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The Best Of

Clockwise from centre: Christopher Luxon, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer, Anthony Albanese.
Opinion

Are Luxon’s struggles special, or is he a victim of a global incumbency curse?

Do we really hate them all? 
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By Toby Manhire | 16th March, 2026
Editor-at-large
No.
Opinion

Christopher Luxon’s refusal to go is yet more evidence of our culture of no

National is polling at 28.4% but its leader won’t leave. Where is the ambition for outcomes? The growth mindset?
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By Hayden Donnell | 13th March, 2026
Senior writer
Who invented the word ‘skux’? A Spinoff investigation

Who invented the word ‘skux’? A Spinoff investigation

The word is much older than you think, and has a famous inventor.
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By Madeleine Chapman | 13th March, 2026
Special correspondent
Gasp! The rest of the world calls this a thumb war.

Attention New Zealand: No one else calls it a ‘peaknuckle war’

The rest of the world rightly calls it a 'thumb war'. What is going on here?
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By Rebecca Shaw | 10th March, 2026
Guest writer
Clockwise from top: Luxon on Newstalk ZB, Luxon on Breakfast, Luxon at the Beehive theatrette for the post-cabinet press conference.
Opinion

Christopher Luxon’s big Monday media grillings – rated

After a flurry of speculation about the PM’s job security, the stakes were high. How did he do?
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By Toby Manhire | 10th March, 2026
Editor-at-large
Old friends Willie Hona (left) and Dilworth Karaka catch up at Whare Tāpere, Herbs’ long time Kingsland practice space and HQ. (Image: Supplied).

Dilworth Karaka, the quiet Herbs giant who gave Aotearoa its protest soundtrack

The enduring face of Herbs helped shape one of the most important sounds in modern Aotearoa.
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By Liam Rātana | 10th March, 2026
Ātea editor
A diminishing array of Denny’s are keeping New Zealand’s 24-hour culture alive.

Why we don’t have a 24-hour commerce culture in New Zealand

It’s only partly because of our hobbit-esque love of a cup of tea and an early bedtime.
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By Hayden Donnell | 9th March, 2026
Senior writer
Dave Rennie has something in common with a host of All Blacks coaching greats. (Image: Calum Henderson)

Dave Rennie possesses the most important attribute for an All Blacks coach

All the best All Blacks coaches look more or less permanently like they've just watched someone open-mouth sneezing into their meal.
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By Hayden Donnell | 4th March, 2026
Senior writer
Winston Peters and Christopher Luxon have refused to take a strong position on the Iran attacks. (Image: Tina Tiller)

New Zealand affirms its commitment to being noncommittal in Iran response

The best way to think of our position on the US military strikes is as the closest you can get to not having a position while still saying words.
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By Hayden Donnell | 3rd March, 2026
Senior writer
Barbara Edmonds at her favourite beach spot in Titahi Bay (Photo: Madeleine Chapman)

Barbara Edmonds could become finance minister, but she’s still figuring out how to be a politician

She doesn't look like any finance minister that's gone before her, doesn't speak like the others, and says if someone else ends up with the portfolio, she'll be just fine.
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By Madeleine Chapman | 2nd March, 2026
Special correspondent
Grishma’s popularity is entirely through word-of-mouth

A review of the best eyebrow threader in Wellington, and probably New Zealand

Grishma is a local legend but she's refused to give The Spinoff an interview for a decade. Mad Chapman settles for writing this review.
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By Madeleine Chapman | 28th February, 2026
Special correspondent
Christopher Luxon has lost his greatest passion. (Image: Tina Tiller)

A quarterly action plan for restoring Christopher Luxon’s quarterly action plans

The prime minister must stop saying nojo to mojo to growjo out of his lowjo.
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By Hayden Donnell | 28th February, 2026
Senior writer
There were a lot of good albums released in New Zealand last year

All 83 albums nominated for the 2026 Taite Music Prize, reviewed

Our annual tour of the New Zealand music landscape.
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By Max Johns | 28th February, 2026
Guest writer
The face of a woman who  may or may not have swum in shit.

I swam in the shitty seas of Wellington’s south coast and lived to tell the tale

If it’s good enough for the mayor, it’s good enough for me.
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By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 27th February, 2026
Politics reporter
16-year-old running phenom Sam Ruthe.

Why Sam Ruthe runs so fast

The Tauranga teenager may be the greatest prodigy in the history of running. What's his secret?
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By Joel MacManus | 27th February, 2026
Senior writer
Nigel Farage, Pauline Hanson, Winston Peters and Donald Trump. Images: Getty. Design: Tina Tiller
Opinion

What the surge in populist nationalism means for Winston Peters and NZ First

The serial kingmakers of MMP politics are riding a wave. And they want more.
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By Toby Manhire | 26th February, 2026
Editor-at-large
Nicola Willis.

One MP, One Pint: Nicola Willis on being a mum, a meme and a minister

Asking Grant Robertson about his hole, explaining to her kids why she's been turned into a meme, and taking on the role of 'Doctor No': it's all in a day's work for the finance minister.
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By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 25th February, 2026
Politics reporter
Image by Tina Tiller

Puberty blockers ban anxiety grinds on as ‘very, very worried’ children and families look for support

'Ultimately, there's a very real chance that it's going to cost people's lives.'
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By Alex Casey | 25th February, 2026
Senior writer

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The Spinoff is subject to NZ Media Council procedures. A complaint must be first directed in writing, within one month of publication, to info@thespinoff.co.nz. If not satisfied with the response, the complaint may be referred to the online complaint form at www.presscouncil.org.nz along with a link to the relevant story and all correspondence with the publication.

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