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Image: Getty (Addition design by Tina Tiller)

‘Just useless’: What it’s like working with Burger King’s AI assistant

'It was brought in to help speed up service, but it has done the complete opposite.'
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By Alex Casey | 21st July, 2026
Senior writer
The naranja raicilla cocktail, Carlos Delgado Rodriguez behind the bar, and the cactus and chicken gringa tacos (Photos: Supplied, Kathryn Chung; design The Spinoff)

New and approved: Xolo, Christchurch

The chefs returned from a research trip to Mexico feeling inspired, and a bunch of exciting new dishes have made it onto the menu.
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By Kathryn Chung | 20th July, 2026
Guest writer
Some of the most joyful celebrations are pulled together with more creativity than cash. (Image: Tina Tiller)

Big feelings, small spend: a guide to birthdays on a budget

Smart ideas for making the people you love feel like a million bucks – without spending anything close.
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By Sophie Neville | 20th July, 2026
Guest writer
The crime we consume and the victims we forget

The crime we consume and the victims we forget

The true crime genre of entertainment is hugely popular and lucrative. Forensic scientist Ruben Miller shares a reminder of the families still living those stories.
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By Ruben Miller | 20th July, 2026
Guest writer
Luke Jacobson is tackled at Eden Park during the All Blacks’ test against Ireland (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

There’s a reason Luke Jacobson is an All Black again

The All Blacks under Dave Rennie are confident and optimistic. Even the yellow-carded Luke Jacobson serves a considered purpose.
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By Paul Thomas | 20th July, 2026
Guest writer
Love, actually, at 52: ‘I often query whether I’d be better off single’

Love, actually, at 52: ‘I often query whether I’d be better off single’

'He is conservative and lacks empathy for people not the same as him (and is disinterested in changing that mindset).'
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By Love actually | 19th July, 2026
Guest writer
The Gilmore Girls (Design: Tina Tiller)

The quiet joy of watching Gilmore Girls with my daughters 

How sitting down together and dropping in on the characters of Stars Hollow became a cherished family ritual.
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By Tara Ward | 19th July, 2026
Staff writer
Where to eat in New Brighton, Christchurch – an insider’s guide

Where to eat in New Brighton, Christchurch – an insider’s guide

'The funny thing about New Brighton is it is kinda shit – but it’s shit in the best kind of way.'
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By Charlotte Muru-Lanning | 18th July, 2026
Contributing writer
How New Zealand could (and why we should) co-host a Fifa Men’s World Cup
Opinion

How New Zealand could (and why we should) co-host a Fifa Men’s World Cup

A bold and beautiful vision for 2038.
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By Michael Burton Smith | 17th July, 2026
Guest writer
Former transport minister Simeon Brown (Photo: Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald via Getty Images; design: The Spinoff)

Councils spent millions replacing new road signs after Simeon Brown’s speed limit edict

The transport minister’s decree came at significant cost to councils, and newly released emails show the extent of the backlash.
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By Joel MacManus | 17th July, 2026
Senior writer
I can almost smell it through the screen. (Design: The Spinoff).

Why boil up is having a moment

How the cheap and humble meal went from broke to bougie.
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By Liam Rātana | 16th July, 2026
Ātea editor
Image: The Spinoff

NZ’s floated social media ban for under‑16s could unite two groups that rarely agree

Normally, libertarians and social justice campaigners occupy different political worlds. Yet on social media bans they have arrived at similar concerns from very different starting points.
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By Alex Beattie | 16th July, 2026
Guest writer
Sweet dreams are made of these (Screengrab)

Did we just witness Shortland Street’s most bonkers episode yet?

Even after 34 years, our longest-running soap is still full of surprises.
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By Tara Ward | 15th July, 2026
Staff writer
Dating Files: A 33-year-old who’s ‘profoundly aware of my biological clock’

Dating Files: A 33-year-old who’s ‘profoundly aware of my biological clock’

'If a man can't confidently pick up dinner on the first date, he is definitely not picking up any emotional labour or future childcare.'
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By Dating Files | 15th July, 2026
Guest writer
Trans Corrections officer settles landmark human rights case against employer

Trans Corrections officer settles landmark human rights case against employer

An unprecedented human rights case between a transgender employee and the Department of Corrections has been settled. In 2024, the man at the centre of the case told Alex Casey what he’s fighting for.
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By Alex Casey | 14th July, 2026
Senior writer
Sam Neill’s wholesome Instagram is a gift – and a reminder to us all

Sam Neill’s wholesome Instagram is a gift – and a reminder to us all

We're all trying to touch grass as the world burns, but Sam Neill actually walked the walk.
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By Alex Casey | 14th July, 2026
Senior writer
Real-life stories of homelessness shared at move-on orders select committee hearings

Real-life stories of homelessness shared at move-on orders select committee hearings

'This is the daily fear, suffering and uncertainty that many people experiencing homelessness face every day: will I still be alive tomorrow?'
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By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 14th July, 2026
Politics reporter
Countless New Zealand musicians have had their songs taken without consent for AI training
Opinion

My music was stolen by AI – how NZ responds will define our creative future

An impassioned plea from a concerned creative.
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By Vera Ellen | 14th July, 2026
Contributing writer
I’m a referee – I want to quit because of the abuse

I’m a referee – I want to quit because of the abuse

Wellington rugby refs refused to take the field over the weekend due to ongoing abuse. But it’s not just a rugby problem.
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By Guest Writer | 13th July, 2026
Guest Post
Will Jordan having a nice time scoring one of his three tries for the All Blacks in their 47-17 defeat of Italy (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Italy’s coach blamed World Rugby scheduling for their All Blacks thrashing. Does he have a point?

Gonzalo Quesada delivered an epic post-match rant in which he blamed the scoreline, as opposed to the result, on anything but himself and his players.
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By Paul Thomas | 13th July, 2026
Guest writer

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The Spinoff is subject to NZ Media Council procedures. A complaint must first be directed in writing, within one month of publication, via our contact page. If not satisfied with the response, the complaint may be referred to the online complaint form at www.presscouncil.org.nz along with a link to the relevant story and all correspondence with the publication.

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