Archive

Debatable: Flash mobs, yay or nay?

Posted 11:58pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Hunter Jolly

Nay: Grow up, you’re not in a musical. Nobody wants to have their peace abruptly ripped from them like a vulture peeling the skin off a rodent’s carcass. If I’m ever strolling through the mall, minding my own business, and a flash mob suddenly breaks out, I fully intend to sue. Read more...

Booze Review: Bay & Barnes Chardonnay

Posted 11:39pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Gin Swigmore

A wise man once said to never start your wine drinking journey with expensive wines, because then the cheap shit will taste even worse.  Upon ignoring this advice, I quickly learned that the only thing better than an expensive bottle was a free one, especially when it’s stolen from Read more...

OUSA Exec: BDS Explained

Posted 11:36pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Jett Groshinski

BDS is a global movement launched in 2005 by Palestinian civil society, inspired by South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement. It is a non-violent campaign applying economic and political pressure to encourage compliance with international human rights law through: Boycott – Avoiding Read more...

In the Cage: Throwing away the key

Posted 11:12pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Jordan Irvine

Reader’s note: This column has been in the works since the 30th of July 2024. Welcome to the Cage. As Critic’s designated pop culture expert, I have been a fan of films for a very long time. This often manifested as becoming obsessed with one particular actor's work in a given Read more...

Horoscopes: Issue 3 2025

Posted 11:08pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Critic

Pisces Your delulu optimism will be the only thing keeping you going this week. The whole world will be trying to drag you down but thank GOD for your rose tinted glasses. Just keep your head up and live like that motto on your mum's tea towels: keep on keeping on.  Your Body Mod: Brow Read more...

Editorial: That Scarfie Stereotype

Posted 11:04pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Nina Brown

After recent interactions with national media, I’ve grown a little tired of the way Dunedin students are stereotyped.  Bless them, they’re genuinely intrigued by the spectacle of students burning couches in the street, stealing cones by the thousands, and squatting in our mouldy Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Red Lentil Dhal

Posted 8:19pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Ruby Hudson

Serves: 6 Time: 30 mins  Price: $ This week we have a tasty meal that will satiate vegetarians, vegans, meat-eaters and everything in-between. You can’t go past a good red lentil dhal when craving something comforting, cheap and speedy. Using mostly pantry staples, this recipe Read more...

Local Produce: Nic Sick

Posted 7:57pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Jonathan McCabe

Nic Sick broke into Ōtepoti’s live music scene just as 2024 was drawing to a close. Having formed in halls, the new year has brought a bit of uncertainty, with fewer members and fewer practice spaces. However, the excitement of the unknown has kept the momentum going.   James Read more...

Letters: Issue 2 2025

Posted 6:54pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Critic

LETTERS POLICY Letters should be 150 words or fewer. The deadline is Thursday at 5pm. Get them into Critic by emailing us at critic@critic.co.nz. Letters of a serious nature directly addressing a specific group or individual will not be published under a pseudonym, except in extraordinary Read more...

Horoscopes: Issue 2 2025

Posted 6:46pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Critic

Aries Energies are high at the start of the week, with lots of aesthetic sunrises, Instagram stories, and study seshes. But that doesn't last long. When the burnout hits mid-Wednesday, remember that it's not even a month into uni and that try-hard shit can wait till after mid-sem Read more...

From the Archives: 1981 Critic Editor Chris Trotter reflects on covering the Springbok Tour

Posted 6:42pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Chris Trotter

Chris Trotter, political commentator and 1981 Critic Te Ārohi editor, reflects on his experience reporting on the contreversial Springbok tour and the role of student media. The 56 days of the 1981 Springbok Tour weren’t the whole story – the before and after were just as Read more...

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...