ICYMI: All the boomers who aren’t OK with OK boomer
November 4 - November 11
Where’s Winnie? Who’s who on the Spinoff Book cover (and why). Yes, we know, you’re probably sick of us harping on about our book… but did you know we have a book??? And did you know it’s chock full of illustrations by none other Toby Morris of Side Eye/Two Sketches fame? Most prominent of all is his beautifully drawn cover featuring a crowd of mostly familiar faces. See how many you can identify, then read Toby explain who these people are, why they’re there and which was the biggest bitch to draw. And to get more of a sense of what the book has to offer, I recommend you read this extract by Madeleine Chapman on her time writing for the site, and the importance of punching up.
The All Blacks’ success masks long-term decline for NZ rugby. Is it terminal? “When he starts in earnest in 2020, Mark Robinson, the incoming CEO of NZ Rugby, will inherit an organisation beset by problems on almost every one of the fronts which once protected it,” writes Duncan Greive, citing a combination of bad demographics, financial pressure and a decade’s old bill coming due. “The only bright spot is that the All Blacks are unquestionably in better shape than they were 30 years ago, a global powerhouse brand which generates huge amounts of cash for its parent. And yet even that success is not able to mask the rot beneath, and, in truth, the emphasis on the All Blacks over every other part of the rugby ecosystem is part of the reason rugby is in such a state.”
Oh Chlöe no! All the boomers who aren’t OK with OK boomer. It’s the Gen Z rallying cry that’s echoed across the world, but when Chlöe Swarbrick used the phrase ‘OK boomer’ (see here for a brief rundown on the phrase) in parliament last week, the boomers of Aotearoa finally exploded. On Facebook pages from the Herald to the Guardian, there were an array of comments accusing ‘OK boomer’ of not just being ageist, bigoted and divisive, but that youngins like Jack Tame – whose op-ed suggested offended boomers might need to harden up – should shut up and be bloody thankful (“Paid tax for 50 years, what is your contribution been to your country’s future generations?” asked one). Personally, I find all this hilarious considering how much older generations love to accuse young people as “snowflakes”, but also: boomer isn’t an age, it’s a state of mind. Anyone can be a boomer with the right attitude.
The new green party is still defined by the old Green party. To much media fanfare, a brand new political party called Sustainable NZ was launched this weekend, with Vernon Tava at the helm. Tava, who ran for the Green co-leadership in 2015 and the National nomination in the Northcote by-election not long after, is pitching Sustainable NZ as a centrist environmental party. But as Alex Braae rightly asks: has that pitch lost touch with the changes in political reality? “It would have been a much more solid pitch as recently as the 2014 election, but now feels out of step with events.”
50 iconic looks from 50 years of TVNZ network news. Over five decades, TVNZ has played a huge part in some of the most important and memorable moments in New Zealand history. This piece, however, is not about that: this piece is about the fashion, the looks, the iconic newsroom setups that have graced our TV screens for so long. From 80s car salesman Jim Hickey to Jenny May Coffin wearing jandals on-air, Alex Casey has the the full rundown.
The Giant Santa is leaving Auckland. It’s true: Giant Santa is hanging up his red coat for good. Don’t worry, he’s not #cancelled – he’s just very old and tired and costly to store/install/maintain. “It costs over $200,000 to put him up there every year, and on top of that, he’s due for a little bit of TLRC (tender loving reconstruction),” reports Sam Brooks. “Heart of the City has explored their options and they’re not able to keep him on retainer any more, but they’re open to appropriate retirement offers.” Te Papa, anyone?
From upstart pioneer to craft beer corporate: the Tuatara Brewing story. From a rural shed to a multimillion-dollar acquisition by DB, with a few legal battles thrown in for good measure, Tuatara’s two decades in the business have been a wild ride. Now, after revamping the beers, its talented head brewer has called it quits. Food editor Alice Neville checks in.
Understanding KiwiSaver, part one: the basics. Last week we launched The Spinoff Money (section, not currency) in an effort to demystify and make accessible the world of money. To kick things off, I wrote about how to stop procrastinating and finally get on top of KiwiSaver, because if you’re like me, you probably don’t know much about it. Part one lays down the very basics of KiwiSaver that everyone ought to know; join me for part two next week where I learn all about the exciting world of funds (because you can’t spell funds without FUN).
The Spinoff Weekly is written by staff writer Jihee Junn.