Society

Image: The Spinoff

The Spinoff Essay: All my daughter’s daddies

The highs, lows and silver linings of single-parenting a toddler.

By Alice Neville | 15th March, 2025

composite image of the queen, the cloud 9 roller coaster and people riding bumper boats

A royally good time: The rise and fall of Christchurch’s QEII Fun Park

The Queen may not have loved rollercoasters, but we built her one anyway.

By Danica Bryant | 14th March, 2025

Help Me Hera: How do I relax after an ugly divorce?

I've met someone new, but I'm haunted by the ghost of my last relationship.

By Hera Lindsay Bird | 13th March, 2025

The cost of being: A 25-year-old bar manager who’s in debt to the dentist

'Five words to describe my financial personality? Currently struggling but eternally optimistic.'

By The Cost of Being | 11th March, 2025

Why power prices are rising – and what power companies could do to help

Power bills will increase an average of $10 per household per month from April 1. What do these changes mean for people who are already struggling?

By Shanti Mathias | 10th March, 2025

Photos: Ben Gatting

All 11 of New Zealand’s Great Walks, ranked and reviewed

A definitive ruling from someone who just did them all back-to-back.

By Ben Gatting | 7th March, 2025

Help Me Hera: I regret convincing my partner to move to London

Help Me Hera: I regret convincing my partner to move to London

He's having the time of his life. I'm crippled by homesickness.

By Hera Lindsay Bird | 6th March, 2025

Contributing writer

The Stewart Island singles ball went off (Photo: Supplied)

‘No Gumboots Allowed’: Looking back at the legendary Stewart Island singles ball

How the singles ball on Rakiura became the social event of the year – and the start of more than a few love stories.

By Rachel Judkins | 5th March, 2025

Contributing writer

Newton Festival: stunning and overstimulating, all at once.

Newtown Festival review: Maybe Wellington is a city, after all

Stunning, overstimulating and proof that Pōneke truly is a city: Newtown Festival has it all.

By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 4th March, 2025

Politics reporter

Image: The Spinoff

The cost of being: An IT manager and mum to a toddler, who’s saving for ‘peace of mind’

'I would love to have more money for paying off my mortgage, but other than that, I don't think it would change my life or my behaviour much.'

By The Cost of Being | 4th March, 2025

Cyclists on the Glenmore St cycleway outside the Wellington Botanic Gardens (Image: Joel MacManus)

Windbag: Why reviewing the Glenmore St cycleway isn’t such a bad idea

Councils shouldn't capitulate to every complaint about bike lanes, but progress does require some flexibility.

By Joel MacManus | 4th March, 2025

Wellington editor

Design: The Spinoff

The genetic gamble: Having children when you carry a hereditary condition

The choice to have children can be fraught with medical, financial and ethical hurdles, with the public health system offering limited support.

By Liam Rātana | 3rd March, 2025

When someone purporting to be IRD calls, would you pick up the phone?

IRD is learning the hard way what scams have done to trust

Would you be suspicious if you received an unexpected call from the taxman?

By Shanti Mathias | 3rd March, 2025

Teuila field – pacfic profiles. photo by Geoffery Matautia.

Pacific profiles: Meet Teuila Field, first assistant director on Tinā, East of Eden and Sweet Tooth

'Helping tell a Samoan story was just so soul-filling.'

By Litia Tuiburelevu | 1st March, 2025

WTF (Image: Tina Tiller and Anna Rawhiti-Connell)

‘In the plastic bag he has four dead fish’: Readers share their dating stories

'I’m really glad I took you to the all-you-can-eat buffet. Because you clearly made the most of it.'

By The Spinoff | 27th February, 2025

Help Me Hera: Should I have children?

Help Me Hera: Should I have children?

The more I think about it, the more confused I feel. Is this a sign I'm not ready?

By Hera Lindsay Bird | 27th February, 2025

Contributing writer