The mystery of the banded sea krait

The Spinoff Daily, Tuesday December 20

Dec 20

Ahiahi mārie, welcome to The Spinoff Daily in partnership with the Brain Drink, Ārepa.

Today on The Spinoff, a panel of pundits proffers a fresh set of bold political predictions for 2023, Shanti Mathias profiles a ratty new local publication and Mad Chapman has a quite personal question to ask about the Avatar sequel. Plus: a piping hot new episode of Gone By Lunchtime!

But first, Anna Rawhiti-Connell investigates a serpentine mystery and learns a lot about New Zealand’s misunderstood sea snake.

“Clinton Duffy, a Department of Conservation (DOC) veteran, is New Zealand’s default sea snake expert. He adds the default bit when I ask him how he became the ‘go-to sea snake guy’, explaining that over the years, as it’s become apparent that marine reptiles actually do swim in our waters, he picked up sea snakes as part of his beat. He’s also a shark guy and a sea turtle guy.

I called Duffy under the guise of trying to prove a ridiculous and fantastical theory that I haven’t stopped thinking about all weekend. A banded sea krait was spotted swimming in Auckland’s Viaduct harbour a month ago. Last Tuesday, one turned up on Auckland’s Takapuna beach. The idea that these two sightings could be of the same snake has been as alluring to me as the promise the serpent made to Eve about becoming god-like upon eating forbidden fruit.”

Performing a check-up on NZ's political parties

The Spinoff

Episode

What’s the current state of our political parties as 2022 grinds to a spluttering halt? On the eve of election year, Gone By Lunchtime asks: can Labour rejuvenate? Will National survive the spotlight? How did Act and the Greens keep their polling so strong, and how do they play 2023? Plus: Te Pāti Māori, NZ First and even TOP.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.

Our wildest political predictions for 2023

The literacy magic of television subtitles

The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari tells a harrowing story of pain and resilience

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