Russell Brown

Russell Brown is journalist, music writer and media commentator. He is the owner of the Public Address community of blogs, and writes the blog Hard News.

Microsoft

Jun 18, 2019

Actually Interesting podcast: A.I. is everywhere – we just don't notice it

In the first episode of The Spinoff’s new monthly podcast, Actually Interesting, Russell Brown explores the world of A.I. and the way it’s already affecting our lives.

Politics

May 7, 2019

What you will – and won’t – be voting for in next year’s cannabis referendum

What will the question be? Will there be legislation and can the government elected in 2020 change it? And are cannabis cafes on the horizon?

Chorus

Apr 17, 2019

When high speed internet came to town, Māori business grabbed its opportunity

Russell Brown travels to Rotorua, Whakatane and Gisborne to see what data is doing in the regions.

ActionStation

Apr 12, 2019

This is not the internet you promised us

The livestreamed atrocity in Christchurch has put into sharp focus the pernicious potential of online media, and the ways that misinformation can erode democracy.

Music

Feb 15, 2019

bFM is turning 50 and other radio stations are still shit

This week the Auckland radio station 95bFM celebrates its 50th anniversary. Russell Brown looks back at the station's history, the hurdles it's overcome, and why it thrived.

Politics

Jan 23, 2019

As National’s drug czar, will Paula Bennett show good faith, or scaremonger?

The National Party has underscored the importance of the drug law reform debate by appointing its deputy leader to a new role devoted to the issue

Business

Jan 8, 2019

Summer Reissue: A newbie’s guide to buying your first e-bike

The number of e-bikes sold in New Zealand continued to rocket in 2018. So how do you buy one, and what do you need to know before you invest? Russell Brown has the lowdown.

Auckland

Sep 6, 2018

‘We’re not here to judge your lifestyle, we’re here to make sure you’re housed’

Housing First is designed to get the most vulnerable homeless people into stable accommodation irrespective of mental or physical wellbeing or any history of substance abuse

Politics

Jul 25, 2018

National’s medicinal cannabis bill is far better than Labour’s

The medicinal cannabis bill filed today in the name of National's Whangarei MP Shane Reti is vastly better-conceived than the government bill it seeks to supplant. But it's not perfect.

Business

Jul 9, 2018

The new Hawaiki cable is doing what Sam Morgan and Peter Thiel could not

Next week, a new trans-Pacific fibre-optic cable connecting New Zealand to Australia, the Pacific and onto the United States will light up, changing the way data travels around the Pacific.

Business

Jun 5, 2018

The terrible human cost of the meth testing scandal just keeps escalating

It's an unfurling scandal which saw tenants evicted and millions spent on cleaning homes. Now it appears a tenant was kicked out after seeking help for his addictions, writes Russell Brown.

Business

May 12, 2018

Bike-curious: A novice’s guide to buying your first e-bike

Last year New Zealand imported a massive 20,000 e-bikes and that number is likely to grow exponentially. But what do you need to know before you buy one? Russell Brown has the lowdown.

Business

Apr 4, 2018

Another Way to Pay: How AWOP annexed the summer festival experience

It traces its origins to R&V, and has taken a chunk of the festival payments industry across the Tasman too. Russell Brown discovers the company behind summer fun is getting serious to find new markets.

Business

Mar 12, 2018

The collectivist plan to revive Ruatoria

A social enterprise on the East Coast has been set up to capitalise on a global trend towards natural health products and bring economic recovery, Russell Brown reports.

Business

Jan 26, 2018

What’s happening in the PM’s Auckland suburb is a sign of things to come

As Housing NZ prepares to develop the corner near Russell Brown's house in Point Chevalier, he muses on the redevelopment, gentrification and spiralling growth in real estate values of the Auckland suburb he calls home.

Politics

Aug 21, 2017

Peter Dunne, the flawed reformer

He leaves office largely unloved, but Peter Dunne did more than most New Zealanders realise. Russell Brown goes in to bat for the undercover drug reformer.

Music

Nov 8, 2016

Criticising the critics: what happened when musicians got to answer back to reviewers

Last night's LATE at Auckland Museum panel discussion delved into the relationship between artists, audiences and critics. Russell Brown reports on what went down – including some surprising revelations about how musicians respond to their harshest reviews.

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