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The Southern Hemisphere’s best attended literary festival (per capita) has just unveiled a packed 2025 programme. Here are books editor Claire Mabey’s picks of the very big bunch. I couldn’t contain it to the traditional top 10 this year. And why would I with over 170 events to choose from? I love the Auckland Writers … Read more
Another day in the House, where questions mostly revolved around ‘how could xyz possibly get worse?’ Echo Chamber is The Spinoff’s dispatch from the press gallery, recapping sessions in the House. Columns are written by politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith and Wellington editor Joel MacManus. There’s a restless air that flows through parliament on the Tuesday … Read more
HOKA shoes at a store in Poland. Photo: JAKUB PORZYCKI/AFP HOKA is a French American sneaker brand seen on the feet of celebrities such as Britney Spears and Gwyneth Paltrow, and exploding in global popularity. The name HOKA is a Māori word meaning “to fly,” but you’re unlikely to know that. The company, which took … Read more
More than two decades after his first foray into livestreaming, Finn’s Infinity Sessions are beaming extraordinary collisions from Roundhead Studios to the world. Ahead of the latest installation, Toby Manhire catches up with the Crowded House frontman at Studio A. Win 2 x tickets to Neil Finn’s Infinity Session live from Roundhead Studios in Auckland, … Read more
Winston Peters wants to scrub the ‘woke DEI’ from our public service. Christopher Luxon says he may have a point, writes Catherine McGregor in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Peters has a point on diversity, equity and inclusion, says PM Christopher Luxon has thrown his … Read more
The leaders of Wellington’s under-fire water service provider defended their own jobs, but admitted the organisation is doomed to fail. “I’m sorry that we are here today,” Wellington Water chief executive Pat Dougherty said, sitting beside board chair Nick Leggett, as the pair fronted up to mayors and councillors from around the Wellington region on … Read more
As Elon Musk becomes an increasingly powerful figure in Trump’s America, some Tesla owners in Aotearoa are finding ways to distance themselves from the brand with which he’s synonymous. Will it save them from being targeted? There’s a single fresh sticker on Sam’s rear bumper. The Auckland EV owner stuck it on his 2021 Tesla … Read more
Photo: supplied Iconic New Zealand artist Dick Frizzell grew up as one of six kids, in a small town, where there was only room for one arty one, as he puts it. His “staunch engineer” father wasn’t into the idea of his creative future, but his mum had his back. “I was kind of a … Read more
Emergency services were called to a social housing complex on Innes Road in Mairehau at about 9.15pm Sunday. Photo: RNZ/Anna Sargent The man who died at a Christchurch property on Sunday night, triggering a homicide investigation, has been named. Emergency services were called to a social housing complex on Innes Road in Mairehau at about … Read more
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone As Wellington City Council mulls spending more than $11 million to prevent waterfront drownings, locals say it’ll be tough to balance cost, safety and aesthetics. A coroner has urged it to install permanent waterfront balustrades, after finding 30-year-old Sandy Calkin might not have died if they were in place. Calkin … Read more