Emma Gleason

Staff writer

Emma Gleason is a staff writer at The Spinoff and an award-winning fashion journalist. But it’s not just clothes that interest her, you’ll find her exploring tasty cheese, influenza outbreaks and more important things right here. She has experience with some of the country’s leading media outlets as well as the toaster in our kitchen.

Fashion! (Photo: The Spinoff)

20 takeaways from NZ Fashion Week 2026

Including, yes, people still wear sunglasses inside, shorts and ruffles are having a moment, and much more.

By Emma Gleason | 21st August, 2026

Flu cases are on the rise. (Image: Tina Tiller/The Spinoff)

New Zealand’s later-than-usual 2026 influenza spike, explained

Flu season has arrived late this year, and EDs are chocka. Here's what you need to know.

By Emma Gleason | 18th August, 2026

Anjali Stewart (right of far left image), Kiekie Stanners (left of centre image) and Ngahuia Williams (far right) have been involved with New Zealand Fashion Week since the early 2000s. (Photos: Sandra Mu/Getty Images, supplied)

NZ Fashion Week: Industry veterans reminisce about their first runway show

Schoolbags, side fringes and hazy memories.

By Emma Gleason | 15th August, 2026

Season two of Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club sees the pair tasked with parenting for a day.

Babysitting, a ball and a glass door. What could go wrong?

We stand in solidarity with Bryn and Ku’s brief, troubled stint as babysitters.

By Emma Gleason | 21st July, 2026

We tried them all.

All the Greek yoghurts in NZ supermarkets, ranked from worst to best

The Spinoff team and our cultured palates whey in.

By Emma Gleason | 9th July, 2026

We just can’t get enough.

Are football jerseys an unkillable fashion trend?

Forget France, Spain or Morocco. The World Cup's real biggest winners are the jerseys filling the stands and pitches.

By Emma Gleason | 8th July, 2026

Chef Henry Onesemo received the first one star of the night. Many more followed.

The top tidbits and takeaways from New Zealand’s first Michelin ceremony

It’s taken the Michelin Guide 125 years to reach NZ. Was it worth the wait?

By Emma Gleason | 1st July, 2026

Erica Stanford and Christopher Luxon want a ban in place before the election. (Image: Tina Tiller)

The world’s social media bans and NZ’s plans explained

Where our ban plans are at and how they compare.

By Emma Gleason | 1st July, 2026

Raúl Jiménez (Mexico), Kylian Mbappé (France) and Erling Haaland (Norway). All good fits. (Photos: Getty Images)

A fashion critic's guide to the best (and worst) kits at the Fifa World Cup

From 'fabulously ornate' to 'this looks like something excavated from the back of my fridge'.

By Emma Gleason | 26th June, 2026

Hair is a hot topic, but is it a good line of work? (Image: Tina Tiller)

Barbers aren’t about to be replaced by AI. So is this 2026’s cleverest career choice?

Thinking of a career change? Well, hair never stops growing, and robots can’t do fades – yet.

By Emma Gleason | 20th June, 2026