The Best Of

Paul Goldsmith has kicked off a storm (Photo: Getty. Collage: The Spinoff)

Is the climate law change this government’s jump the shark moment?

The government has ignored international law, the world's highest court, our own Supreme Court and the science.

By Martha Jeffries | 14th May, 2026

Maybe Nga wai hono i te po could enlighten the warring tribes of Westminster with some stability. (Photos: Getty. Collage: The Spinoff)

The Māori queen could bring much-needed stability to the warring British tribes

Nga wai hono i te po arrives in London as British tribes continue to war over Downing Street. Perhaps she can bring them stability. Maybe she could whip them up a treaty?

By Jamie Tahana | 13th May, 2026

A representation of the situation. (Image: Tina Tiller)

All the times Jack Tame has shamed out politicians for not going on Q+A, ranked

Jack Tame is an excellent political interviewer. But his greatest talent is hassling Christopher Luxon for not appearing on his show.

By Hayden Donnell | 8th May, 2026

Love, actually: ‘It’s possible to hate the person you’re married to intensely at times’

Love, actually: ‘It’s possible to hate the person you’re married to intensely at times’

'The thing that makes me a good partner? I don't actually know that I am one.'

By Love actually | 3rd May, 2026

Callum Devlin, Annabel Kean, Samuel Austin, Alice May Connolly and Finnius Teppett (Image: Oliver Devlin)

How The Weed Eaters team cooked up an instant cult horror-comedy classic

'We all had this shared belief that if we wanted to make a movie, we could just go out and do it.'

By Alex Casey | 2nd May, 2026

Who knew Auckland had so many cinemas?

The movie theatres of Auckland, ranked and reviewed

A cinephile's guide to all 29 of Auckland's dedicated film houses.

By Tom Augustine | 1st May, 2026

Joseph Los’e, the story his section ran on Mary Los’e, and a headline about the employment case against Pacific Business Trust

The Herald editor with the PR side gig for his sister’s embattled trust

The Herald’s kaupapa Māori editor used his work email to pitch a puff piece about his sister to other news outlets. Only his own section ran it.

By Hayden Donnell | 30th April, 2026

A spaghetti western plays out on Symonds St

Spaghetti with a side of beef: unpacking the cooked drama on Symonds Street

Who threw the spaghetti and why?

By Madeleine Chapman | 29th April, 2026

Contributing editor

How to disappear completely: the Labour Party story

How to disappear completely: the Labour Party story

The party’s strategy seems to be staying very quiet and still as its opponents implode.

By Hayden Donnell | 28th April, 2026

Tova O’Brien interviews prime minister Christopher Luxon on Breakfast.

Luxon quits Breakfast slot: smart tactic or ‘running for the hills’?

The PM will no longer do his weekly TVNZ interview. Is he, too, a ‘lightweight’?

By Toby Manhire | 25th April, 2026

Editor-at-large

Anthony George Sinton (Photo: Supplied)

The official history of Dad

A daughter's history of Corporal George Sinton – enlisted soldier and prisoner of war during World War II.

By Maureen Sinton | 25th April, 2026

The toilet paper of New Zealand, ranked from worst to best

Which brand will wipe out the competition?

By Emma Gleason | 24th April, 2026

Contributing writer

Winston Peters, pictured here in a rodeo, or a soap opera, or mustering cattle, who can say?

And then along came Winston

Just when Christopher Luxon thought the saga was over, along comes the superstar, Winston Peters, to steal the scene.

By Toby Manhire | 22nd April, 2026

Editor-at-large

Christopher Luxon reads a statement to media after the National caucus vote. (Photo: Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald via Getty Images)

Luxon calls the rebels’ bluff. NZ’s political grandmaster calls it ‘a very bad move’

The PM showed backbone where the moaners did not. But if you think it’s all over, just ask his coalition partner.

By Toby Manhire | 22nd April, 2026

Editor-at-large