Henry Oliver

Guest writer

Henry Oliver is a freelance writer and editor. He was previously The Spinoff's music editor, the editor of Metro, a bar owner, intellectual property lawyer, and bass player.

Metro editor Henry Oliver with the Metro archives (Photo: Edith Amituanai/ Metro magazine/supplied)

One year after the NZ magazine apocalypse

Metro editor Henry Oliver recalls the fateful Zoom call which ended Bauer New Zealand – and what came next.

By Henry Oliver | 31st March, 2021

The memeing of life: An interview with digital campaign whizzes Sean Topham and Ben Guerin

The memeing of life: An interview with digital campaign whizzes Sean Topham and Ben Guerin

They've received acclaim and opprobrium for digital media campaigns for everyone from NZ's National Party to Boris Johnson's Brexiteering Tories. So what's next?

By Henry Oliver | 4th September, 2020

Henry Oliver (right) performs with Die! Die! Die! at Auckland’s Kings Arms in 2006 (Photo: Petra Jane)

What the Pace scheme did for me

I owe my career to 'the artist's benefit'.

By Henry Oliver | 29th May, 2020

Wake up! WAKE UP! The longlist, the longlist, the longlist is here! Image by Hagen Hopkins/Getty.

Bird land: an intimate recital by our native performers

Henry Oliver spends the night at an island bird sanctuary to experience the dawn chorus.

By Henry Oliver | 28th January, 2019

Music sounds better because I got high: Now that’s what I call one hit wonders

Music sounds better because I got high: Now that’s what I call one hit wonders

Henry Oliver reminds himself of eight songs from the Now That’s What I Call Music collection that hit once and never again.

By Henry Oliver | 16th January, 2019

BROODS: CALEB AND GEORGIA NOTT (PHOTO: SUPPLIED)

They were dropped by their label (twice!) but Broods have never been happier

Broods on being dropped, getting back up again, and their new album Don't Feed the Pop Monster.

By Henry Oliver | 9th January, 2019

The definitive, very best New Zealand music of 2018

The definitive, very best New Zealand music of 2018

For the first and last time, Henry Oliver gives his definitive account of The Spinoff's best New Zealand music of 2018. Read it and get angry.

By Henry Oliver | 21st December, 2018

Best Music 2018: The third annual Spinoff Music Survey!

Best Music 2018: The third annual Spinoff Music Survey!

We asked you, our loyal readers, what your favourite albums and songs of the year were, both from here and from elsewhere. This is what you told us.

By Henry Oliver | 20th December, 2018

Project Runway Power Rankings, week 12: And the winner is…

Project Runway Power Rankings, week 12: And the winner is…

In the final episode of Project Runway New Zealand, the designers had to make a whole damn collection. Henry Oliver ranks the results.

By Henry Oliver | 17th December, 2018

The Spinoff Hot Take Advent Calendar: December 17

The Spinoff Hot Take Advent Calendar: December 17

Every day in the lead-up to Christmas, open the door to reveal a Spinoff writer’s short, sizzling commentary on a weighty subject. Today: Henry Oliver on why there should be a one year break in new albums, TV shows, movies, and books.

By Henry Oliver | 17th December, 2018