Share Story×Share StoryFacebookTwitterBlueskyRedditEmailLinkedinWhatsappMessengerThe new mayors of Dunedin, Lower Hutt, Wellington, Invercargill and Upper Hutt We’ve now wrapped up our live updates for the 2025 local elections. ICYMI, catch up on all the action below. Load more More Reading
New To Streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more over the holidaysIf you have a stressful holiday period incoming, just know it still can't be worse than The Pitt season two. By Thomas Giblin | 22nd December, 2025Guest writer
The Ōtāhuhu cake institution that’s been creating edible masterpieces for 60 yearsFor Tāmaki Makaurau's most fantastical cakes, head southside.By Charlotte Muru-Lanning | 22nd December, 2025Contributing writer
From Bondi, we must learn Jewish and Palestinian safety and liberation are intertwinedAntisemitic violence is wrong in the way all forms of racist violence are wrong.By Nadia Abu-Shanab and Justine Sachs | 22nd December, 2025Guest writers
What it was like to have Fred Dagg as a dad'We always felt like we shared him.'By Alex Casey | 22nd December, 2025Senior writer
The Spinoff’s biggest stories of 2025Retail embarrassment, great walks, the c-word and more – fill your browser tabs with this year's most popular reads.By The Spinoff | 22nd December, 2025Staff writers
Disappointed authors, dead-end addresses and the .co.nz book publishing website with no NZ staffbookpublishers.co.nz has an 09-phone number and claims it’s one of the top publishers in New Zealand, but its digital trail leads to the UK and Pakistan.By Claire Mabey | 22nd December, 2025Books editor
I was ashamed to grow up in a council house. Now, I feel lost without itLove made Yawynne Yem self-conscious about living in a Wellington council house. But now she wishes she could take her boyfriend to see where she once covered black mould with One Direction posters.By Yawynne Yem | 20th December, 2025Guest writer
AI got my poetry collection disqualified from the book awards – here’s my side of the story 'Personally, I am more interested in the artistic reasoning behind a writer's choice to use generative AI.'By Jiaqiao Liu | 20th December, 2025Guest writer
The Spinoff guide to life: How to return home like a pro this summerHeading back to small-town Aotearoa over Christmas? Not being a dick will get you a long way.By The Spinoff guide to life | 20th December, 2025Contributor
The 2025 Golden Jandals for conspicuous contributions to NZ politicsThe most coveted and glamorous footwear-themed political prizes in the southern hemisphere are back.By Toby ManhireEditor-at-large & Ben McKay | 17th December, 2025Guest writer
Judge finds widespread voter fraud ‘infected’ the Papatoetoe local board electionToday’s decision voids a landslide victory for a team of political newcomers and triggers a byelection.By Hayden Donnell | 16th December, 2025
Economic recovery? I hardly knew ye'With fresh air in its lungs, the economy is picking up,' said Nicola Willis at today's Hyefu update, as the return to surplus slipped even further away.By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 16th December, 2025
The world in 2025, in one sentenceAs 2025 draws to a close, we asked our pantheon of politics watchers to describe the world this year as succinctly as possible. By Group Think | 16th December, 2025
A plea from house-price hell: don’t let the nimbys winA visiting US town planner has a cautionary tale for New Zealand.By Hayden Donnell | 16th December, 2025