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Image by Tina Tiller.

The milk bandit of Alexandra is back – and now the mayor has weighed in

He's back – and he's got a new weapon in his arsenal.
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By Alex Casey | 25th June, 2026
Senior writer
Former Wellington mayor Tory Whanau at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cambridge Terrace improvements. Image: The Spinoff
Opinion

Why Wellington can’t build

The Golden Mile, the housing crisis, and the problem with progressive cities.
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By Joel MacManus | 24th June, 2026
Senior writer
Some like it, some don’t.
Opinion

All the times National has trashed its own campaign policies

National once derided KiwiSaver and Working for Families. Now the Labour schemes are part of its pitch to voters.
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By Hayden Donnell | 23rd June, 2026
Senior writer
The man who brought fish and chips to New Zealand

The man who brought fish and chips to New Zealand

Meet James Henry Pomeroy: inventor, fishmonger, and the man responsible for deep fried blue cod on a southern beach.
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By Joel MacManus | 21st June, 2026
Senior writer
Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Winston Peters (Design: The Spinoff)

Echo Chamber: The scores, scrapes and sparks of scrutiny week

Scrutiny week is an endurance sport where goals aren't scored by kicking balls, but by busting them.
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By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 19th June, 2026
Politics reporter
We were *this close* to a shocking winner.

The crunchy peanut butters of New Zealand, ranked from worst to best

After stringent testing we’ve arrived at a list that is in some ways predictable, and in others deeply unsettling. 
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By Hayden Donnell | 19th June, 2026
Senior writer
Paul Goldsmith.

One MP, One Pint: Paul Goldsmith on being a victim of Tova O’Brien

The justice minister reflects on the highs and lows of five terms in parliament, and considers buying The Spinoff.
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By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 18th June, 2026
Politics reporter
“It was only by talking amongst themselves as they scrubbed clothes together in the communal laundry or organised social events in the dining hall, that they could form a clearer picture of their world and its dangers.”

In defence of gossip and its potential to save lives

Gossip can be salacious, yes, but it can also be life-saving.
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By Eleanor Black | 17th June, 2026
Guest writer
A new analysis from Timothy Welch shows lower speed limits likely saved lives.

Simeon Brown deemed speed limit cuts ‘anti-car ideology’ – a new analysis shows they saved lives

The National-led government has raised speed limits. New data reveals the potential human cost of that move.
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By Hayden Donnell | 17th June, 2026
Senior writer
The cost of reclaiming your maiden name

The cost of reclaiming your maiden name

After easily taking her ex-husband's last name, divorcee Kathy Young learned just how hard it is to get your own name back.
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By Kathy Young | 16th June, 2026
Guest writer
Christopher Luxon and the sheep he considers a vertebra of New Zealand’s economy (Photo by SANKA VIDANAGAMA/AFP via Getty Images)
Opinion

Farming stopped being New Zealand’s economic backbone decades ago

Our reality is closer to Christopher Luxon’s infamous description of a ‘wet, whiny, inward-looking country’.
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By Dan Brunskill | 16th June, 2026
Guest writer
Matthew Hooton, incoming editor of The Post. Photo: Tina Tiller

The greatest hits of Matthew Hooton, the new editor of The Post

Who is the new editor of Wellington's newspaper? He is many, many, many things.
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By Toby Manhire | 15th June, 2026
Editor-at-large
One of the Waitematā players takes a hit-up during the game. (Photo: Liam Rātana).

The rugby league club where reo Māori is spoken first

Accessing mainstream sports competitions can be difficult for players with te reo Māori as their first language. In the depths of West Auckland, one club is going against the grain.
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By Liam Rātana | 15th June, 2026
Ātea editor
Image by Tina Tiller

Why you can pry my VHS collection from my cold dead hands

It's the most cumbersome, fallible format available on the market – and I can't get enough.
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By Alex Casey | 14th June, 2026
Senior writer
Image by Tina Tiller

How Michael Jackson moonwalked into the centre of pop culture again

Why is Michael Jackson back? And why is he walking the streets of Christchurch?
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By Alex Casey | 13th June, 2026
Senior writer
The supreme court judges acknowledged that Mike Smith’s claim faces serious obstacles. But they thought it deserved a trial (Image: The Spinoff)
Opinion

Why the supreme court was not ‘totally out of line’ in its climate case ruling

The judges acknowledged that Mike Smith’s claim faced serious obstacles. But they thought it deserved a trial.
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By Steven Price | 11th June, 2026
Guest writer
Mike Lee, left, claimed tall buildings contributed to global warming and Wayne Brown saw red. Photos: The Spinoff)

A battle over the bare minimum at Auckland Council

One councillor said tall buildings contribute to global warming. Another said Auckland doesn’t have a housing crisis. 
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By Hayden Donnell | 10th June, 2026
Senior writer
Treasury has already warned that superannuation isn’t sustainable in the long run. How do we fix it?

What should we do about New Zealand’s soaring superannuation bill?

Raise the retirement age, institute means testing, or just leave things be?
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By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 9th June, 2026
Politics reporter

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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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