Madeleine Chapman is a staff writer at The Spinoff. Email her on madeleine@thespinoff.co.nz
Before Zumba, before Just Dance, before it was once again cool to move in public group settings, there was Jump Jam.
The red, yellow, and black trikes are everywhere. But where did they come from and how did they get here? Madeleine Chapman investigates.
In 1981, New Zealand runner Anne Audain accepted prize money for winning a race. In doing so, she changed the status of professional sports all around the world.
Madeleine Chapman wrote a book and was asked to speak about it at a writers festival. The problem was, nobody wanted to listen.
On May 1st 2019, Simon Bridges stood up in parliament and yelled the word "slushies" at the government. Madeleine Chapman dives deep into the slush.
Hankies are a gross piece of cloth filled with snot that you carried around all day. They're also great, argues Madeleine Chapman.
Michael Hill jeweller is currently urging the public to buy for "all your Mums" this Mother's Day, including your real mum and your 'work mum'. Madeleine Chapman wonders how many other mums are out there.
The prime minister and the leader of the opposition are supposed to be enemies, but Madeleine Chapman just wants Jacinda Ardern and Simon Bridges to be friends again.
Madeleine Chapman on dropping the perfect (dive bomb) – and why it's worth protecting.
Eater of chocolate and master budgeter Madeleine Chapman lays out the recipe for a killer Easter egg hunt.
Madeleine Chapman interrogates Andrew Falloon as to how he managed to go so viral on Twitter.
The author of the wildly popular Wonky Donkey children's book is facing criticisms over a 2008 song about golliwogs.
One of New Zealand's most successful tennis players has fallen through the cracks of sporting history. Madeleine Chapman tells the story of Ruia Morrison, Wimbledon quarter finalist.
The Crusaders rugby franchise are looking into changing their name. Madeleine Chapman and Toby Morris have some ideas.
In cinemas now, Vai tells the story of one woman's life through eight ten-minute shorts, directed by nine Pacific women.
On Friday March 29, the Spinoff published a ranking of every chip flavour in New Zealand. Everyone promptly lost the plot. Chip ranker Madeleine Chapman wonders where she went wrong.
Madeleine Chapman goes through starchy hell to rank every flavour of chip available in New Zealand.
Eighteen months into her first term as prime minister, Jacinda Ardern faced a formidable task: communicate what happened on March 15, embrace a ruptured community, and force through real reform.
After the terrorist atrocity in Christchurch, supporters including Sikhs are rallying around the Muslim community to ensure bodies can be buried as quickly as possible. Madeleine Chapman reports from Christchurch
A 28 year old man was charged with murder after an unprecedented terror attack in a city still patching itself together. Madeleine Chapman reports from Christchurch
Commentator and former Black Fern Melodie Robinson has become the first New Zealander to be given the Barbie treatment.
In a stunning new play Wild Dogs Under My Skirt, Samoan women are allowed to be whole, writes Madeleine Chapman.
In the middle of a spectacular play about witches and wizards, a song from The O.C. plays. Madeleine Chapman unpacks her emotions around 'Hide and Seek'.
For 18 years a small group of local business owners ran the Avondale Business Association as they pleased. It took 18 months for two brothers to spark a revolution.
School projects weren't complete without a meticulously selected WordArt title. Madeleine Chapman looks back at the fonts that shaped many children's lives.
Every year, thousands of New Zealand immigrants in London celebrate Waitangi Day by dressing up, publicly getting drunk, and doing the haka, and it makes Madeleine Chapman shudder.
