The Best Of

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I lived: A true story of surviving the cycle lanes of Molesworth Street

This week, Christopher Luxon drew attention to a little-known parliamentary peril: crossing the road. We dared to give it a go.

By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 20th August, 2026

Politics reporter

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

(From left) John Key, Simon Bridges, Len Brown, James Bews-Hair and Penny Hulse might not be cutting the ribbon, but they deserve the credit. (Image: Tina Tiller)

The real heroes of the City Rail Link

Plenty of politicians will line up to cut a ribbon and take credit. Here’s who really deserves the plaudits.

By Hayden Donnell | 18th 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

Nikki Berry runs Reclaim Your Voice. (Photo: Gary Easterbrook, additional design by Tina Tiller)

What I learned at a singing course for the shy and shamed-out

Staring down a lifelong fear of singing flat, Alex Casey attends a nerve-wracking community course to conquer her demons.

By Alex Casey | 8th August, 2026

The politicians witnessed by The Spinoff this week. (Photos: Getty, The Spinoff, supplied. Design: Tina Tiller)

A not-so-wet but still quite whiny week on the campaign trail

Christopher Luxon wrestles with a soundsystem, Qiulae Wong and Helen White fight for Mt Albert and it’s hard to hold onto hope at a Chlöe Swarbrick meeting.

By Hayden Donnell | 7th August, 2026

Knitting enthusiast Jan Aitken (Photo: Jan Aitken / Design: Tina Tiller)

‘I felt sick’: How one Dunedin knitting group fell foul of the law

Knitting is not supposed to be a dangerous hobby, but it led one Dunedin woman into a rather woolly situation.

By Tara Ward | 2nd August, 2026

National just loves mums (composite graphic by The Spinoff)

Amazing: National has finally discovered women exist

A groundbreaking discovery that could change everything.

By Alex Casey | 28th July, 2026

Darryl Bryant outside Karamu Barrelworks (Photo: Hayden Donnell)

The best beers in New Zealand come from a shed in the back blocks of Hamilton

Last night, Karamu Barrelworks was crowned the overall champion brewery at the NZ Beer Awards, which is pretty impressive for a one-man operation run out of a shed by a guy called Daryl.

By Hayden Donnell | 26th July, 2026

Help Me Hera: Am I too old to learn to drive?

Help Me Hera: Am I too old to learn to drive?

By Hera Lindsay Bird | 23rd July, 2026

Contributing writer

Stuart Nash in 2023. Image: Getty

Breaking: Stuart Nash needs to be told off by his wife again

There’s still one crucial voice who needs to weigh in on his latest blunder.

By Alex Casey | 22nd July, 2026

Image: Getty (Addition design by Tina Tiller)

‘Just useless’: What it’s like working with Burger King’s AI assistant

'It was brought in to help speed up service, but it has done the complete opposite.'

By Alex Casey | 21st July, 2026

NZ First invested a portion of its campaign war chest in pyrotechnics.

Winston Peters’ weird weekend waging an election culture war

At NZ First’s campaign launch, breaking up the supermarket duopoly got polite claps. Getting fluoride out of the water supply? Wild applause.

By Hayden Donnell | 20th July, 2026

Pint is more a colloquial than a measurement in NZ’s bars.

Why doesn’t New Zealand have a standard size for a pint of beer?

In the UK and Canada, it's 568ml. In Australia, about the same. In New Zealand? Well, it's more of a vibe than a measurement.

By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 18th July, 2026

Politics reporter