Alex Casey

Senior writer

Alex Casey is a senior writer at The Spinoff with over a decade of experience writing about popular culture and social issues in Aotearoa. She lives in Ōtautahi and likes watching reality TV and walking the dog, occasionally at the same time.

Image: Tina Tiller

Are Vogel’s sandwich slices getting thicker? A Spinoff investigation

One woman’s journey to the heart of a shrinkflation conspiracy.

By Alex Casey | 12th September, 2026

The stuffed cookie invasion of Christchurch. (Photo: Getty, additional design by Tina Tiller)

Why is Christchurch being invaded by enormous stuffed cookies?

'You can't splash out on your $100 bottle of perfume, but you can splash out on a $7 cookie.'

By Alex Casey | 10th September, 2026

Ann Stanaway in her kitchen in Paeroa. (Photo: Supplied. Image design: Tina Tiller/The Spinoff)

Meet the 86-year-old who has just started baking sweet treats for those in need

'It's a very small thing, but it's just a little way of helping someone else.'

By Alex Casey | 6th September, 2026

The whole country right now. (Photos: One NZ/Wikipedia, additional design by Tina Tiller)

The many confusions and controversies of One NZ’s never-ending ad campaign

David Lomas would have found Jade’s dad in a matter of days.

By Alex Casey | 2nd September, 2026

An artist’s impression of the gulls at Pak’nSave Moorhouse. (Composite image: Tina Tiller/The Spinoff)

‘It’s mesmeric’: The Christchurch supermarket thousands of seagulls call home

Come for the cheap groceries, stay for the free nighttime seagull show.

By Alex Casey | 30th August, 2026

Dame Lynda Topp on Guy Mont Spelling Bee. (Photos: ThreeNow, additional design by Tina Tiller)

Plea: Put Dame Lynda Topp on every television show right now

Nobody puts a Dame in the Dunce's Corner.

By Alex Casey | 27th August, 2026

The start of a beautiful journey. Main photo: Double Image Brewery, additional design elements from Canva, Oscar the Grouch from Getty Images.

The R18 online quirk that feels like a relic of the old internet

Under 18 and trying to access a booze site? Oh, the places you’ll go.

By Alex Casey | 23rd August, 2026

Composite image: Tina Tiller/The Spinoff

New Zealand’s most frenzied supermarket promotions, ranked and reviewed

Never bring a Smeg knife to an Ooshie fight, and more lessons from over a decade of madness.

By Alex Casey | 21st August, 2026

2026 has been a bold year for debuts. (Photos: Supplied, additional design by Tina Tiller)

Why 2026 is the most exciting year for debut New Zealand films in ages

A steady stream of bold debut local features have provided a much-needed beacon of hope in 2026.

By Alex Casey | 17th August, 2026

Yvette Parsons, Hannah Lynch and Jonny Brugh in Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant. (Photo: Supplied)

Review: Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant is a slimy and smart local body horror

Under its gooey surface, this is a skewering of a system still hellbent on controlling women’s bodies.

By Alex Casey | 11th August, 2026