Behind the Story

The prime minister got a shock when he saw the media coverage of his breakfast meeting with Rotorua businesspeople – it talked of him scolding them about a “parent-child mentality” in government-business relations, urging “adult” behaviour and recounting his own attitude in Chicago corporate life. So his office issued a transcript of the exchange, which didn't much help. Duncan Greive, founder of The Spinoff, joins Toby (with a cameo from Claude AI) to discuss the PM's communication challenges, and his ongoing struggle to take any grip of the narrative.(Since this podcast was recorded, Luxon has apologised for the remarks.)Plus: In How Good, Te Aihe Butler on the old tech that is healing his brain.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nigel Farage faces a stern challenge in a Clacton byelection from an alien space warrior with a bin on his head and a manifesto packed with nonsense. New Zealand has its own history of joke political parties (most famously the McGillicuddy Serious Party) but the satirical larder looks bare today. Ben Uffindell, who led the Civilian Party to admirable failure in 2014, joins Toby to talk about the role of silly and satirical parties in democracy, where he went wrong, where he went right, and whether a return is on the cards in 2026.Plus: In praise of cinema splendour at the Civic at film festival time in Auckland.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the last election, you could enrol on election day. This time the deadline is 13 days before. University of Otago professor Andrew Geddis joins Toby to talk through the changes, who is most affected, and whether the justifications stack up.Plus: In How Good, medals at the Commonwealth Games are good, but a mascot with a cone on its bonce is better, says Madeleine Chapman.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some say the case for moving to Australia is dimming – Shamubeel Eaqub works through the data with Toby Manhire to assess the arguments for and against. Plus: In How Good, Tara Ward on scaling the Wuthering Heights in Dunedin and the world. At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Māori electorates are always fascinating, but this time there's an extra edge-of-the-seat quality. Lara Greaves, associate professor at Victoria University of Wellington, joins Toby to talk through the parties competing, the overhang potential, and why voters choose one roll ahead of the other. Plus: In How Good, Hayden Donnell is besotted by Maurice Williamson's luscious beard.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Christopher Luxon declares he'll “die trying” to get something done in banning social media for New Zealand children under 16, it's a good time to ask: how is the pioneering Australian prohibition going? Hal Crawford, editorial director at Mumbrella and former boss of Newshub NZ, joins Toby to explain, seven months in, what is working, what isn't, and what he'd say to the NZ PM if he was called into the Beehive. Plus: in How Good, Robbie Nicol goes on a journey. To the Imax. To watch Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since 1990 the Reserve Bank has been tasked with taming inflation independently from the government of the day. But is the tool it uses today, the official cash rate, with its focus on hitting an inflation rate of 1%-3%, causing more pain that it's alleviating? Bernard Hickey joins Toby to make the case. Plus, in How Good, Liam Rātana on NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika. At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A giant of the pictures, paddocks and protests, Sam Neill has died at 78. A glittering cast share their memories of an extraordinary New Zealander. Tributes from Robyn Malcolm, Oscar Kightley, Gaylene Preston, Ian Taylor, Kate Rodger, Rachel House, Lucy Lawless, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Gregory O'Brien, Peter Mullan and Paul Goldsmith.Many thanks to all who contributed. At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blockades in the Strait of Hormuz have laid bare our reliance on global energy supply. Climate change keeps bursting river banks. And Young New Zealanders are drifting away. Does anyone have a big vision to take all this on? Pattrick Smellie does and he's urging our politicians to jump on board. The BusinessDesk founder and columnist talks to Toby.Plus: In How Good, Alex Casey joins Kristen Stewart in raving about Big Girls Don't Cry, the new film from Paloma Schneideman that opens this year's NZ International Film Festival.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the press gallery to spin doctor for Helen Clark and chief of staff to Jacinda Ardern, Mike Munro has seen plenty of the kaleidoscope in New Zealand politics and media. He joins Toby to talk about those roles and how it all has changed through the decades.Plus: In How Good, Liam Rātana on Matariki with a bonus beat from Te Aihe on Bryn & Ku's Singles Club, season two.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the People's Liberation Army launched a nuclear-capable long-range missile into the Pacific Ocean, it was testing its capability, but it was also flexing its muscles. Anna Fifield joins Toby to explain who was the message for, and what it means for New Zealand. Plus: In How Good, Alex Casey heroically joins the dots from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding to the brave and never embarrassing nation of New Zealand. At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emergency housing numbers have been slashed, helped by strict directives to MSD staff. But where they going to? Helen Robinson, Auckland City Missioner, says rough sleeping is worse than she's seen in her 13 years at the organisation. She joins Toby Manhire to talk about the problem with the move-on orders around the corner, and the personal and political reality of homeless in New Zealand.Plus: In How Good, Claire Mabey on a bookshop boom in Wellington.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a new outlook putting an 80% chance on a super El Niño forming, we face a version of the phenomenon that could be as intense as anything on record. Jon Tunster from Earth Sciences NZ joins Toby to explain what this With a new outlook putting an 80% chance on a super El Nino forming, we face a version of the phenomenon that could be as intense as anything on record. Jon Tunster from Earth Sciences NZ joins Toby to explain what this weather pattern is, how bad it could get, and what it portends for the different parts of the country across the next three months and beyond. Plus: Calum Henderson reveals his five most memorable moments from the football World Cup so far. Warning: includes reference to delicate anatomy. At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boom time for balloons, battle cries and bitter zingers as New Zealand's political parties stage their jamborees with added election-year energy. Fresh from the National, Labour and Act bashes, Lyric Waiwiri-Smith and Joel MacManus join Toby to recount their experiences, and deliver the critical mark on the mojo-meter.Plus: In How Good, Tara Ward on a killer scene in the new TV drama Head Girl.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Auckland, as in many places around the country, you can hardly walk down the street or open the internet without meeting grim news of another much-loved bar, restaurant, record store or live venue closing its doors. Is it really as bad as it feels? Emma Gleason had dug into the numbers and talked to people affected for The Spinoff. She tells us what she's learned.Plus: Alex Casey explains just How Good it is to collect VHS (Video Home System) cassettes.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The GDP numbers look good. The Strait of Hormuz is (maybe) open. To find out whether that means the green shoots will bloom into great bountiful gardens, we called in economist Shamubeel Eaqub to ask: Is this cause for optimism? Will the fruits of recovery be shared fairly? How does National's new KiwiSaver policy look to you? And just how close to the bulls**t is the Reserve Bank sailing on interest rates.Plus: Hayden Donnell tells us just How Good is the best of the crunchy peanut butter on NZ supermarket shelves.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keir Starmer has walked out from Downing Street and said it's all over, meaning Andy Burnham is almost certain to be the next UK PM, the seventh since 2016. Why did Starmer fail, who is Burnham, and is this all really about Nigel Farage and Reform? Toby talks to UK-based NZ journalist Richard Adams about the latest drama, and asks whether Christopher Luxon could learn anything.Plus: In How Good, Lyric Waiwiri-Smith reveals what she has learned about British romance from two powerful texts: Jane Austen's Persuasion and Love Island UK.At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at ⁠thespinoff.co.nz⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael just became the highest-grossing music biopic of all time. Gens Z and Alpha have him on high-rotate. And a man who looks just like him is drawing hordes of adoring fans across the streets of Christchurch. Alex Casey, fresh from hanging with the impersonator of the moment, joins Toby to explore the Jackson revival, and ask: how did he shake off the shadows of such serious allegations? Plus: in How Good, Te Aihe Butler and Toby sing the praises of the Hurricanes and the Super Rugby champions' superpower song. At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at thespinoff.co.nz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Staff writer Tara Ward has been writing about local TV on The Spinoff for over a decade. Today we published her Cover Story looking back at how Outrageous Fortune came to be, 20 years after the first episode aired on New Zealand TVs. Tara spoke to the creators, writers, directors and stars of one of New Zealand's most beloved shows, and tells the behind the scenes tales of its journey to our screens. If you've never seen Outrageous Fortune, I'd suggest reading Tara's feature and then pressing play on episode one. And if you're a longtime fan, The Spinoff will have Outrageous stories running all week to celebrate its 20 year anniversary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Five years on from the Zoom Boom and in the middle of a cost of living crisis, Alex Casey investigates what is motivating women to get Botox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior writer Alex Casey has always been fascinated by the multi-billion-dollar appearance industry, both as a consumer and a journalist. Today The Spinoff published a Cover from Alex, headlined “Is everyone getting Botox without me?” Alex is 33 and looks 23, or so a Botox specialist said. But she's been thinking about injectables and how they seem to be everywhere she turns. So she spoke to dozens of women about their decisions to either get Botox or stay away from it, as well as those who've administered them, with mixed feelings. The story is a thoroughly researched but also deeply personal feature about the decisions women must make about their bodies every day. Alex appeared on Behind the Story to talk first-person feature writing, ageing and having your mind changed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ātea editor Liam Rātana has reported two stories recently on the same topic, a topic that is so often ignored by both media and everyday New Zealanders: veterans. Our returned or retired army personnel are at the sticky end of almost every social measure: unemployment, mental health, suicide. But without even a national register of how many veterans we have, it's even harder to tell the stories of a community that hasn't been quantified yet. Liam's work covers the recent Waitangi Tribunal hearings into the treatment of Māori veterans as well as a veteran group's call to boycott the formal ceremonies of Anzac day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Casey is a pop culture writer and expert and also an incredible investigative journalist. This week she combined the two to investigate why popular global shows in New Zealand are just a little bit shorter than overseas in ‘Mystery of the missing minutes: Why are TV shows shorter in New Zealand?' And what happens when the answer to a question is a little bit boring but you still want to write about it? Plus, there's wild chat about Lorde's new album teaser and why it suggests her greatest ever work is about to come out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the premier local TV writer at The Spinoff, Tara spends a good chunk of her time thinking about what's on our screens and why. This year has gotten off to a roaring start, with the big hitters of television returning, like Severance, White Lotus and Handmaid's Tale, as well as new trendsetters like Adolescence. Tara joins Behind the Story to talk old favourites and the current state of broadcast television in New Zealand. Subscribe to Rec Room and other Spinoff newsletters here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Sunday 23rd March, hundreds marched to parliament in support of gender-affirming care for youth. Meanwhile, Winston Peters declared a “war on woke” in his state of the nation address. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith wrapped the two together in a story we published earlier this week, calling the dichotomy “two visions of New Zealand”. She joins Gabi Lardies to talk about all the attention on trans healthcare and the so-called “woke mind virus”. A vision of two New Zealands: The ‘war on woke' and a hīkoi for trans healthcare The Winston Peters glossary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A five-strong line-up of guests began with avid reader Courtney Johnston who discussed her passion for reading and the books she loves most; writers Carl Shuker and Duncan Sarkies joined to chat about their latest novels and how they came to be; to round off the group Unity Books manager Susanna Andrew and Unity's Aotearoa book buyer Melissa Oliver (Ngāti Porou) joined the stage to give insights on the health of our publishing sector, current trends, and some sparky views on the "Shockams". Books by the authors in the episode: Duncan Sarkies' latest novel: Star Gazers Carl Shuker's latest novel: The Royal Free Book recommendations from our guests: Courtney Johnston: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith A Touch of Mistletoe by Barbara Comyns Irma Voth by Miriam Toews Carl Shuker: Vanishing Point by David Markson Duncan Sarkies: Black Cat, White Dog by Kelly Link The Dark Dark by Samantha Hunt Doppelganger: A trip into the mirror world by Naomi Klein Susanna Andrew:  Makeshift Seasons by Kate Camp Melissa Oliver: This Ragged Grace by Octavia Bright Ash by Louise Wallace The Chthonic Cycle by Una Cruickshank Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After three years and eight months writing from the Auckland office, staff writer Shanti Mathias is heading south. In that time, she has eaten locusts, ranked nuts, interviewed someone while cycling, and found herself in sewage pipes. Very intrepid! Shanti joins Gabi Lardies on Behind the Story to look back on four of her most iconic stories, her particular interests in science, conservation, gambling and transport, and to get the scoop on her unfinished business. Getting rid of predators is one thing. Keeping them gone is another Rainbow warmth and garish colours: When did stripy polyprop disappear? Sinking lids and rising profits: The problem with pokies Inside the exclusive, chaotic, painful NFT party at Auckland's Longroom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we published a deeply researched and reported story by Liam Rātana. It takes an inside look at what many people face when they are considering starting a family – tricky ethical choices and less than ideal medical and legal systems. When Liam pitched the story in our weekly editorial meeting a few weeks ago, it was a personal experience, but he chose to focus the final article on others' experiences and interviews with experts in the field. I wanted to know the thinking behind his approach, and what the process of reporting had been like for him. The genetic gamble: Having children when you carry a hereditary condition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While many journalists are trawling Reddit, X and TikTok for stories, Joel MacManus is browsing Papers Past, an online archive of digitised historical media. This week he may have solved the murder case of an emu that died at the Wellington Zoo in 1907 and last year he made a near definitive ruling on whether or not Te Rauparaha really did drink at the Thistle Inn. The resulting investigations make for gripping reading. Gabi Lardies takes over the mic on this week's Behind the Story and is joined by Joel MacManus to discuss why he is so intrigued by these questions and how he sets about solving them. Windbag: The unsolved case of the Wellington emu murder Windbag: Did Te Rauparaha really drink at the Thistle Inn? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, everyone and their dog was talking Destiny Church and Man Up punching their way into a an Auckland Pride children's event, terrifying staff and families alike. Head of audience and senior writer Anna Rawhiti-Connell wrote a column about the prime minister's, in her view, weak response to the event and what it said about him politically.Anna joined me on Behind the Story to share how she lands on column ideas, the purpose and value of opinion alongside reporting, and what it is that turns a passing thought into a thousand written words. When protest isn't peaceful, you don't have to be a church mouse about condemning it Christopher Luxon's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week The Spinoff hosted a galentines party at Q Theatre in Auckland to celebrate the release of Bryn & Ku's Singles Club, a six-part video series following two crack up comedians on their quest for love. Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester are both single and looking to change that. In Singles Club, they travel the country looking for love and speaking to all sorts of people about what it means to be single as you get older. The show is equal parts hilarious and heart-wrenching. After watching the first episode with a live audience, I spoke to Bryn and Ku for a live Behind the Story about making such a vulnerable show, the chaos of dating on camera, and whether or not the search for love was fruitful. The first episode of Bryn & Ku's Singles Club is out now on The Spinoff, Instagram and Youtube, with new episodes released every Tuesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded on the sandy shores of the mighty North, guest hosts Liam Rātana and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (along with regular producer Te Aihe Butler) take over The Fold for a behind-the-scenes look at how the media covers Waitangi. After three days of politician stand ups, haukāinga-led forum panels and more story leads than we had time to cover, what stood out? What did we learn? And how can The Spinoff get a golf cart for Waitangi 2026? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week was the first week back for politicians in parliament, which meant a big week for anyone reporting in the gallery. Newly minted Spinoff political reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith spent 12 hours listening to oral submissions to the select committee on the treaty principles bill, and started her new column Echo Chamber, which recaps the lively question times in the House for those too busy to watch parliament TV. Lyric joined Madeleine Chapman to share how she's settling in and what her aspirations are for the next six months in the gallery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind the Story is taking a break over summer. We'll be back soon with new episodes but, until then, here's one of our favourites from 2024: Anna Rawhiti-Connell knows more about the internet and how it functions than probably any other journalist in New Zealand. And this week she had the perfect subject: Raygun, the Olympic breakdancing competitor from Australia. Raygun has been many different things since she first revealed herself in the final weekend of the Paris Games. She's been an icon, an embarrassment, a hero, and now apparently the subject of an investigation. Anna tracked her rise and fall and rise and fall in a deep dive for The Spinoff. She joins Madeleine Chapman this week to talk about the latest developments, as well as share in some lukewarm takes about New Zealand's success in Olympic sports. Anatomy of an Olympic internet sensation: Raygun's fall and rise and fall and rise and… ‘That's hip hop' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind the Story is taking a break over summer. We'll be back soon with new episodes but, until then, here's one of our favourites from 2024: The Spinoff's new Ātea editor Liam Rātana started in his role on Monday May 27. On the Thursday of that week, there were nationwide protests against government policies affecting Māori, as well as the release of the coalition government's first budget. Rātana jumped straight in, writing a number of stories including a feature on the protests that looked more broadly at Māori activism and asked: Is protesting still the most effective way to bring about lasting change? It's a compelling read, presenting the views of those who favour different methods of lobbying, and is a strong indication of how Liam approaches his work – with a curious mind and an interest in hearing out all perspectives. Liam joins Madeleine Chapman on Behind the Story to talk te ao Māori reporting and his quest to develop more Māori print journalists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior writer at The Spinoff Anna Rawhiti-Connell rounds out the year with special guests Emma Wehipeihana and Hayden Donnell, live on stage at Q Theatre in Auckland. They jumped backwards into the year's headlines, political dramas, and some of the best Spinoff yarns. Listen to the recording of this Spinoff Live event for a smattering of karaoke, a Ray Gun retrospective, a vote on whether Hayden is "brat", predictions for next year, and some spicy takes about the year's big moments. To find out more about The Spinoff's series of live events visit https://thespinoff.co.nz/events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After more than 80 columns, Hera's advice spanned the spectrum of human troubles. For our second live event, we revisited four problems from the archives, talked about Hera's response, and heard updates from the callers themselves. Note: the callers emailed in their updates so the voices you hear won't be their actual voices. Instead you'll hear some of the greatest voice talent that works in the Spinoff offices. Recorded in September 2024. Help Me Hera: Men I haven't seen in years keep crawling out of the woodwork Help Me Hera: My friend dumped me and I don't know why Help Me Hera: I need my partner to eat some goddamn veges Help Me Hera: How do I stop being the nosiest person alive? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior writer Alex Casey has a long history with cinema, both as a reviewer and as a former projectionist. This week she wrote two film-adjacent features. The first had Alex travel to Akaroa to speak to the people running a bustling local cinema and then go down a rabbit hole of South Island cinemas holding on to the movies as a third space. And the second is just a fun appreciation of our strangely high proportion of successful child actors, and what makes it possible to succeed here at 11 years old. She appeared on Behind the Story to talk local reporting, the magic of movies and the very best of our child actors. The small town cinemas holding on at the edge of the world How does New Zealand produce so many successful child actors? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, senior writer at The Spinoff Anna Rawhiti-Connell was joined on stage at the Hannah Playhouse by Wellington editor Joel MacManus, along with special guests RNZ's Charlotte Cook and Billy T nominee Maria Williams, to review the year. They jumped backwards into the year's headlines, political dramas, and some of the best Spinoff yarns. Listen to the recording of this Spinoff Live event for a smattering of karaoke, a Ray Gun reveal, a vote on whether Wellington was "brat", predictions for next year, and some spicy takes about the year's big moments. If you'd like to attend The Year in Review live at Auckland's Q Theatre on Wednesday 11th December, get your tickets here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Normally on The Fold, we discuss events in the wider media, but today, the subject is us and the future of The Spinoff. Published on site today is an open letter from Duncan, The Spinoff's editor Madeleine Chapman, and its CEO Amber Easby. It toplines where The Spinoff is right now as a platform – this paradoxical place where our audience is the strongest it has ever been, outside of events like Covid or elections – but that the stagnant ad market, and a hard drop in public funding for our work, has left us in a really tricky situation needing to make a very real call for help. First, Duncan speaks to our editor, Madeleine Chapman, and our head of audience, Anna Rawhiti-Connell about what we're asking for and why we're asking for it. Duncan is then joined by Spinoff CEO Amber Easby to dig into some numbers that show just how radically our revenue picture has changed and explain why our audience is now our last, best shot at retaining the ability to carry on doing what we do. Please take the time to read the open letter at https://thespinoff.co.nz/sos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zeni Gibson has been stalked and gruesomely harassed for nearly nine years by a man she rejected when she was 17. This is her story. Content warning: this story contains graphic descriptions of threatened violence, including sexual violence. Please take care. As told to Madeleine Holden. Read by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Made with support from The Spinoff Members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, staff writer Lyric Waiwiri-Smith attended the Auckland event of the national apology to survivors of abuse in care. That historic event was quickly followed by another, with the nine-day hīkoi arriving in parliament to protest a number of government decisions, particularly the Treaty Principles bill. Lyric and Ātea editor Liam Rātana reported on the hīkoi as it passed through Auckland. As journalists these were big stories, but as Māori journalists, they held an even greater weight and sense of responsibility to tell them in the right way. It's a responsibility not shared by most other journalists in New Zealand, and one that can be hard to leave at work at the end of the day. Lyric and Liam join editor Madeleine Chapman on Behind the Story to discuss the apology, the hīkoi, and the challenge of separating work and life when your work involves reporting on your own lived experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices