Hayden Donnell | The Spinoff

Hayden Donnell

Politics

Society

Hayden Donnell is a senior writer for The Spinoff. He previously worked at RNZ, TVNZ and the New Zealand Herald, alongside other media companies that have since closed down or been renamed. His primary passions are local politics and the Big Fresh animatronic fruit and veggies.

Hayden Donnell

Latest

People stand near a pink bus inside an aircraft hangar

Act preaches free market economics in a literal echo chamber

A smiling cartoon sheep with green wool is surrounded by red and pink heart illustrations. The background is a softly blurred indoor setting.

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

A group of people in red jackets and a man in a suit stand before microphones in a store. “Election 2026” signs are visible on fridge doors and as a graphic overlay.

Arena Williams steals the show at Chippy’s no bullshit policy launch

six adults in business casual attire sit on a stage as a panel, with a suited man as the moderator. three women and one man have their hands raised while two men don't

How The Great Mt Albert Debate went down

A smiling person holds colorful bills near a machine that shoots out confetti-like money, all set against an abstract blue and green background.

No one is wasting more ratepayer cash than the government

Crumpled papers and folders in a trash bin, surrounded by flames and burning shapes, suggesting destruction or discarding of documents.

That Ministry of Education official’s real crime? She said it on video

More

A man in a top hat and black suit called Mr Monopoly lords over a picture of New Zealand.

New Zealand doesn’t need its own version of Monopoly. We’re living in one

A split photo of a man in a suit, with each half showing a slightly different expression, over a background of speech bubbles and abstract shapes.

Labour’s election pitch: Better starts now… only it looks pretty much the same

A man with glasses, a man in a suit and hands holding beer

Wayne Brown’s doomed, months-long effort to get a beer with Chris Bishop

Ten jars of various peanut butter brands and flavors are arranged in two rows against a peanut butter-themed background. Flavors include honey, caramel, chocolate, chili, salt & pepper, and whipped peanut butter.

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

A shopping cart surrounded by animated food mascots: a tomato, cheese, mushroom, pickle, and two bottles, all with faces and lively expressions. Green asterisks and maps accent the playful scene.

Exclusive: Political momentum is building for bringing back Big Fresh