Archive

OUSA Student General Meeting is Here

Posted 3:44pm Sunday 21st May 2023 by Nina Brown

The OUSA annual student general meeting is this Tuesday, May 23, at 5:30pm in Auahi Ora (the new food court where Union Grill used to be). There’s also going to be a quiz night there directly afterward - with prizes! Congratulations on engaging in student politics! It’ll be happy hour Read more...

Graduation Walk Diverted by Cones

Posted 3:21pm Sunday 21st May 2023 by Zak Rudin

This year’s graduation ceremony could not follow the traditional, glamorous path down George Street. Instead, the procession started at First Church and walked around to the Moray Place entrance of the Town Hall. According to a Uni spokesperson, this was due to the George Street revamp. You Read more...

Coup Leader Steps Down

Posted 3:17pm Sunday 21st May 2023 by Fox Meyer

Reid, OUSA’s Clubs and Socs Representative, is stepping down from his role. He told Critic Te Ārohi that he would be returning to his home in the USA before next semester to take up another job offer, but we think it’s probably something shadier than that. Reid has a long history Read more...

OUSA, TEU Protest Uni Cuts

Posted 3:29pm Sunday 14th May 2023 by Hugh Askerud

In a day of dual protests, OUSA members marched on the office of local Labour MP David Clark and Tertiary Education Union (TEU) members headed to the Clocktower. University admin received plenty of blame for their current financial woes, but most critiques and calls for action were directed at Read more...

Nine Streakers at “Most Cooked Game Ever”

Posted 3:25pm Sunday 14th May 2023 by Hugh Askerud

Nine streakers blessed spectators of the Highlanders vs Chiefs bout on Friday, May 5, who roared onto the field during the game (fully clothed) on three separate occasions - before being promptly clobbered by an ostensibly brutish security force. Though motives for the streaking remain a mystery, Read more...

New ‘Rat King Landlord’ Just Dropped

Posted 3:22pm Sunday 14th May 2023 by Zak Rudin

A brand-new issue of ‘Rat King Landlord’, written by Murdock Stephens, hit the streets of Ōtepoti on Friday, May 5. Originally published in 2020, the novel-turned-tabloid-newspaper is a comedic satirical story about a rat that becomes a landlord. But behind the layers of satire Read more...

Prospective Students Deterred by Staff Cuts

Posted 3:04pm Sunday 14th May 2023 by Nina Brown

If you were on campus last Monday, chances are you tripped over a highschooler gawking at a map of the Uni with their mum. Critic Te Ārohi took the opportunity to ambush prospective students (prospies) to see if the incoming staff cuts had influenced their uni decisions. While most Read more...

Students take over Pequeño

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 14th May 2023 by Nina Brown

Your local speakeasy vibe has come under new management. As of Monday, May 15, student couple Jaz and Alex are taking the wheel of Pequeño. The pair want to acknowledge the “heritage” of Pequeño while bringing a “bit of love to it”, as the bar has been open Read more...

Capping Show’s Round the Corner (Again)

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 14th May 2023 by Nina Brown

Capping Show is back this week for its 129th year. Critic Te Ārohi chatted with Tucker, one of the four directors of this year’s show. For those who don’t know, the Capping Show is the longest running student review in the world (allegedly). “It’s gone through both Read more...

OUSA, TEU Protest Staff Cuts

Posted 4:53pm Tuesday 9th May 2023 by Hugh Askerud

In a day of dual protests, OUSA members marched on the office of local Labour MP David Clark and Tertiary Education Union (TEU) members headed to the Clocktower. University admin received plenty of blame for their current financial woes, but most critiques and calls for action were directed at Read more...

Prospective Students Deterred by Staff Cuts

Posted 5:06pm Monday 8th May 2023 by Nina Brown

If you were on campus last Monday, chances are you tripped over a highschooler gawking at a map of the Uni with their mum. Critic Te Ārohi took the opportunity to ambush prospective students (prospies) to see if the incoming staff cuts had influenced their Uni decisions.   While most Read more...

Uni Budget Cuts Provoke Outcry

Posted 2:08pm Sunday 7th May 2023 by Zak Rudin

A panel of staff and students slammed the Uni for its funding cuts at OUSA last Monday, May 1. The Uni is set to cut $60 million from their budget this year, resulting in sweeping job losses across all departments. In response, around 25 people (mostly students) went to the ‘May Day Read more...

Landlords are (Once Again) Pressuring Students to Sign Early

Posted 2:06pm Sunday 7th May 2023 by Rosa Hehir

It’s that time of year again: students are feeling the pressure to decide whether to re-sign or leave their current flats for 2024. If you’re on a fixed-term lease, you don’t actually need to do this until 28 days before departure. Critic Te Ārohi spoke to a couple students Read more...

Student Petitions for Accessible ADHD Assessment

Posted 1:35pm Sunday 7th May 2023 by Hugh Askerud

Otago Uni student Jasmine has put forward a petition to parliament to make ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments more accessible and affordable in Aotearoa. At time of writing, her petition - which will close on July 1st - has the backing of 2049 signatures. Jas’ petition seeks Read more...

Scabies Outbreak Divides Student Government

Posted 1:32pm Sunday 7th May 2023 by Fox Meyer

An outbreak of scabies is causing rifts within the 2023 OUSA Student Executive team. The team, once tight-knit over their controversial rise to power, is divided along party lines. Reid, the Clubs and Socs rep, campaigned on the promise of ‘Scabies-Free 2050’, but Welfare and Equity Read more...

What do the cuts mean for YOU?

Posted 4:15pm Sunday 30th April 2023 by Critic

The University’s current financial health is looking about as healthy as a deep-fried Mars bar, and many will be wondering what exactly this means for students. In their communications about the projected slashes to staff numbers and papers, the Uni said that all students will “be able Read more...

OUSA Clubs Unite for Earth Day

Posted 4:12pm Sunday 30th April 2023 by Zak Rudin

Last Saturday marked Earth Day, an international day of recognition to Papatūānuku and to raise awareness for environmental issues. To celebrate, around 30 students from a diverse range of OUSA clubs gathered at Woodhaugh Gardens “to celebrate te taiao (the natural world), tangata Read more...

Rat World Mag’s Fifth Issue Launches at Yours

Posted 4:08pm Sunday 30th April 2023 by Remy the Rat

Rat World, an independent quarterly publication, celebrated the release of their fifth issue with a launch party hosted by Evening Books and Yours cafe. The Tāmaki Makaurau based magazine launched the issue in Ōtepoti after Evening Books owner Frances offered to host. The party was an Read more...

Central Otago’s Drug Bust a Year in the Making

Posted 3:33pm Sunday 30th April 2023 by Jamiema Lorimer

Operation Vintage commenced in March of last year following a concerning increase of drugs and drug-related harm in Cromwell. Three men are facing charges for the sale and supply of cannabis and methamphetamines, and the unlawful possession of firearms. Properties were raided in Cromwell, Tarras, Read more...

The $40,000 Cone-undrum

Posted 3:30pm Sunday 30th April 2023 by Nina Brown

Currently, there are 1294 cones on the DCC’s George Street revamp project. They revealed that they’ve lost around $10k worth of cones and road signs to theft and damage on the project every quarter. That’s $40k a year. They said that, while they couldn’t break that figure Read more...

Salt in the Wound

Posted 2:48pm Tuesday 25th April 2023 by Fox Meyer

Over the weekend, a local man survived a gunshot to the liver. We do not know if the attack on the young Green-affiliated figure has anything to do with politics, but what we do know is that Jack Brazil - with a bullet wound in his abdomen - asked media to respect his privacy by holding off on Read more...

Otago Campus Vegans Support the “Vegan Treaty”

Posted 3:09pm Sunday 23rd April 2023 by Zak Rudin

The Otago Campus Vegans (OCV) unveiled their plans for a ‘Vegan Treaty’ to a crowd of around 20 people last Tuesday at OUSA. Claire, Vegan Society of Aotearoa spokesperson, told attendees via Zoom that the treaty has 38 proposals to be taken to local councils. They range from declaring a Read more...

Arana Students in Limbo after Hall Delays

Posted 2:28pm Sunday 23rd April 2023 by Hugh Askerud

Students of Arana College are facing uncertainty this year as proposed renovations have come to an inconclusive end. Weeks ago, the University advised Arana students that residents “will no longer be moving to Te Rangihīroa College this year as previously planned,” despite previous Read more...

Death by a Hundred Cuts

Posted 2:26pm Sunday 23rd April 2023 by Fox Meyer

Last Thursday, the University of Otago sent out a shock press release announcing that several hundred academic and staff positions were going to be slashed. This came a day after the Uni also announced that the Bachelor of Applied Science programme was going to be discontinued, and weeks after Read more...

Retail Revamp Aims to Benefit Students

Posted 2:21pm Sunday 23rd April 2023 by Nina Brown

If you’ve been through George Street recently, you’ll have probably noticed that something big is going down. You probably wondered to yourself why, as a driver, you have to strategise like you’re on fucking Mission Impossible to get from point A to B, or noting the bounty of road Read more...

Death by a Hundred Cuts

Posted 4:46pm Thursday 20th April 2023 by Fox Meyer

On Thursday (4/20 nice) the University of Otago sent out a shock press release announcing that several hundred academic and staff positions were going to be slashed. This came a day after the Uni also announced that the Bachelor of Applied Science programme was going to be discontinued, and weeks Read more...

Alcohol Harm Minimisation Bill Fails

Posted 11:54am Sunday 16th April 2023 by Zak Rudin

The Alcohol Harm Minimisation Bill, proposed by Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick, recently failed at its first reading. The bill wasn’t proposing anything radical like taking away your bevvies; it simply aimed to end product-only advertising and alcohol sponsorship in broadcast Read more...

Tame Zoo Spurs Public Uproar

Posted 11:24am Sunday 16th April 2023 by Hugh Askerud

On Saturday, April 8, the infamous Forsyth Barr Zoo saw a historically low turnout for the Highlanders clash against the Hurricanes. This comes after a general downward trend of Zoo attendance that’s been made starkly apparent this year. Though the Zoo’s capacity of 4,500 hasn’t Read more...

“Stop Leaving the Cemetery a Mess,” Say Primary School Kids

Posted 11:21am Sunday 16th April 2023 by Nina Brown

Year 4 and 5 Ōpoho School students have written a letter to Otago University students asking them to stop leaving litter at Brackens Lookout (AKA the Cemetery). Students essentially told the children to get fucked, saying that the letter was “too long” and that they Read more...

New Food Court Just Dropped!

Posted 11:18am Sunday 16th April 2023 by Nina Brown

University of Otago Hospitality Manager Adrian is inviting students to check out the new food court venue Auahi Ora that opened for business in O-Week of this year. Adrian described it as a “multi-use space” with a new menu, new furniture, social bevvies of all kinds (including booze), Read more...

What’s the Best Day to Get $4 Lunch?

Posted 11:16am Sunday 16th April 2023 by Hugh Askerud

Critic Te Ārohi conducted a survey to answer what some have called “the most fundamental question of student existence”: On which day can you get the best $4 lunch? Opinions varied in the survey, however Monday was deemed the best lunch by 15 students, piping Wednesday by a Read more...

Pride Night at the Museum

Posted 3:16pm Sunday 2nd April 2023 by Lotto Ramsay

Tūhura Otago Museum hosted another After Dark event last Friday–this time, themed for Pride Month. With support from OUSA and Dunedin Pride, the After Dark - Pride Party was another rendition of the museum’s late-night R18 events, following on from the success of After Dark - Love Read more...

Students Raise $120k in Relay for Life

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 2nd April 2023 by

Students donned raincoats (and bunny tails) on Saturday, May 25, for the sixth annual Otago Uni Relay for Life. The 50 teams and 570 individuals signed up to the event raised over the targeted $100k before the relay even began, with the number continuing to climb as relayers circled campus for 12 Read more...

New Details: Eleven Bar “Super Crook”, Report Staff

Posted 3:09pm Sunday 2nd April 2023 by Ruari Warren

A former staff member said their time at Eleven Bar was “unlike any hospo job I’ve ever seen”. Reports from two ex-staff describe management drinking on the job, little to no oversight of employees and a security team that did little to control any of the resulting Read more...

2023 Castle Clean-Up Sees a “Whole New Generation” of Volunteers

Posted 3:07pm Sunday 2nd April 2023 by Anna Robertshawe

Returning for its fourth year, the Castle St clean-up on Friday, March 24, saw around 200 students congregate in the Dunedin sun to participate. Hosted this year by the student-led group Hold Onto Your Friends (HOTYF), the clean-up is aligned with the Sophia Charter, dedicated to Sophia Crestani. Read more...

When You’re Married to the Mob…

Posted 2:45pm Sunday 2nd April 2023 by Hugh Askerud

Ever wondered what it feels like to get harangued by a mob? Hundreds of Dunedinites found out on Saturday March 25, when members of dance crews from across the city hosted one of the most magnanimous flash mobs in Dunedin’s history. Over 100 people engaged in the mob at various points as it Read more...

Students Say Mid-Sem Break Is “Too Short”

Posted 2:39pm Sunday 2nd April 2023 by Emily Esplin

With Easter Break just around the corner, Otago students are once again asking themselves: “Why do we only get a one week break?” Critic Te Ārohi reached out to the Uni for answers. Again. We’ve done this a lot. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Nicholson began by Read more...

Drug Testing: A Q&A with Know Your Stuff NZ

Posted 11:22am Friday 31st March 2023 by Fox Meyer

It's Global Drug Checking Day today! So we've got Lachlan Akers, Regional Co-Manager for KnowYourStuffNZ to answer some common questions about drug checking services in Aotearoa.   Q. What do you mean by drug checking? Isn't drug checking what my employer 'randomly' Read more...

Ōtepoti Stands in Solidarity for Trans Rights

Posted 8:25pm Tuesday 28th March 2023 by Zak Rudin

Around 150 people gathered in the Octagon last Saturday to stand in solidarity with the transgender and irawhiti community. The gathering came in lieu of the arrival of Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (aka Posie Parker), an openly anti-trans woman who recently attracted controversy in Melbourne when Read more...

Students and Alumni React to University’s New Identity

Posted 4:08pm Sunday 26th March 2023 by Arlo Hill

There was a student hui last week to discuss the Uni’s proposed new logo and te reo Māori name. Initial reactions seemed largely supportive from current students, but with some concern over the price tag. Older members of the general public, mostly posting online, seemed to suggest that Read more...

Have Your Say on the Zero Carbon Survey

Posted 3:52pm Sunday 26th March 2023 by Zak Rudin

The DCC has pledged to go carbon neutral by 2030, and they are asking for the help of locals to get there. Their “Zero Carbon Ōtepoti survey” is a handy opportunity to have a say on issues including transport, energy use at home, and waste management  - all from the comfort of Read more...

Teachers Fight for Their Live(lihood)s

Posted 3:39pm Sunday 26th March 2023 by Emily Esplin

On Thursday, March 16, thousands of teachers and supporters across the motu left their classrooms to strike. Following a few difficult years recovering from consistent delays in education due to the pandemic, teachers are demanding extra support for their students and themselves. Critic Te Read more...

Huzur Teases Castle St on Paddy’s

Posted 3:37pm Sunday 26th March 2023 by

St Paddy’s partiers were teased by a brief appearance by Mustafa and his Huzur Kebab truck on Friday, March 17. Mustafa, owner of North Dunedin’s beloved Huzur Kebab, told Critic Te Ārohi that he got the idea to park up on Castle for the day from a DCC official who agreed it Read more...

Dog With Two Tails Closing

Posted 3:36pm Sunday 26th March 2023 by Zak Rudin

The collapse of Ōtepoti venues continues with Dog with Two Tails set to close on April 1. And no, this is not a prank. Critic Te Ārohi snagged an interview with the best boy’s manager, Phoebe, who said that there were “multiple reasons” behind the closure. An important Read more...

2023 Castle Cleanup sees “a whole new generation” of volunteers

Posted 1:09pm Saturday 25th March 2023 by Anna Robertshawe

Organisers were “really happy” with the turnout this year, speaking to the potential of the Dunedin student community to make positive change.  Last Friday, around 200 students congregated under the Dunedin sun to participate in a community clean up of Castle St. Led by the Read more...

OUSA Reacts to Uni Name Change Proposal

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 19th March 2023 by Fox Meyer

On Wednesday, 15 March 2023, the Uni announced that they’re opening feedback for their new visual identity proposal. Essentially, they’ve come up with a new name and logo for the Uni, which is one piece of a “long-term plan [with] the desire to become a Te Tiriti-led Read more...

Dental School Patient Fees Change

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 19th March 2023 by Fox Meyer

Patient fees at the Dental School now cost a flat rate of $120 per session, or $90 with a Community Services Card. The Dental School announced this change with the explanation that it will ensure their financial sustainability without sacrificing their level of care.   Previously, fees Read more...

Sextortion Scam at Otago One of Many

Posted 2:56pm Sunday 19th March 2023 by Fox Meyer

Nine male students have reported being hit with a sextortion scheme in Dunedin over the course of a single week. If they didn’t pay a ransom, their nude images would be sent to their course mates at Otago University.   Police told us that there were 81 reports of sextortion across Read more...

Watch Out: Coffee News has a Rebel at the Helm

Posted 2:28pm Sunday 19th March 2023 by Ruari Warren

In defiance of the Coffee News franchise’s prime directive of being trivial and mediocre, local franchisee Ash is keen to promote Dunedin's underground print media scene in its coffee-table-corporate-shitposting pages.   Ōtepoti Zinefest organiser Spencer Hall describes Read more...

Former Green Party Co-leader Joins Law Faculty

Posted 2:15pm Sunday 19th March 2023 by Nina Brown

Former Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei has joined the Otago Uni Faculty of Law as a Senior Lecturer. This semester, she is taking the third-year compulsory law paper LAWS302: Jurisprudence. Critic Te Ārohi spoke to students to see what they thought about the Uni’s newest Read more...