The Spinoff

Politics

Christopher Luxon: The Nat with nine lives, or a man on borrowed time?

He has survived a series of leadership challenges, but how many more times can Christopher Luxon come out on top?

Veronica Schmidt

05 Oct 2026

Business

Campaign update: Labour’s books, Greens’ fares, Act’s KiwiSavings and a one-name list

Henry Oliver

30 Sep 2026

Politics

Campaign update: Labour’s books, Greens’ fares, Act’s KiwiSavings and a one-name list

We've grown old in our own home – we have no plans to leave

David Hill

04 Oct 2026

an older couple sit at a table doing a crossword and smiling at the camera. the man has his arm around the woman's shoulders

Society

We've grown old in our own home – we have no plans to leave

David Hill

04 Oct 2026

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Ipsos urges National to withdraw inaccurate claim about its polling on tax

Toby Manhire

04 Oct 2026

Kiwibank is desperately trying to stop people saying they want to fuck its sheep mascot

Hayden Donnell

03 Oct 2026

On the Chatham Islands, Wellington Bays candidates encounter a vastly different electorate

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

03 Oct 2026

Why New Zealand is the world's flavour guinea pig

Rose Hirst

03 Oct 2026

Christopher Luxon: The Nat with nine lives, or a man on borrowed time?

Veronica Schmidt

05 Oct 2026

Witi Ihimaera stands to speak at a standing microphone. There's a music stand with paper on it in front of him. He's wearing a hat and brown coat. Behind him are covers of his books The Whale Rider, and The Star Path.

Culture

The long tail of Witi Ihimaera Smiler's The Whale Rider

Local supermarket worker David Seymour seeks new job in November

Where to eat in Sydenham, Christchurch – an insider’s guide

Charlotte Muru-Lanning

03 Oct 2026

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Three books arranged in descending order from left to right.

Culture

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending October 2

The Spinoff Review of Books

02 Oct 2026

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A hand holds a smartphone showing a close-up of a smiling face. Surrounding the phone are three stickers labeled “Election 2026” against a blue and green graphic background.

Politics

Politicians are trying to be funny online – young voters are cringing

A Labour/Greens voter who’s concerned about move-on orders

Characters of the Campaign Trail

02 Oct 2026

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Latest podcasts

Gone By Lunchtime: The debate explosion

Reuniting IRL in the Spinoff podcast studio, our hosts dissect the first action-packed week of the 2026 election campaign.

Gone By Lunchtime02 Oct 2026

Winners and losers in debate for Mt Albert, the box-office contest of election 2026

Toby Manhire speaks to Spinoff writers Hayden Donnell and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith to assess the highs and lows of The Great Mt Albert Debate.

At Large with Toby Manhire02 Oct 2026

The pre-election books are open – is Nicola Willis right to cheer?

Toby Manhire speaks to Bernard Hickey, fresh from the pre-election fiscal update lockup, to assess the state of our national accounts, and to Chris Schulz about a teaser clip for Nathan Fielder's upcoming documentary.

At Large with Toby Manhire29 Sep 2026

Jack Tame on getting ghosted by Luxon and hosting the first big debate

Toby Manhire speaks to Jack Tame about moderating the TVNZ leaders debate and the PM's poor record of attendance on Q+A , and to Tara Ward about a local gem that has just premiered on Whakaata Māori.

At Large with Toby Manhire28 Sep 2026

What is this election really about?

The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor has revealed the big issues New Zealanders are concerned about, and which parties they think are best equipped to deal with them. And how alarmed should we be about the OIA mischief at the MoE? TBC.

Gone By Lunchtime25 Sep 2026