Ever wondered if Toby Manhire’s presence matches his podcast voice? Buy a ticket to Gone by Lunchtime (Live) to find out.
The most common insult for journalists is to say that some have faces for radio and others have voices for print. The Spinoff is today announcing a bold rejection of both these ideas by putting our dulcet voices and beautiful faces out into the world for all to experience.
The Spinoff events schedule includes 10 live events in Auckland and Wellington across the next nine months. Some will be live episodes of your favourite podcasts like Gone by Lunchtime and The Fold, where others will be editorial columns come to life like Help Me Hera. These are not stadium events or arena tours, they’re intimate gatherings for our regular readers and listeners who’d like to spend time with both us and each other.
Despite it being 2024, it can often feel like we’re still figuring out how to be together. Let us be your guides, bringing the tone, humour and perspectives you enjoy in writing into the room. To book your tickets, visit our events page here.
Upcoming events – Auckland
Help Me Hera Live
7.30pm, Thursday August 29
Q Theatre
After a year of writing The Spinoff’s advice column, Hera has a question: has it helped? Did the anonymous writers appreciate her wise counsel? What happened next?
Join Hera Lindsay Bird and The Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman as they follow up on some of the memorable advice given over the past year, checking in with the recipients and revealing their findings.
This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.
Best TV Show Ever
7pm, Thursday October 31
Q Theatre
What is the best show in the history of NZ television? The Spinoff wants to find out. Join Alex Casey and special guests as they present their case on what is the best of the best.
This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.
The Year in Review
7pm, Wednesday 11 December
Q Theatre
Senior writer at The Spinoff Anna Rawhiti-Connell will take a running jump backwards into the year’s biggest headlines, political dramas and Spinoff yarns. Anna will be joined onstage by special guests, rose-tinted glasses and Christmas cheer.
This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.
The Fold Live
February 2025
Q Theatre
Duncan Greive, The Spinoff founder and host of New Zealand’s biggest (maybe only?) media podcast The Fold, pulls together some of our smartest media minds for a very special live episode. Join Duncan and special guests having candid and challenging conversations about the culture and business of media in Aotearoa.
This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast The Fold.
Gone By Lunchtime Live
March 2025
Q Theatre
Join NZ’s favourite political podcast live in Auckland. Host Toby Manhire will be joined by Annabelle Lee-Mather (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Māmoe) and Ben Thomas (former press secretary in the Key government) as they boldly step out of the studio and in front of an audience to cast a curious and caustic eye on New Zealand politics.
This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Gone By Lunchtime.
Upcoming events – Wellington
Gone By Lunchtime Live
4pm, Sunday July 14
Hannah Playhouse
NZ’s favourite political podcast makes its Wellington debut. Host Toby Manhire will be joined by Annabelle Lee-Mather (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Māmoe) and Ben Thomas (former press secretary in the Key government) to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1984 snap election and our new six-part podcast Juggernaut.
This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Gone By Lunchtime.
Help Me Hera Live
4pm, Sunday September 8
Hannah Playhouse
After a year of writing The Spinoff’s advice column, Hera has a question: has it helped? Did the anonymous writers appreciate her wise counsel? What happened next?
Join Hera Lindsay Bird and The Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman as they follow up on some of the memorable advice given over the past year, checking in with the recipients and revealing their findings.
This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.
The Year in Review
7pm, Wednesday November 13
Hannah Playhouse
Senior writer at The Spinoff Anna Rawhiti-Connell will take a running jump backwards into the year’s biggest headlines, political dramas and some of the best Spinoff yarns. Anna will be joined onstage by Wellington editor Joel MacManus, special guests, and early Christmas cheer.
This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.
The Fold Live
February 2025
Hannah Playhouse
Duncan Greive, The Spinoff founder and host of New Zealand’s biggest (maybe only?) media podcast The Fold, pulls together some of our smartest media minds for a very special live episode. Join Duncan and special guests having candid and challenging conversations about the culture and business of media in Aotearoa.
This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast The Fold.
Part of the NZ Fringe Festival
Letters to The Spinoff
March 2025
Hannah Playhouse
We are in the business of letters. Our inbox explodes with pitches and tips, our writers tackle a wide range of topics, and our Facebook comments are, at times, comprehensible. Books editor Claire Mabey and special guests will dive into the ocean of correspondence and present for you live readings of the fun, funny, thoughtful and bizarre.
This will be a live recording of The Spinoff podcast Behind the Story.