Archive

In Defence Of The Small Room

Posted 12:57pm Saturday 10th October 2026 by Gryffin Blockley

Signing a flat is exhilarating.  I think it’s just part of that ‘grass is always greener’ mentality: throughout the year, you notice more and more things wrong with your living conditions that make it all too easy to glorify your digs for next year. Whether it’s a Read more...

So You’ve Got a Degree. Now What?

Posted 12:49pm Saturday 10th October 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet

At some point – tragically – university ends. Your student email is deactivated, the midweek hangovers become less defensible, and people start expecting you to exchange roughly eight hours of your day for money. Boo.  If you’re currently staring down graduation and Read more...

4 Modern Dating Situations And How To Deal With Them

Posted 11:51am Sunday 4th October 2026 by Jesse Valpy

Dating isn’t easy, especially at university. Everything’s changed since our parents were courting each other via carrier pigeon, so we’ve put together some advice applicable to today’s dating scene. This isn’t one-size-fits-all, but it’s a starting point.  Read more...

Help! I’m In A Homoerotic Friendship!

Posted 11:50am Sunday 4th October 2026 by Critic

Relationships are not a concrete concept, but rather something much more fluid. This may very well be one of the biggest lessons I have learnt since moving out of home and going to university. ‘Boyfriend and girlfriend’ is not a rigid term, it turns out. The more people you meet and form Read more...

What’s Your Number?

Posted 2:12pm Sunday 27th September 2026 by Haritha Surendran Nair

Hector* clocks in at 7, Tonya* at 10, Dominica* at 16 and Augusto*? A solid 41. Get your mind out of the gutter, folks – I’m not talking about that number. I’m talking about a number that – through no fault of your own – can change your life, make or break your dream Read more...

Your Body, On Drugs: What's Actually Happening in There?

Posted 2:09pm Sunday 27th September 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet

Today is a very special day. Today, we are riding the Magic School Bus into our friend Sally. Sally is having a very normal night for an Otago student. There’s alcohol in her stomach, caffeine keeping her eyes open and nicotine being passed around. As the evening progresses, things are Read more...

Flatting Rights 101: What They Don’t Tell You

Posted 11:48am Sunday 20th September 2026 by Pieta Campbell, Jackson Larner, Ivy Turner and Jack Vivian

Have you had some dodgy experiences in your time flatting? Do you wanna know if your landlord is a GC or just taking advantage of the fact you're a student? Are all flats meant to smell musty and have drains that don't actually drain? Take this quiz to test out your flatting knowledge, Read more...

Critic Te Ārohi’s Guide to BYO Wine Pairings

Posted 11:37am Sunday 20th September 2026 by Critic Staff

There comes a time in every student's life when you must stop choosing wine based solely on what's cheapest, has the cutest bottle, or contains the most alcohol. Not every time, obviously – we’re not made of money. But perhaps for one glorious evening, while sitting in a BYO and Read more...

Tipihaere in Tōkyō

Posted 12:29pm Sunday 13th September 2026 by Brady Simeon

There is something slightly unsettling about turning 21. Everyone makes such a fuss about it that you start wondering whether you’re supposed to feel different when the number changes. Spoiler: it doesn’t. I’d spent enough time imagining the usual party: a big venue, an even bigger Read more...

GRWM: Pounamu Palette

Posted 12:27pm Sunday 13th September 2026 by Jessie-Jade Witeri (Ngāti Whakāue, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Whanaunga)

Imagine the South Island launching its own eyeshadow palette. Crack open the compact, and you’ll find smoky forest greens, creamy blue sheens, leafy olives, and icy shimmers that easily double as highlight. Except this collection isn’t sitting beneath the fluorescent lights at Mecca; it Read more...