Archive

Girl Power, Girl ... Pilsner?: Critic's rejected booze reviewers

Posted 3:44pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Lotto Ramsay

Critic Te Ārohi just found out about all this "feminism" stuff, and we think it's pretty neat. To show what great allies we are, for our hundredth year of publication Critic has our first ever female booze review moniker! Sometimes the reviewer behind the pseudonym is female, too. Read more...

Opinion: You Suck at Instant Noodles

Posted 11:18pm Monday 17th February 2025 by Lotto Ramsay

There are but three things in this miserable world that are able to give me any semblance of something akin to joy: soup, frugality, and the quiet bliss of an instruction manual. Basically, the way everyone makes their instant noodles in this goddamn city is ensuring I will be first in line at Read more...

Te Rōpū Māori: Te Rito 2025

Posted 10:54pm Monday 17th February 2025 by Te Rōpū Māori

Te Rōpū Māori is the Māori Student’s Association at the Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. TRM strive to represent the interests of tauira Māori at the University, with the ultimate aim of creating a kāinga rua: a home away from home on campus. They run many events Read more...

Your OUSA Executive 2025

Posted 10:44pm Monday 17th February 2025 by OUSA Exec

President Liam White Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome (or welcome back) to Otago! I hope you’ve had a restful break and are ready to dive into another year of cramming study between parties and club events. I’m Liam, your OUSA President for 2025! If you’ve got any Read more...

Editorial: Welcome to Dirty Dunners

Posted 10:28pm Monday 17th February 2025 by Nina Brown

Well here we go again. To many reading this: welcome back, suckers. To the freshers who’ve dug through your hallpack of noodles, vouchers and condoms to find this glorious sample-sized Critic: kia ora, I’m glad you made it. Here’s an introduction to the gig. For those not in the Read more...

Booze Review: Monster

Posted 8:44pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Critic Te Ārohi originally set out to review every energy drink available in the campus vending machines. But upon parking up at the library (Robertson, because it's obviously the best one), it became evident that the only energy drinks you can really get are Monsters. Thus, while Read more...

Debatable: Should you drop out and marry rich?

Posted 8:31pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Ollie Thorns

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For:  There are endless reasons why you should drop out, marry rich, and start a failing pottery business. First and Read more...

Local Produce: The hypoCRITICals

Posted 7:53pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Jordan Irvine

The hypoCRITICals are the finest band in all of Ōtepoti – coincidentally consisting of Critic’s own staff. The band is news editor Hugh on rhythm guitar, design intern Connor on lead guitar, video editor Hunter on drums, horoscope columnist Molly on bass and Bachelor columnist Hanna Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Dumplings

Posted 7:49pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Makes: 30 - 40 dumplings Time: 2 hours (less if you have some mates willing to help) Price: $$ The time has come for the final recipe of the year! We all love a good dumpling so for a final end of the year treat have a go at making your own. This recipe is delicious, and makes a huge bunch Read more...

The TL;DR: Your Weekly Bullshitin Roundup | Week 26

Posted 7:32pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Critic

The DCC is due to update its Local Alcohol Policy, and is seeking feedback on its draft replacement which proposed a ban on new liquor stores “in an area between the Octagon and Gardens shopping centre” Coroner Heather McKenzie released new findings from the May inquest into Sophia Read more...

Takeaways: Week 26

Posted 7:28pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Critic

SOMETHING TO WATCH The Critic Bachelor Finale Video Critic slipped and produced a reality TV series this semester: Critic Bachelor. It wasn’t until the ten singles who’d signed up showed up to the office for the first group date that we realised what we’d signed everyone up Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 26

Posted 6:32pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Critic

Aquarius Group assignments are making you want to run away to Cuba and start a new life, but if you take the reins you can turn around the vibes and steer your group to at least a B+. Don't be fooled by that person who created the doc on the first day, they never do anything. Inedible Read more...

Editorial: Critic Takes a Village

Posted 6:30pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Nina Brown

In honour of this being the last issue of 2024, here’s a supercut of Critic’s year. As you’ll see, Critic Te Ārohi is many things.  Critic is the magazine. It’s every Monday being like Christmas Day, rushing to the stands and holding tangible proof of your hard Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: French Toast

Posted 9:21am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Serves: 4  Time: 45 mins  Price: $ Difficulty: 1/5 Make your friends, family, or special someone say “ooo la la” with a plate of lovingly prepared french toast. This recipe is easy peasy to make and provides a fab vessel for everyone's preferred topping taste. Read more...

Local Produce: emmie

Posted 9:17am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Jordan Irvine

emmie (she/her) is very new to the DJ scene but has already made a considerable impact. After being inspired by Nörty Club and its members, emmie decided to get on the decks – to great success. In the recent OUSA Future DJ competition, she placed second. While the competition was full of Read more...

OUSA Exec: Tēnā Koutou My Subjects!

Posted 9:15am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Liam White

Tēnā koutou my subjects! Congratulations on electing your second dictator in two years. Here’s to a hundred years of Liam’s rule – well, maybe not, but you get the idea! Long live the President! Elections don’t happen in isolation and the success of this election Read more...

Debatable: Would you still love me if I was a worm?

Posted 9:11am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Izzi Anderson

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For Yes, of course I would. Is that even a question? I’d even build you a little worm house with lots of dirt and food Read more...

Booze Review: Battle of the Brewers Tasting Tray

Posted 8:45am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Oktoberfest is truly a beautiful thing. Like all pagan holidays, it’s about getting fucked up. The British have Guy Fawkes, Kiwis have Crate Day, and Germans have a month-long combination of the two in Oktoberfest. In honour of global hermitage to your local, Emerson’s has launched the Read more...

Critic Bachelor Finale

Posted 8:40am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Hanna Varrs

The final night of the Bachelor is upon us. Critic Te Ārohi has arranged for the final ceremony to take place right where it all began: the Critic office (honestly, we never leave). We’ve sent out invites to basically everyone we know, including the singles who are welcome to bring along Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 25

Posted 7:24am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Critic

Aquarius It's time for a new hairstyle. Try a reverse mohawk or going smurf blue. A change of appearance will bring a new lust for life that you have truly been lacking lately. Your friends have been comparing you to sadness from Inside Out and that is just not good enough. Chance of finding Read more...

Editorial: Thank U, Next

Posted 7:21am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Nina Brown

Ellie and I have both taken great inspiration from Dolly Alderton for the love issue. For those who don’t know, Dolly is an award-winning author best known (at least to us) for her memoir Everything I Know About Love, a book written so honestly about a young woman’s experience of love Read more...

OUSA Exec: Vote in the OUSA election!

Posted 5:52pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Emily Williams

“What’s that?” I hear you say. Well folks, this is the time of year again where you get to elect students who give a shit about making sure your life doesn’t suck and that you’re properly represented. Sure, you might not care about student politics, but the student Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Thai Meatball Curry

Posted 5:49pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Time: 1 hr  Serves: 4  Difficulty: 2.5/5 Alternate Option: Use dumplings instead of meatballs for an equally banging meal Recipes like this have been popping up all over my Instagram recently, so I thought it was time to satisfy the craving and make a homemade version. This Read more...

Local Produce: SickBoy

Posted 5:35pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Jordan Irvine

In Dunedin, being a rapper is left of centre in a music scene dominated by Indie Rock. SickBoy, joined by his producers Will and Cameron, is one of the most promising voices in Ōtepoti hip hop with the release of his new EP ‘The Tale of Tim Branson’. Critic Te Ārohi sat down Read more...

Debatable: Should Beer Pong be an Olympic Sport?

Posted 5:32pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Otago University Debating Society

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For  At a point in time where the Olympics have strayed from the traditional track and field, any argument about what it Read more...

Booze Review: Gordon’s Gin & Tonic

Posted 5:14pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Just as the University of Otago is a place of many firsts, Gordon’s Gin & Tonics 7% are the drink of many firsts: your first time going from zero to a hundred on the so-called “mum” spirit, getting blackout in your high school mate’s garage at the age of 16 and vomiting Read more...

Critic Bachelor: Meet Brad’s ‘Flatmates’

Posted 5:12pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Hanna Varrs

Brad is one of the lucky few to escape the North D student rental market and crack into the real deal: living out at Saint Clair with your tidiest mates. His crib is stunning, sporting tasteful lighting and white walls with no weird patch-ups from drunken punch-ups. Sublime. It has the same sense of Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 24

Posted 4:43pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Critic

Aquarius You need to take a break from energy drinks for a week. If you could afford to go to the doctor they would tell you the same. Your resting heart rate is higher than a rabbit’s during sex, which is saying a lot because they fuck fast. Lucky charm: The little rat tail at the nape of Read more...

Editorial: The One Where Critic Does Sport

Posted 4:42pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Nina Brown

If you were to play a word association game with Critic Te Ārohi, “sports” wouldn’t be the first word to come to mind. That’s besides the point, though. Our job is to represent the entire student population rather than reflecting the bits we personally relate to. Read more...

Letter of the Week: Te Huinga Tauira: A Kāihāpai Perspective

Posted 9:22pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Gemella Reynolds-Hatem

Churr my familia, Just writing into the critic to make sure you all are being recognized for all the amazing mahi that you have all done! TREE TREE TREE x Te Rōpū Māori had 30 of their tauira go up to Tāmaki for Te Huinga Tauira, the National Tertiary Māori Students Read more...

Editorial: Call Me Colm

Posted 9:18pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Nina Brown

I’m feeling a little burned out and I'm sure you are, too. Rather than loading a hot take on your plate for you to chew on, I’ve got something else on the menu. This week, it’s time to serve up the potato story cooked up from my undergrad lore. Best enjoyed with a generously Read more...

Critic Bachelor: Meet Lily’s Flatmates

Posted 9:12pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Hanna Varrs

After six weeks of Joel calling the shots, whittling our group of ten singles down to our two finalists Lily and Brad, Critic Bachelor is turning the tables. It’s time for Joel to seek the flatties’ approval. Read on as Lily’s flatmates discover our bachelor’s true intentions Read more...

Local Produce: Frivolry

Posted 9:11pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Jordan Irvine

Frivolry is the newest and hottest and one of the few celtic bands in Ōtepoti. Alex is on accordion, Tom is on mandolin, Juliet and Rosie are on violin, Brody is on bass (but can also play accordion, because “the revolution is coming”), Johnny is on drums, and Maia is the caller. Read more...

Debatable: Flat Pests: Trap and Release or Kill?

Posted 9:01pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Otago University Debating Society

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. Trap and Release Remy was spared his life by Linguini and the two went on to form an unrivalled partnership culminating in Read more...

Booze Review: Clean Collective

Posted 8:54pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Clean Collective is the go-to fitspo drink. It’s a staple for those with social anxiety, who hate drinking but hate looking like a loser more. Coming in plenty of flavours, Clean Collective is bound to cleanse your palette while also getting you a little rinsed. For those who don’t drink Read more...

OUSA Column Half-Page Takeover

Posted 8:52pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Amelia Harris

Winning the half page in the critic was revolutionary for me, a fresher. So in true first-year fashion, I am outing mine and other’s embarrassing fresher moments for any second-years and above who didn’t stop reading after the word ‘fresher’.  Residential Halls The Read more...

Takeaways: Week 23

Posted 8:47pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Critic

SOMETHING TO WATCH Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime Hop on your parent’s Amazon Prime account and binge watch the most wholesome show to hit screens in a hot minute: Clarkson’s Farm. The show follows Jeremy Clarkson’s attempts to help with the operations of his farm in Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 23

Posted 8:31pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Critic Staff

Aquarius Uranus is in retrograde, so throw all your material possessions into the nearest body of water and sit in the corner of your room like Gollum. This is the best way for an Aquarius to connect with their inner child to heal the trauma of losing your MP3 player on Boxing Day 2006. Book Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Spiced Beef Bowl

Posted 8:09pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Time: 1 hr  Serves: 4 Difficulty: 2.5/5 This week’ recipe is inspired by a Thai seven spice blend. There are a lot of different seven spice blends. My spiced beef bowl is influenced by a bunch of different recipes and dictated by what I had on hand in the cupboard. Feel free to Read more...

Critic Bachelor: Trivial Pursuit (Of Joel)

Posted 4:47am Monday 16th September 2024 by Hanna Varrs

A hot new bombshell has entered the villa (Critic office)! Yes, you read that right – we’re stirring the pot. Keegan Wells (OUSA President) is joining the Critic Bachelor for a special guest appearance. Today, the remaining singles Micah, Brad, and Lily will be competing against Keegan Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Rēwena Paraoa

Posted 4:45am Monday 16th September 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Makes: 1 large loaf Time: 10 mins prep, 2 days ferment time; 2 hrs knead and prove, 45 mins bake Difficulty: 5/5 (until you have tried a few times! Then it is super easy) Rēwena paraoa aka rēwena bread is an indigenous potato-based sourdough. In the face of aggressive Read more...

Horoscopes: Maramataka

Posted 4:35am Monday 16th September 2024 by Critic

For Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori from September 16th-22nd, Critic Te Ārohi’s orb reads the maramataka – a calendar highlighting the connection between the moon and our well-being. The energy levels are caused by the gravitational forces of Te Ra, Marama, and Whenua. Rāhina Read more...

Guest Editorial: Get in Loser, it’s Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori

Posted 4:08am Monday 16th September 2024 by Heeni Koero Te Rerenoa (Sky)

Ka pāpā te whatitiri Hikohiko te uira Kahukura ki te rangi He aitu ka riri rongo mai ka hē Ko ngunguru Ko ngangana Ko apārangi Ko te titi o te rua ko te tao whakawahine Ko te motumotu o te riri Te awa o ngā rangatira Taumārere herehere i te riri Te puna i Read more...

OUSA Exec: Churr e te whānuk

Posted 4:02am Monday 16th September 2024 by Gemella Reynolds-Hatem

For non-Māori, some may ask why is Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori a thing? Why is there no English language week? Why do these Māori get a week to themselves?  Well, e te whānau, let me enlighten you my bro.  Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori is our birthright. It is the reo Read more...

Booze Review: Vote Hoiho NZ Pale Ale

Posted 3:58am Monday 16th September 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

There are many pleasures in life. In Dunedin, it’s the Peninsula wildlife and alcohol. Put ‘em together and what do you get? Penguin piss. In honour of this year’s Bird of the Year election, the master brewers at Emerson’s have made a limited edition ‘Vote Hoiho’ Read more...

Debatable: Should Aotearoa have bilingual road signs?

Posted 3:56am Monday 16th September 2024 by Otago University Debating Society

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. Against  It’s clear that the New Zealand government isn’t living up to its obligation to promote te reo Read more...

Local Produce: Achtung!

Posted 3:48am Monday 16th September 2024 by Jordan Irvine

Bring The Noise final losers Achtung! are the newest post-punk band in Ōtepoti. Members include Jacob (he/him) on guitar, Niki (she/they/he) on drums, Henry on bass (he/him) and George (he/him) on guitar. According to Niki, “The genesis of Achtung! is using old Critic’s as cum Read more...

Local Produce: Underbirds

Posted 5:06pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Jordan Irvine

As part of the 2023 Bird of the Year campaign, Science Communication graduates and wildlife photographers Abi Liddell, Brady Clarke, and Isabella Lewis released a ten-minute short film Underbirds: The Fight to Save the Southern New Zealand Dotterel. Pukunui are New Zealand’s most endangered Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Potato Leek Soup

Posted 5:01pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Serves: 5 Time: 1 hr  Price: $ Difficult: 2/5 Attention all of you penny-pinching, budget conscious students! Winter vegetables are cheap as chips at the moment so we may as well make the most of it. Potato leek soup is a real winter warmer, making a delicious recipe for dinners or Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 21

Posted 4:26pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Critic

Aquarius All your shoes are feeling tight this week. Go sockless to allow for extra space in there, but don’t let anyone know – it’s kinda musty. Just say you’re wearing no-show socks, still weird but a little more socially accepted. Daydream Prompt: Losing your shoe while Read more...