Anna Fifield

Guest writer

Anna Fifield is the former Asia-Pacific editor and Beijing bureau chief of the Washington Post. She is bow the editor of The Spinoff’s World Bulletin newsletter and writes on New Zealand’s place in the world on her Substack, Between Giants.

Anna Fifield was one of hundreds of journalists laid off by the Washington Post earlier this year (Photos: supplied; Getty Images. Design: The Spinoff)

What Bezos did at the Washington Post could well happen here

This past year has seen some worrying developments in New Zealand involving a seemingly politically-driven billionaire seeking media influence and a government that looked like it was attempting to intimidate media figures.

By Anna Fifield | 17th August, 2026

Chinese space institute tried to set up monitoring station in New Zealand

Chinese space institute tried to set up monitoring station in New Zealand

A new report warns of a 'voracious appetite' for NZ information, especially from China.

By Anna Fifield | 13th August, 2026

To Lam, left, and Christopher Luxon. (Photos: Getty. Design: The Spinoff)

Vietnam’s bold new(ish) leader lands in NZ today. Here’s what to know

To Lam, the most powerful Vietnamese leader in decades, arrives in New Zealand today – the latest effort by both sides to diversify partnerships and hedge against an increasingly fractured world order.

By Anna Fifield | 12th August, 2026

A blockade in the Taiwan Strait would hurt NZ much, much more than Hormuz

A blockade in the Taiwan Strait would hurt NZ much, much more than Hormuz

If I were Nicola Willis, I'd be worrying about this.

By Anna Fifield | 7th May, 2026

China unveils new weapons as part of the V-Day parade in Beijing in 2025 (Photo: Getty Images)

A nuclear arms race is brewing in the Pacific

Don't panic, but countries in our region are increasingly considering nuclear weapons.

By Anna Fifield | 1st May, 2026

Critical minerals aren’t pretty, but they’re necessary in modern economic life (Photo: Paul-Alain Hunt on Unsplash)

Critical minerals: everything you never knew you wanted to know

Regardless of who’s in the White House, we need a steady supply of critical minerals and rare earths if we want to drive electric cars, use smartphones and get MRIs.

By Anna Fifield | 24th April, 2026