Peter McKenzie

Guest writer

Pete McKenzie is a freelance journalist focused on politics, law, foreign affairs and defence. He studies Law and Mandarin at Victoria University of Wellington.

Opponents of former US president Donald Trump protest outside the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in New York City on April 4, 2023. (Photo: Leonardo Munoz/AFP/Getty Images)

The day the circus came to New York

Trump's supporters heeded his call. New Yorkers didn't.

By Peter McKenzie | 6th April, 2023

A detail from Kaleb Johnston’s Super Flower Blood Moon photo, currently available to buy as an NFT at foundation.app/@Kaleb

To the moon: The night sky photographer making real money from the NFT craze

Kaleb Johnston only listed his first NFT six months ago and has already earned $20,000 from the blockchain-based platform.

By Peter McKenzie | 19th July, 2021

Getty Images

Our juries are as broken as we are

Peter McKenzie examines New Zealand's jury system through an astounding piece of research out of Victoria University of Wellington. His conclusion? The cracks run deep.

By Peter McKenzie | 8th June, 2021

The Roxy Cinema in Miramar, Wellington (supplied)

We’ll miss our cinemas when they’re gone

Across the country, movie theatres are fighting to survive in the absence of Hollywood blockbuster fare.

By Peter McKenzie | 22nd May, 2021

The popularity of Jacinda Ardern has made less prominent many of the tensions on the progressive left. Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty

The progressive fault lines facing New Zealand in 2021 and beyond

Despite a popular and unifying leader of the governing party, divisions both in policy and culture will test the progressive movement.

By Peter McKenzie | 18th January, 2021

(Image: Getty Images)

Revealed: Suicide attempts and serious self-harm surging in NZ’s prisons

Last year saw the highest incidence of life-threatening self-harm in prison since 2007.

By Peter McKenzie | 21st December, 2020

The author’s grandma, Dame Kate Harcourt (Photo: Getty Images)

Drug law reform’s best hope? My grandma

Assuming the trend of the last decade continues, many thousands more New Zealanders will try cannabis in the coming years.

By Peter McKenzie | 7th December, 2020

(Image: The Spinoff)

Welcome to Mouldy-wood, Aotearoa

New analysis confirms what residents have long suspected: Wellington is substantially mouldier and damper than other NZ cities.

By Peter McKenzie | 7th October, 2020

Students march through the streets of Wellington during the climate strike. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

How do you strike for the climate when everyone’s stuck at home?

With the coronavirus putting a halt to in-person gatherings, climate activists need to get creative to keep up the momentum from last year's hugely successful strikes.

By Peter McKenzie | 11th May, 2020

There can be huge stigmas surrounding drug use (Photo: Getty Images)

Alert level 420: Weed dealers on how they’re operating in lockdown

Surging demand, sky-high prices and hand sanitiser galore.

By Peter McKenzie | 27th April, 2020