Opinion

Labour councillor Rebecca Matthews is a prominent advocate for housing density. Image: Joel MacManus

Windbag: Is Labour trying to freeze out its strongest Yimby?

Wellington City councillor Rebecca Matthews is one of New Zealand’s most effective advocates for housing reform. But it appears the Labour Party doesn't want her any more.

By Joel MacManus | 1st April, 2025

Wellington editor

The CubaDupa festival inhabits the Cuba Street precinct (Photo: Ollie Crawford).

Windbag: Why is it so hard to pedestrianise upper Cuba Street?

Urbanists who want their city to have more people-friendly streets need to face up to the biggest barrier to their goal: everything takes too damn long.

By Joel MacManus | 24th March, 2025

Wellington editor

Christopher Luxon scatters rose petals at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat in New Delhi. Photo by AFP via Getty Images

How Luxon’s bleakest week as PM gave way to his brightest

From coup conjecture at home to a breakthrough abroad.

By Toby Manhire | 19th March, 2025

Editor-at-large

A vision of a bigger Wellington? Image: Joel MacManus

Windbag: To be a world-class city, Wellington needs to be bigger

That shouldn’t be a controversial point. And yet, in Wellington, it is.

By Joel MacManus | 10th March, 2025

Wellington editor

Edmund Hillary and Kate Sheppard gaze out the Reserve Bank building windows. Photographer: Mark Coote/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bernard Hickey: After Orr’s shock exit, these are the stakes for the NZ economy

Could the next Reserve Bank governor unleash a new mortgage war?

By Bernard Hickey | 6th March, 2025

Contributing podcaster

Architect of the Treaty principles bill, David Seymour. (Design: Liam Rātana)

Treaty principles bill: Is $6m a reasonable cost for a national debate?

The bill may be 'dead in the water' but there is potential for some good to come out of the debate.

By Liam Rātana | 30th January, 2025

Yes, prime minister. Christopher Luxon addresses a business audience in Auckland.

Luxon launches year of growth with a war on nojo

In the pursuit of growth it's yes to mining, yes to tourism, yes to an overhaul of the science sector, and no to no.

By Toby Manhire | 24th January, 2025

Editor-at-large

An artist’s impression of the completed Great North Road project (Additional design: The Spinoff)

The Great North Road upgrade is a triumph for AT – whether the mayor likes it or not

It's taken 10 years to even get to the starting line. Now, at long last, Grey Lynn is getting the road it deserves.

By Pippa Coom | 23rd January, 2025

Gif by Tina Tiller

What challenges does 2025 have in store for the local screen industry?

It's looking like another year of uncertainty – here's what needs to change.

By Ahmed Osman | 22nd January, 2025

Did your Christmas presents come at the expense of someone else’s fundamental human rights? Without a modern-day slavery law, there is no way to know. (Image: The Spinoff)

All I want for Christmas is modern day slavery legislation

It would be a more wonderful time of year if I knew there was no exploitation under the Christmas tree.

By Shanti Mathias | 22nd December, 2024

Contributing writer

Wellington City Council has voted to demolish the City to Sea Bridge. Image: Paul McCredie

Windbag: Tear down the City to Sea Bridge

Why demolishing the bridge would create a better public space in the heart of Wellington.

By Joel MacManus | 17th December, 2024

Wellington editor

Pearl Jam at Go Media Stadium, November 2024. Photo: Photosport/Tātaki Auckland Unlimited

How Mt Smart turned into the most electrifying Auckland destination of 2024

A much maligned old friend is reborn as a field of dreams.

By Toby Manhire | 11th December, 2024

Editor-at-large

The three-party Toitū Te Tiriti video.

This week three parties stood together – can they withstand the storm to come?

Can a united front hold through to election time?

By Toby Manhire | 22nd November, 2024

Editor-at-large

Scenes from the Auckland leg of the Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi

‘Whaka round, find out’: When the hīkoi came to Auckland

The overwhelming feeling (other than exhaustion) was that we had protected our tīpuna and mokopuna.

By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 14th November, 2024

Politics reporter

Aaron Smale.

Barring Aaron Smale from the abuse in care apology is a very, very bad joke

The grim irony of prohibiting a journalist who has shown such tenacity in the face of an obstructive state.

By Toby Manhire | 11th November, 2024

Editor-at-large

Chris Hipkins, Winston Peters and Chris Luxon (Photos: Getty; Design: Archi Banal)

The losers, losers and other losers in the one-year-on polling

OK, there were a couple of winners if you looked really hard.

By Toby Manhire | 15th October, 2024

Editor-at-large