The Best Of

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The best fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children's books published in New Zealand this year, according to our panel of readers.

The Aotearoa books of the year for 2023

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Between 13,000 and 15,000 people experience a miscarriage in New Zealand every year and yet many don't speak about it.

The silence of miscarriage

Madeleine Holden

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TVNZ aired the finale of the much-lauded six-part drama last night. Here’s what The Spinoff’s two Madeleines thought.

It’s official: After the Party is the best TV drama we’ve ever made  

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Bike theft tends to go up in summer, and the rise of expensive e-bikes is making the issue worse. Can anything stop the thieves?

One simple trick to get more people riding bikes? Reduce the number being stolen

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For more than a decade, WINZ-funded therapy helped one woman manage her chronic depression. Then, the money stopped coming. 

What happens when your WINZ-funded therapy stops?

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The journey of a Palestinian soul seeking the embrace of home. 

The Sunday Essay: I am a son of Palestine

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It didn’t used to be this way. Why have things changed?

Why are drive-thru menus so hard to read?

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In just four years, Pals has gone from a failing startup to a category-changing monster. This is the untold story of how four friends created a phenomenon.

The inside story of Pals, the little RTD that did it all wrong and got it so right

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We chug 25 iced coffees to sort the morning must-haves from the mediocre mud water.

The canned coffees of New Zealand, reviewed and ranked

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A genuine news story quickly became a springboard for rumour and speculation, with one councillor at the centre of it.

Tory Whanau, Nicola Young and the rumour that overtook the story

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Should we be texting and calling between dates? How can I tell if they're really into me? Help! 

Help Me Hera: The dating apps are messing with my head

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The freshly sworn-in prime minister was hoping not to spend his first few days stooped in a defensive crouch. 

Luxon honeymoon rained on by Peters and cigarettes

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In the context of a health system at breaking point, widespread burnout and scary workforce projections, placing this malevolent spotlight on trainee doctors is incredibly cruel.

We’re done with being asked to justify our ‘privilege’

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Words can have many meanings, or even just one meaning with many applications, and that's OK.

Don’t know what the word ‘waka’ means? Here’s a handy guide

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That chopping block is about to get a lot of use. A lot. 

The Ctrl-Z coalition: all the repeals and reversals planned by the new government

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Two women who phoned Luxon’s Botany office to urge support for a ceasefire in Gaza claim they were told their details would be passed to police.

PM’s electorate office denies threatening callers with police action

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A Sāmoan staple gets the fine-dining treatment at a new Auckland restaurant, and the result is as surprising as it is delicious.

Would you like caviar with your corned beef?

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It's been four decades since the iconic show. What was it like to be there?

Let’s Dance: Remembering David Bowie’s 1983 show at Western Springs

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I’m scared to see a dead body, I’m too young for this, I should have applied at Maccas.

The Sunday Essay: Your life is $4

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When there’s a loose turtle in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call?

Meet Christchurch’s legendary turtle rescuer

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The Act Party's call for balance will work to ensure our understandings of the past remain divided.

Why ‘restoring balance’ to the histories curriculum is not as innocuous as it sounds

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Basement Theatre’s annual Christmas show is back for another silly season – and it's as riotous as ever.

The Jingle Bellethon Telethon is chaotic Christmas comedy at its best

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In 1972 our rivers were clean, Norman Kirk was the PM and Christmas trees cost 50 cents.

The rising price of real Christmas trees

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The housing crisis is hitting senior renters especially hard, and their numbers are increasing fast. 

The worrying rise of retired renters

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I'm finding the cycles of relief, anxiety, and heartache almost too much to bear.

Help Me Hera: Is it possible to be in a happy relationship with an addict?

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A decline in our Pisa scores was described as 'catastrophic' and 'disappointing', but plenty of educators question the merit of the testing scheme.

Our ‘worst ever’ reading, maths and science scores and why people question them

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Could this be the Goldilocks transport strategy that satisfies both left and right?

A new plan for Wellington, post-Let’s Get Wellington Moving

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Dr Mataroria Lyndon: 'When we fight for Māori health equity, we uplift all of Aotearoa.'

With or without Te Aka Whai Ora, the mahi will continue

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It's poorly researched, won't work and misses the real problem. 

I’m a high school student. Here’s why National’s phone ban is a bad idea

The Side Eye is a monthly non-fiction comic by Toby Morris, supported by NZ On Air. Read more comics 

Mark’s statistics can be viewed in more detail 

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How many more times likely is a Māori person to have a police dog used against them? Twice as likely? Three times? Ten times? Toby Morris talks to Julia Whaipooti about Māori over-representation in the justice system. 

The Spinoff

The Best OfJune 28, 2019

The Side Eye: The receiving end

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The Best OfJune 28, 2019

The Side Eye: The receiving end

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