David Brain

Contributing writer

David Brain is co-founder of NZ based online polling company Stickybeak. From 2003 to 2017, he worked at Edelman, latterly as president and CEO of Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. He is a Spinoff board member.

Image: Tina Tiller

How I went from regular citizen to national liability

On becoming a 'border case'.

By David Brain | 18th July, 2021

Contributing writer

A boom in domestic tourism in Queenstown could cushion the damage of the border closure. Photo: Getty

Exclusive: New poll offers hope for devastated tourism industry

Widespread appetite for domestic tourism, while public support for the alert level two shift is high.

By David Brain | 16th May, 2020

Contributing writer

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference (Photo: Hagen Hopkins – Pool/Getty Images)

Exclusive: New poll shows support for level four extension despite economic pain

The number of people who say we're staying in alert level four too long is smaller than you might expect.

By David Brain | 27th April, 2020

Contributing writer

The director general of health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield speaks to media during a press conference at the Beehive (Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Exclusive: New poll shows rising support for government handling of Covid-19

David Brain compares the latest results to our first opinion poll two weeks ago to see what's changed and what hasn't.

By David Brain | 12th April, 2020

Contributing writer

How is the govt handling Covid-19? The first opinion poll since NZ locked down

How is the govt handling Covid-19? The first opinion poll since NZ locked down

As New Zealand entered national lockdown, The Spinoff commissioned social media polling company Stickybeak to measure the mood of the nation.

By David Brain | 28th March, 2020

Contributing writer

Swiss armed security stand guard on the rooftop of a hotel near the Congress Centre on the opening day of the World Economic Forum in 2018. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

In defence of Davos: if it didn’t exist, someone would have to invent it

The case for the meeting that everyone loves to hate, by someone who used to go.

By David Brain | 22nd January, 2020

Contributing writer

The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, during a visit in Perth, Australia, last month. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

Prince Andrew’s cock-up is colossal. All his family really do is image and spin

It was meant to ‘draw a line under the whole episode’. So how did it turn into an unmitigated PR disaster, asks a former Edelman executive.

By David Brain | 19th November, 2019

Contributing writer