Joel Macmanus

An in-depth study of New Zealanders named Chris. *Unless otherwise specified, Chris includes Christoper and Christine, but not Christina, Christian or any other variant. On 25 January 2023 Chris Hipkins made history. When he took the oath of office at Gov... See more

The best tour of Wellington costs just $4.34 with a Snapper card. Summer read – originally published July 11 2025. On most bus trips, efficiency is paramount. The goal is to get from A to B, cheaply and (ideally) quickly. But there are those occasional, s... See more

Nearing the end of his career, the world’s greatest unicycle racer chases the sport’s most elusive record. Summer read – originally published February 11 2025. There’s something different about world-class athletes. Even if you know nothing about their sp... See more

Joel MacManus reviews a new documentary about the prolific New Zealand author, who might just have found the secret to a happy life. Summer read – originally published September 20 2025. Joy Cowley is contemplating her death. In the final moments of the d... See more

How a big sign on the Wellington waterfront exposed a problem with local news. Summer read – originally published January 21 2025. Cringeworthy. Childish. Trashy. Embarrassing. Tacky. Encouraging illiteracy. Stupid. Piece of junk. Unimpressive. Hideous. T... See more