Opinion

It’s time for some consistency in blame apportionment. (Image: The Spinoff)

This interest rate rise is entirely, 100% the government’s fault

National takes full credit when interest rates drop. It’s only fair it gets the blame when they rise.

By Hayden Donnell | 2nd September, 2026

There must be a way to resolve this. (Image: The Spinoff)

John Campbell has been asking Chris Hipkins the same question for months

Forget Matt Damon’s comparatively painless jaunt across the Mediterranean, Campbell vs Hipkins is the year’s most difficult odyssey.

By Hayden Donnell | 1st September, 2026

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is desperately trying to keep his wicket. (Image: Mark Cosgrove/Getty Images/The Spinoff)

Chris Hipkins is batting for a draw

Hipkins has been so focused on negating the case against Labour that he never built a cohesive argument for Labour.

By Joel MacManus | 31st August, 2026

Local government minister Simon Watts and prime minister Christopher Luxon. Photo: Getty Images. Design: The Spinoff).

National should just admit it wants to turn councils into the Department of Parks and Pipes

Rates caps are the latest in a series of anti-democratic policies from a party that once claimed to support localism and devolution.

By Joel MacManus | 26th August, 2026

MMP should be allowed to get weird. (Image: Tina Tiller)

The rule-in, rule-out game is ruining one of the best things about MMP

Our governments are meant to be decided by elections, not by a process of elimination carried out by politicians.

By Hayden Donnell | 25th August, 2026

A social media ban for under-16s? It can’t happen fast enough

A social media ban for under-16s? It can’t happen fast enough

The government’s proposed bill is too late for my 16-year-old son, but it could be just in time for my 12-year-old daughter.

By Chris Schulz | 25th August, 2026

Some of the generative AI companies embracing the sparkle (Image: Tina Tiller/The Spinoff)

Resisting the allure of the AI sparkle

The sparkle is designed to make us think of all the magical ways in which generative AI can improve our lives, without looking too closely.

By Soph Jackson | 24th August, 2026

Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi. (Photo: NZ Herald via Getty Images)

Te Pāti Māori will be in risky territory if it tries to engineer an overhang

Exploitation of the overhang loophole has always been possible, but no party has tried it because of how voters are likely to react.

By Graeme Edgeler | 19th August, 2026

Paul Goldsmith wearing his 11 ministerial hats. (Image: Tina Tiller)

How Paul Goldsmith can fit 11 ministerial roles into his schedule

10am: Rewatch the video of Judith Collins saying ‘my husband is Samoan, so talofa’. Minister for Pacific peoples job status: Complete.

By Hayden Donnell | 19th August, 2026

National party campaign chair Simeon Brown, with some of the party’s recent online posts. (Photos: The Spinoff/National)

National’s tax claims tripped up Labour, but misleading marketing comes with risks

Simeon Brown got the better of Chris Hipkins yesterday, but he’s walking a high wire claiming Labour wants to introduce 11 new taxes.

By Joel MacManus | 19th August, 2026

Anna Fifield was one of hundreds of journalists laid off by the Washington Post earlier this year (Photos: supplied; Getty Images. Design: The Spinoff)

What Bezos did at the Washington Post could well happen here

This past year has seen some worrying developments in New Zealand involving a seemingly politically-driven billionaire seeking media influence and a government that looked like it was attempting to intimidate media figures.

By Anna Fifield | 17th August, 2026

It’s all good! (Photo: Getty Images. Design: The Spinoff)

Nothing to see here: Christopher Luxon has the full support of his caucus

There’s no reason to doubt the prime minister’s claim that his caucus is united. Provided you ignore all the reasons to doubt his claim that his caucus is united.

By Hayden Donnell | 13th August, 2026

Luxon at the lectern in April. (Photo: Annaleise Shortland/New Zealand Herald via Getty Images)

Yesterday Luxon won, again. Who lost?

Call it a cluster, call it a shitshow: the result is a pair of grim sequels.

By Toby Manhire | 13th August, 2026

Editor-at-large

When the self-checkout machine asks me to scan my loyalty card, I close my eyes and press ‘skip’. (Image: The Spinoff)

Rage against the machine: I refuse to join any supermarket rewards programmes

It's potentially a futile and quite costly protest, but it’s the one I have chosen.

By Madeleine Chapman | 11th August, 2026

Contributing editor

Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate in New Delhi on July 25 following the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, after days of protests demanding he step down. (Photo: Elke Scholiers/Getty Images)

Why New Zealanders should care about the student protests in India

As complex societal forces roil the world’s most populous country, there are lessons for Aotearoa as we strengthen our ties.

By Nayantara Sheoran Appleton | 10th August, 2026

Chris Bishop and Wayne Brown laughing about the mistimed CRL announcement. (Photo: The Spinoff)

Why the City Rail Link opening date gaffe matters

A mistimed billboard and a flub from the transport minister made for a funny morning, but both spoke to the pressure people feel to get this right.

By Joel MacManus | 6th August, 2026

Our classrooms aren’t the only places being disrupted by bad behaviour. (Image: Tina Tiller/The Spinoff)

The little shits are coming from inside the House

Act wants to deal with the little shits in the classroom. Perhaps they should clean up the ones on their own turf first.

By Hayden Donnell | 5th August, 2026

Design: Tina Tiller / The Spinoff

I get it, Prime Minister, I wouldn’t want to call Winston Peters either

The prime minister had a bad weekend. It didn’t get any better during his regular Monday morning RNZ interview.

By Tara Ward | 3rd August, 2026

Te Aka Whai Ora may be gone, but the lessons remain. (Design: Tina Tiller).

Te Aka Whai Ora may be shut down but Māori health leaders are continuing its work

What was disestablished in 2024 was a Crown entity with a name, a board and a budget. The institution of Māori leadership in decisions about hauora Māori is much harder to dismantle.

By Mataroria Lyndon | 3rd August, 2026

Tottenham and Auckland FC players take the field at Eden Park in July (Photo: Fiona Goodall/Getty)

Auckland gets to host the big football matches now but it has Wellington to thank for the honour

In the space of a month, Auckland will host two premier international clubs. One of those matches should've been held in Wellington.

By Jesse Gerritsen | 3rd August, 2026