The Spinoff Weekly: The North Shore lockdown party, reviewed
October 10 - 17
The North Shore lockdown party, reviewed by someone who didn’t attend
The infamous North Shore house party on Saturday has attracted nationwide criticism. But was the party any good?
The Side Eye: How the Pacific Pay Gap affects families
From last week until the end of the year, Pasifika women in New Zealand are effectively working for free. Here Toby Morris looks at what that means for them, and the people around them.
A special note from The Spinoff publisher Duncan Greive: It's a little overwhelming to be sitting here, a week on from when I wrote my Bernie-esque plea for new members, to write to you about the response. It was instant and humbling. It has been the biggest surge in new sign-ups since the freaky days of April 2020. We also saw many existing members raise their ongoing contributions, which was also hugely impactful.
To be blunt, we needed it. And still do, so if you can join up, or have been meaning to, please do so today. We are still a long way from knowing when this period will end, which means our commercial funds remain highly constrained. We remain highly dependent on our members for everything from live updates, to data visualisation to cultural coverage. But we've had a really heartening week, and the whole organisation is very grateful for it. So if you are a member, or have donated – please take a moment to feel the immense gratitude radiating out from all of us here.
Who are the New Zealanders holding out on getting vaxxed?
As Aotearoa scrambles to reach a 90% vaccination rate, the spotlight has turned on those resisting the jab. In the latest instalment of IRL, Dylan Reeve goes inside the online groups contributing to this resistance, and meets some of their members.
Breast Assured: Join us on a journey into the wonderful world of boobs
Partner content
Talking about breasts is important. So important, in fact, that Sarah Gandy is hosting a new podcast series about it, in conjunction with The Spinoff.
Exclusive: Stuart Nash attempts to explain his shirtless vax pic
The Labour minister got his second dose without a shirt on. Mad Chapman asked him to justify himself.
To my father, alone in Middlemore
When Nadine Anne Hura’s father suffered a cardiac arrest she rushed to Auckland to be by his side. Now she sits on the other side of the city, waiting for him to come home.
Super Saturday should have sucked. Instead it was a triumph. Why?
We need to heed the lessons of the resounding success that came from government inviting everyone to pitch in on a big project, argues Duncan Greive.
With Auckland cancelled, the rest of NZ needs to save the film festival
All Auckland screenings for the NZ International Film Festival have been cancelled in the face of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, with online alternatives rejected. Its survival now depends on turnout around the rest of the country.
A ‘super nerd’ on her first book, a YA novel about mysteries among the trees
Spark Hunter is a story about fairies in Fiordland, and it’s one of the best YA books we’ve read in years. Here, the author explains that it stems from an obsession she’s had since she was a kid.
Pause, breathe, smile: Teaching tamariki the power of mindfulness
Partner content
A programme teaching mindfulness in primary and intermediate schools across the country is giving young New Zealanders the skills to navigate everyday life. Emily Writes talks to the people running the Pause Breathe Smile programme.
