The Spinoff Live: Join us in Auckland and Wellington

The Spinoff Live: Join us in Auckland and Wellington

Our popular columns, podcasts, pop culture takes and politics are hitting the road. The Spinoff Live is a 10-event series across Auckland and Wellington, featuring live chats between our writers and special guests.

Throughout the series, Madeleine Chapman, Duncan Greive, Anna Rawhiti-Connell, Toby Manhire, Alex Casey, Hera Lindsay Bird and more will take to the stage to have the crack-up and consequential conversations that people expect from Aotearoa’s most innovative independent media organisation.

Upcoming events – Auckland

The Year in Review

7pm, Wednesday 11 December
Q Theatre


Senior writer at The Spinoff Anna Rawhiti-Connell will take a running jump backwards into the year’s biggest headlines, political dramas and Spinoff yarns. Anna will be joined onstage by special guests, rose-tinted glasses and Christmas cheer.

This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.


Gone By Lunchtime

March 2025


Join NZ’s favourite political podcast live in Auckland. Host Toby Manhire will be joined by Annabelle Lee-Mather (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Māmoe) (executive producer of The Hui) and Ben Thomas (former press secretary in the Key government) as they boldly step out of the studio and in front of an audience to cast a curious and caustic eye on New Zealand politics.

This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Gone By Lunchtime.

Upcoming events – Wellington

The Year in Review

7pm, Wednesday November 13
Hannah Playhouse


Senior writer at The Spinoff Anna Rawhiti-Connell will take a running jump backwards into the year’s biggest headlines, political dramas and some of the best Spinoff yarns. Anna will be joined onstage by Wellington editor Joel MacManus, special guests, and early Christmas cheer. If you missed out on a ticket, you can join the waitlist here and we will let you know if any tickets become available.

This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.


The Fold Live

February 2025


Duncan Greive, The Spinoff founder and host of New Zealand’s biggest (maybe only?) media podcast The Fold, pulls together some of our smartest media minds for a very special live episode. Join Duncan and special guests having candid and challenging conversations about the culture and business of media in Aotearoa.

This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast The Fold.

Part of the NZ Fringe Festival


The Spinoff Book Club

March 2025


The best way to enjoy a book is by yourself, the second best way is with a theatre full of people. Books editor Claire Mabey and special guests will chat about some of their favourites from the year past, and their recommendations for the year to come.

This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.

Past events – Wellington

Gone By Lunchtime Live

4pm, Sunday July 14
Hannah Playhouse

NZ’s favourite political podcast makes its Wellington debut. Host Toby Manhire will be joined by Annabelle Lee-Mather (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Māmoe) (executive producer of The Hui) and Ben Thomas (former press secretary in the Key government) to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1984 snap election and our new six-part podcast Juggernaut.

This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Gone By Lunchtime.


Help Me Hera Live

4pm, Sunday September 8
Hannah Playhouse

After a year of writing The Spinoff’s advice column, Hera has a question: has it helped? Did the anonymous writers appreciate her wise counsel? What happened next?

Join Hera Lindsay Bird and The Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman as they follow up on some of the memorable advice given over the past year, checking in with the recipients and revealing their findings.

This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story. If you missed out on a ticket, you can add your name to the waitlist here.

Past events – Auckland

Help Me Hera Live

7.30pm, Thursday August 29
Q Theatre

After a year of writing The Spinoff’s advice column, Hera has a question: has it helped? Did the anonymous writers appreciate her wise counsel? What happened next?

Join Hera Lindsay Bird and The Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman as they follow up on some of the memorable advice given over the past year, checking in with the recipients and revealing their findings.

This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.


Best TV Show Ever

7pm, Thursday October 31
Q Theatre


We’re huge fans of local television here at The Spinoff, and for one night only we want to celebrate some of our all-time faves. Join Alex Casey, Kura Forrester, Rhiannon McCall, Stewart Sowman-Lund and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith at Q Theatre on October 31 as we unearth some beloved TV gems and argue for their place in our history.

This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.