Archive
Editorial: From the Archives
Posted 4:38pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Nina Brown
Critic Te Ārohi turns 100 this year – and we need your help to celebrate. Over summer, Iris (Features Editor) got cracking on research for the centenary book we’ve proposed. The idea is that she would take a year off her studies to work full-time on digging through the Read more...
Debatable: Chasers: Yay or Nay?
Posted 4:31pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Gryffin Blockley
Chasers: Yay First of all, just because you want to have a chaser doesn’t mean that you can’t handle a shot at all. Let’s dispel that common myth. Pres are meant to be a wholesome experience; if there’s a way to decrease the grossness, why not go for it? Nights Read more...
Booze Review: Woodstock Whiskey Lemonade
Posted 4:19pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Gin Swigmore
Woodstock have officially hopped on the ‘soft drinks made alcoholic’ bandwagon with the release of their Ginger Ale and Whiskey Lemonade. This move seems to follow on from the trend of brands making ‘healthy’ RTDs, which just taste like water that’s been left in your Read more...
Local Produce: The Dumpling Lady
Posted 6:56pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Jonathan McCabe
The art of building a community through dumplings often gets lost in the fold. If you’re fiending a feed on campus, the best place to head is 'The Dumpling Lady'. Here, perched in the shade of Union Hall across from the OUSA arches, you'll find Catherine Page and her trusty Read more...
Booze Review: Emerson’s Dirty Bird IPA
Posted 6:49pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Gin Swigmore
Welcome back to another year of booze. We’re kicking things off with a bang thanks to the new Emerson’s Dirty Bird, the latest member of the Bird Dog family for all you IPA nerds. Though new on the scene, Dirty Bird is sure to become a household name with its captivating taste, one Read more...
Debatable: Should we throw eggs at freshers?
Posted 6:46pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Hanna Varrs
Against Yeah, you’re a first-year student. A fresher. But isn’t the whole ‘egg the fresher’ trope overdone? Come up with something funnier, @therestofthestudentbody. Pick on someone your own size instead of a bunch of vulnerable 17 and 18-year-olds (weird when you put it Read more...
Mi Goreng Graduate: Burger Bowls
Posted 6:36pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Ruby Hudson
Hello and welcome to another year of Critic Te Ārohi recipes! We are kicking off the year with something fresh, tasty and customisable that the whole flat will love. This is a take on a classic burger, just with the fun twist of deconstruction and bowl-ifying to make it feel fancy. Feel free to Read more...
OUSA Exec: OUSA's Five Big Issues
Posted 6:29pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Liam White
Nau mai, haere ma – whether you’re stepping onto campus for the first time or back for another year, welcome to Otago! I hope you’ve had a chance to recharge over the break, because what’s ahead is everything that makes student life special – long nights, great Read more...
Horoscopes: Issue 1 2025
Posted 5:57pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Critic
Aquarius The new year's goals crumbled pretty early, but that doesn't mean you need to wait until next year to quit those naughty habits. Try giving up the vape, hitting the books and giving your vibrator a deep clean. Fav moment of Ori: Monday in U-Bar! Pisces It’s your season, Read more...
Editorial: The City of Spokes
Posted 5:44pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Nina Brown
Welcome back, suckers! Welcome back to a new year of living it large at the cosiest wee campus-based university that Aotearoa has to offer. Now that I once again have you all by the balls of editorial control, here’s my pitch: make North Dunedin a City of Spokes. In a move almost as Read more...
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 (Ngāi Tahu: Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāti Waewae, Ngāti Hāteatea)
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...
Previous Results 
