Madeleine Chapman

1 week ago | thespinoff.co.nz | Madeleine Chapman

Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. This week I found myself surrounded by collective action in all its forms. I watched the Auckland Philharmonia perform Hans Zimmer’s greatest hits to a packed out Aotea Centre for Art of the Score last weekend. It was incredible and rare to see such a large, diverse crowd brave a miserable wet evening for the orchestra. Film composers like Hans Zimmer have proven to be a gateway drug for classical music.

2 weeks ago | thespinoff.co.nz | Madeleine Chapman

It may only be a 15-second teaser but there’s plenty to suggest album four will be Lorde’s greatest. Art is subjective and can be multiple things at once but sometimes you just know. You just know when someone is cooking. Not since 2021 – a genuine lifetime ago when you think about it – have we heard new music from Lorde.

2 weeks ago | thespinoff.co.nz | Madeleine Chapman

Madeleine Chapman reflects on a week of bleak reading. Nothing in life is free. Everyone knows that. But for a blissful eight months, my commute was. After closing Mount Eden station nearly a decade ago to redevelop it, Auckland Transport eventually opened a new, frequent bus route (64) to connect the stations on either side through Mount Eden. Because it was technically replacing the train, it didn’t have a charge..

3 weeks ago | thespinoff.co.nz | Madeleine Chapman

The small town on the Kāpiti Coast shines every March with Māoriland. “We give out gloves with this one,” she said, handing me a pair of blue surgical gloves alongside what I thought would be an ordinary cheeseburger. I shouldn’t have even ordered a cheeseburger given I was standing at the Pepe’s Cafe truck, the famous pie makers from Kenepuru. But here I was, holding an actual bowl (not a cardboard box) with a burger literally swimming in white sauce.

3 weeks ago | thespinoff.co.nz | Madeleine Chapman

The comments were made in a meeting with a Jewish community leader. Three New Zealand community groups, two representing Jewish voices, are calling for Stephen Rainbow to resign from his role as chief human rights commissioner after what they believe were Islamophobic comments made during an official meeting with a Jewish community leader. At the time of Rainbow’s appointment last year, he was questioned about his history of pro-Israel statements and writing.