Rose Hirst

Guest writer

Rose Hirst is a Christchurch-based mother and freelance writer who writes humorous observations about modern Kiwi life, nostalgia and the strange rules we all live by.

Chelmer St Dairy, Oamaru, in 1989, and the 50c mixture of our dreams (Photos: Getty Images; design The Spinoff)

The sad demise of the dairy lolly

First they came for the Toffee Milk bars…

By Rose Hirst | 6th April, 2026