Society

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An essential guide to all the holes you can drive through in this country.

All 29 road tunnels in New Zealand ranked from worst to best

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When he died, my friend Doug got no media obituary. Hardly anyone outside his tiny rural community knew him. But everyone inside that community did.

A life story

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How a little jar of seawater ends up as a red cross that ruins your day-at-the-beach plans – but keeps you safe from swimming in sewage.

A trip to the beach with the poo detectives

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Has the country changed all that much in three decades? Loveni Enari compares his two New Zealands.

Returning to a different New Zealand after 32 years away

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The NZ Media Council upheld the complaint under principle four: comment and fact.

NZ Media Council upholds complaint against The Spinoff article on Palestine exhibition 

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How is it so important that it's mentioned in every safety video?

Why can’t I pick up my own dropped phone on a plane?

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Christmas is often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here's how to make it easier on yourself. 

Survive to 25 (December, that is)

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'It’s just so lovely to see a dog again.'

The rescue dog bringing joy to Christchurch retirement homes

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I grew up in a family where Christmas was all about tradition and hospitality. My husband's family takes a different approach. How do I get over my resentment and have a nice day? 

Help Me Hera: I hate spending Christmas with my in-laws

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The Spinoff takes a walk down memory lane – while also providing the best summer reading list possible.

The Spinoff’s biggest stories of 2024

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Every day between now and Christmas, spend at least 10 minutes in front of a mirror, holding out a hand and saying: 'no'.

How to not hug people you don’t want to hug this holiday season

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'I love fashion but can’t afford the stuff I really like, so I scour Trade Me.'

The cost of being: A public servant and mum who’s saving for a house deposit

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

Windbag: Tear down the City to Sea Bridge

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Humanities and social science research topics being tweaked rhetorically to seem airy-fairy, impractical and/or ‘woke’ is nothing new.

What can we learn from Australia’s version of the Marsden Fund furore?

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Winding through the dense native bush of an Aro Valley gully, Holloway is haunted with histories both recent and ancient.

What is it about Holloway Road? The ghosts of Wellington’s most atmospheric street

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The struggle to find a decent pair of togs is real.

I see hundreds of ads for togs so why is it so hard to find a decent pair?

Shanti Mathias

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Gifts can be a source of joy this Christmas even if you hate capitalism.

A gift guide for people who really don’t want to buy shit

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'Squirrel the small stuff, splash on something big.'

The cost of being: A 30-something dad with a mortgage and a bike

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The selfishness of this city's drivers never fails to ruin my day. How do I get from A to B without wishing retribution on my fellow motorists?

Help Me Hera: How do I navigate Auckland traffic without going insane?

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

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

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I watched all 46 of Tom Cruise's films over the past 12 months. The question on everyone's lips: why?

‘The mission is clearly possible’: On watching every single Tom Cruise movie ever made

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After two decades of promised redevelopment, Johnsonville Shopping Centre remains neglected and half empty. 

Who killed the Johnsonville mall?

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A dark and stormy night of mushrooms and murder, sorbet and suspicion, and more fedoras than you've ever seen in your life. 

I survived five hours on Christchurch’s first murder mystery train ride

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Speed puzzling is like a marathon for the mind – intense, demanding, surprisingly exhausting. But does turning it into a sport destroy it as a relaxing pastime?

The need for speed: What I learnt competing in an online jigsaw puzzle competition

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Presenting our full top 100 countdown for your reading pleasure.

The complete top 100 NZ TV shows of the 21st Century

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Told in one crucial moment from every year, by The Spinoff’s founder Duncan Greive.

The epic inside story of The Spinoff’s first 10 years

Head back to school with books so cool and test your knowledge of education in New Zealand.

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The Spinoff

SocietyFebruary 3, 2017

The Figure-Friday quiz: the under and overachievers in NZ schools

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SocietyFebruary 3, 2017

The Figure-Friday quiz: the under and overachievers in NZ schools

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