden Donnell taste-tested it.
Councillors are forever going to public meetings to receive bad advice from angry people who mostly don’t know what they’re talking about. Hayden Donnell asks why.
Sometimes it pays to focus on the dark side of gaming. Hayden Donnell shares the harrowing story of his own crippling addiction to Dark Souls.
Judith Collins called on Jacinda Ardern to condemn France over a story she sourced from yournewswire.com. Turns out it's the tip of the iceberg
Featuring hints of marshmallow, Prince Charles, booze-soaked shoes and being bullied by a large Scottish man named Paul.
Being a tenant in New Zealand is often a difficult and disempowering experience. Hayden Donnell looks into what’s broken in our rental housing market.
The world’s greatest peanut spread underwent some frightening changes recently. Hayden Donnell delves into the animosity and legal wrangling behind the death and rebirth of Kraft Peanut Butter.
Playing onboard the Interislander, one of the most important (and worst) shows in the country.
Just a few times some of the newly formed Free Speech Coalition members have been less than fervent in their defence of free speech.
The National leader has been lambasted over an interview about the Ardern-Clarke baby. But the real problem is he has been possessed.
Auckland’s golf courses are huge tracts of heavily subsidised land lying vacant in the middle of a housing crisis. We need to seize them back
Hayden Donnell runs down the latest media salvos in the ongoing battle between road warriors and public transport champions.
Ever noticed that every summer news story is recycled from previous years? We've even regurgitated this drinking game to improve, or at least anaesthetise, your holiday news reading experience.
Who invented Kiwi Onion Dip, and why isn’t there a gold statue of that person on top of Mt Cook? Hayden Donnell goes on a wildly emotional search for an unheralded New Zealand genius.
The Spinoff's Blighty correspondent Hayden Donnell meets some UK game developers to find out why the US gaming industry might be better off shifting operations to the Motherland.
Spare a thought for the true victims of the housing crisis, beseeches Hayden Donnell
If you’re anything like the Herald’s readers, you’ve spent most of the last week weeping about Labour’s fuel tax. Hayden Donnell provides some good reasons to rein in your grief.
Enough of the objective electoral examinations and commitments to creating a better country in spite of the Government. It’s time for irresponsible anger and finger-pointing, observes Hayden Donnell.
Finally, an election column we can all agree with! Hayden Donnell argues the election sucks now and is driving us all to the brink of madness and beyond.
Three years ago, National was landed in hot water over the music used in a campaign ad. Surely it wouldn’t risk any kind of repeat? Surely. Or would it? Hayden Donnell jumps down the rabbit hole.
Confused by all the online tools analysing which party you align best with? Don’t worry, Hayden Donnell is here to help.
