All of the night’s majestic winners!

All of the night’s majestic winners!

BooksAugust 19, 2026

Live updates from the 2026 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Books editor

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All of the night’s majestic winners!

All of the night’s majestic winners!

Books editor Claire Mabey reports from the ceremony at Pipitea Marae, Wellington.

Welcome to the annual celebration of Aotearoa children’s books. Watch along on the livestream below, and read the live blog below that, from 6.30pm.

Dating Files: A ‘mostly straight’ 25-year-old looking for a ‘minimum 6’1” educated guy’

Dating Files: A ‘mostly straight’ 25-year-old looking for a ‘minimum 6’1” educated guy’

Mostly I'm finding: bums.

By Dating Files | 9th September, 2026

A visual depiction of the council’s response to government. (Image: The Spinoff)

Auckland Council fast-tracks a big fat middle finger to the government

If they can’t stop developments in far-flung areas, it looks like councillors are just going to refuse to service them.

By Hayden Donnell | 9th September, 2026

Jai Arrow on the field for his 100th and final match, and Betcha promotions (Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images. Composite image: Tina Tiller/The Spinoff)

When a gambling ad played instead of Jai Arrow’s walkout, it felt personal

My grandfather died of the disease the league player has. But that’s not the only reason I winced when Sky cut away from his big moment.

By Lachlan Woods-Davidson | 9th September, 2026

Anthony Byrt is the author of Dying Days, a thriller about missing soldiers in the second World War. (Image: Tina Tiller)

‘I fell for Tom Ripley’: Anthony Byrt’s life in books

'Europe was full of guys like that when I was travelling, probably still is.'

By The Spinoff Review of Books | 9th September, 2026

Louise Upston, Christopher Luxon, Nicola Willis and Chris Bishop on September 8, 2026 at the Sudima Hotel, Auckland. (Photo: Veronica Schmidt/The Spinoff, design: The Spinoff)

National’s tourism pitch: International Visitor Levy redistribution in, bed tax out

National has announced a new policy to share revenue from the International Visitor Levy with councils, as an alternative to the bed tax it previously promised to explore.

By Henry Oliver | 9th September, 2026

Bulletin editor

Tax! Levy! Duty! Tariff! User Charge! (Image: Tina Tiller/The Spinoff)

What’s the difference between a tax and a levy – and does it even matter?

We asked some experts.

By Emma Gleason | 9th September, 2026

Paul Henry. (Photo: Lyric Waiwiri-Smith)

One Candidate, One Pint: Paul Henry on never giving a shit what anyone thinks

The Act candidate on 'bloody stupid' liquor laws, and whether he'll 'tone down' his trademark honesty in parliament.

By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 8th September, 2026

Politics reporter

Sam Stubbs on At Large. Image: Te Aihe Butler / Getty

Can Labour up the ante after getting outflanked by National on KiwiSaver?

Sam Stubbs says he'd be 'stunned' if there was not a bold response.

By Toby Manhire | 8th September, 2026

Editor-at-large

Wellington’s spring highlights: Big Low Dream at Footnote New Zealand Dance, Cornelia Parker at City Gallery, World of WearableArt, Verb Readers and Writers Festival, Matilda the Musical.

What Wellington’s culture crowd is looking forward to this spring

Highlights from the capital’s cultural calendar, from the people who should know.

By Catherine McGregor | 8th September, 2026

Commercial editor

Books

The cover of Between Dreams lies over top of a photo of ‘The Exodus from Vietnam’, maker unknown, c.1992. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa GH018489. Gift of Dinah and Richard Towle, 2022.

What even is an ‘Asian’? And why are we bundled together?

A new book presents fresh perspectives on what it means to be Asian in Aotearoa.

By Tze Ming Mok | 3rd September, 2026

A black and white photo of the author Frances Pavlevich who is a young woman with two long plaits. Behind her is a collage of book covers.

‘A lot of people openly loathe the arts’: Frances Pavletich’s books confessional

'It is really embarrassing.'

By The Spinoff Review of Books | 2nd September, 2026

Noelle McCarthy on facing people after you’ve told your story of alcoholism and horrible sex

Having a memoir out is like people have gotten hold of your diary and the reason they have it is because you gave it to them.

By Noelle McCarthy | 29th August, 2026

'I felt every one of our cuts': Finishing Kelly Ana Morey's 'epic Māori novel'

'I cried as I worked on it, a lot. Sometimes I felt as if Kelly was writing about her own death.'

By Catherine Chidgey | 29th August, 2026

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending August 28

Jon Toogood finds a home among the bestsellers.

By The Spinoff Review of Books | 28th August, 2026