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The Best Of

The school lunch ready to be assessed (Image: The Spinoff)

Not achieved: A home economics teacher’s school lunch assessment

Does it meet the NCEA Level 1 standard? We have some possibly unsurprising news.
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By Sue Parkes | 3rd December, 2025
Guest writer
There could be hidden  wins for walking, cycling and public transport
Opinion

The second Mt Victoria tunnel is a money pit, but there could be a silver lining 

Buried inside a megaproject for cars is a rare opportunity to carve out bus lanes, bike routes, and walkable streets – if Wellington’s leaders are bold enough to take it. 
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By Joel MacManus | 3rd December, 2025
Senior writer
The beep test in action (Image: DefenceCareers YouTube)

The beep test: ‘Ritual humiliation’ or efficient fitness appraisal?

You probably did it at high school. Your kid probably did too. But why?
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By Emma Gleason | 2nd December, 2025
Contributing writer
Millennials and gen Z grew up with the narrative that housing was out of reach

The signs all point to the end of NZ’s property obsession

Millennials and gen Z are investing in shares, while politicians are looking to nudge capital away from housing and into business.
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By Duncan Greive | 2nd December, 2025
Founder
Almost every major supermarket pie brand now has a butter chicken option. Image: Joel MacManus

Finding the unsung hero who invented the butter chicken pie

It's risen from a niche fusion food to New Zealand’s third-best-selling pie flavour. Who gave the nation this unique culinary taonga?
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By Joel MacManus | 1st December, 2025
Senior writer
Labour leader Chris Hipkins.

Labour wants its 2020 mojo back – can it convince voters it still has the recipe?

Labour's party-heavy weekend conference revealed big dreams, and big gaps in its voter base.
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By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 1st December, 2025
Politics reporter
Giselle Clarkson’s Omnibird contains many a life lesson as well as instruction on how to watch birds.

The everyday magic of Omnibird, the children’s book of the year 

Backyard birds are made magnificent in a new book about feathers, beaks, caruncles and turdus merula.
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By Claire Mabey | 29th November, 2025
Books editor
The AI girls are on

Why must all our digital AI helpers be ladies?

'It’s not neutral and it is not harmless.'
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By Alex Casey | 29th November, 2025
Senior writer
National and New Zealand First both seem to dislike the regulatory standards bill they just helped pass into law.
Opinion

Underdog tale: the Regulatory Standards Bill is law despite almost everyone hating it

From one perspective it’s troubling for our democracy. From another, it’s inspiring for all of us who persist in spite of the revulsion we engender in allies and opponents alike.
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By Hayden Donnell | 28th November, 2025
Senior writer
Why is Black Friday 45 weeks long now? 

Why is Black Friday 45 weeks long now? 

Black Friday sales are testing the limits of time, space and also my patience.
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By Alex Casey | 27th November, 2025
Senior writer
A typical reaction to thinking about Auckland light rail.

The reason it’s so hard to build stuff in New Zealand

If we want to actually build things again, we need to think small.
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By Hayden Donnell | 27th November, 2025
Senior writer
Shane Jones and the eggbeater he fears most. (Image: Tina Tiller)

‘Demonic eggbeater’: Shane Jones has a normal one on RNZ

The hot air produced by our minister for resources this morning could’ve solved our energy crisis.
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By Hayden Donnell | 26th November, 2025
Senior writer
Karen Chhour.

One MP, One Pint: Karen Chhour on state care, self-care and being the sober driver

The Act Party minister is happy to give you a lift home, but please try not to throw up in her car. 
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By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 26th November, 2025
Politics reporter
The boomers! They’re everywhere! (Image: Tina Tiller)

New Zealand has a boomer problem

We have too many boomers and not enough young workers to fund their retirements. National thinks its new KiwiSaver policy could be the answer. 
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By Joel MacManus | 26th November, 2025
Senior writer
tfw you see a cyclist

Why are New Zealand drivers so aggro? 

Anyone who’s ridden a bike or scooter on our roads has a story about a driver seemingly wanting to murder them.
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By Hayden Donnell | 25th November, 2025
Senior writer
Is that 111? Please send a dramatic rom-com turning point.
Opinion

Surviving New Zealand’s economy feels like living in a dying marriage

Follow that car! Leap out in the rain and tell us you’ve changed! New Spinoff editor Veronica Schmidt says Aotearoa needs a rom-com turning point.
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By Veronica Schmidt | 24th November, 2025
Editor
‘It’s a currency’: How did chocolate fish become our go-to reward?

‘It’s a currency’: How did chocolate fish become our go-to reward?

'We can argue forever over Crowded House and pavlova, but we'll always have the chocolate fish.'
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By Alex Casey | 22nd November, 2025
Senior writer
So old, so empty. (Images: Vinnie Paunovic)

A mystery tour of Auckland Central’s empty(ish) buildings

Welcome to the boulevards of broken dreams and ‘festering holes’. Follow me!
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By Emma Gleason | 22nd November, 2025
Contributing 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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