Archive

Otago possible contenders

Posted 10:56am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Hugh Baird

The Mitre 10 Cup kicked off over the weekend, with Otago taking on the neighbours from over the border, Southland. Whilst the game took place after Critic went to print, we’re praying that the team managed a win and are nursing a solid hangover this morning.  The Otago team named this Read more...

NZ Politics in review

Posted 10:50am Sunday 21st August 2016 by George Elliott

Parliament’s back for its August session, with new spy legislation set to be introduced by the government. Elsewhere, a new poll shows an increase for the opposition and Labour leader Andrew Little has floated the idea of wiping student loans—with a catch! Following up on Read more...

Island of horror: abuse at Australia’s Nauru detention centre exposed

Posted 10:48am Sunday 21st August 2016 by George Elliott

A cache of 2000 reports pertaining to Australia’s infamous asylum seeker detention centre on the island-nation of Nauru has found its way into the hands of UK newspaper, The Guardian. The leaked documents are sickening, shocking and shameful, which illustrates the scale and severity of the Read more...

National’s Lost Luggage Bill ­— a worthless, cynical attempt to waste everyone’s time

Posted 10:47am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Joel MacManus

National MP Nuk Korako has proposed an entirely ineffective and meaningless Bill in parliament that will do absolutely nothing, is not necessary, and appears to be a deliberate attempt by the government to stall the democratic process. It has resulted in criticism across the board, government Read more...

Fidel Castro calls out Obama in a rare public appearance

Posted 10:38am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Liam Brown

Amidst celebrations for the revolutionist’s 90th birthday, Fidel Castro made a surprise entrance at his birthday gala, the first time he has been seen in public since April. The retired prime minister and president who restructured Cuba into a one-party communist state did not speak at the Read more...

Grocery Prices

Posted 10:36am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Critic

With the price of groceries requiring a small mortgage these days, we at Critic decided it’d be a good idea to compare prices of the big three supermarkets and see where you can get the best bang for your buck. Countdown= $89.80 New World= $84.53 Pak N Save= $77.63  Few top Read more...

UNICEF report shows bleak picture of child poverty in New Zealand

Posted 10:30am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Joe Higham

A UNICEF report has revealed that as many as 305,000 New Zealand children, or 28 percent, currently live below the poverty line. Alone this is problematic, but alongside this is the cost it has on society. The report detailed it costs $10 billion year on year, as well as a $2 billion burden on Read more...

John Key crushes dreams by refusing to decriminalise cannabis

Posted 10:28am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Joe Higham

John Key has revealed that there is no chance of a law change in relation to cannabis following a review into the possibility of personal and or medicinal cannabis usage in New Zealand, believing that it sends the wrong message to the nation’s youth.  An article in the ODT noted John Read more...

University of Canterbury kicks men from gym

Posted 10:26am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Charlotte Haselden

The University of Canterbury has introduced "women only" hours at its campus gym, which has been met with controversy. The decision was made by the university to meet the needs of all the students after a student group submitted a formal request. A spokesperson for the University Read more...

Nominations close for mayoralty race

Posted 10:24am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Joel MacManus

Dave Cull could be facing a tougher race than usual in this year’s DCC Mayoral election, with a total of 11 candidates standing.  DCC elections are run on a Single Transferrable Vote system whereby voters rank the candidates in terms of favorability, eliminating the lowest polling Read more...

New Zealand Young Writers Festival to take place in Dunedin

Posted 10:21am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Tom Kitchin

Calling all writers of any kind! Novelists, journalists, poets, songwriters, illustrators and more—this is the festival for you. From 1 – 4 September, Dunedin will host the second annual New Zealand Young Writers Festival. It will feature 15 completely free events. If you’re stuck Read more...

New World employees vow to continue fight for pay parity

Posted 10:18am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Joel MacManus

Protests at Centre City New World over a $2 an hour pay gap between North Island and South Island stores have resulted in multiple trespasses, a breakdown in negotiations, and threats of legal action after employees and management failed to reach an agreement after months of Read more...

75 turn out to protest Animal Research Centre

Posted 10:16am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Anonymous Bird

Around 75 people attended a protest on Saturday July 13 against the $50 million animal research centre being built on the University of Otago campus. The protest took place at the facility building site on Great King street. It was reportedly peaceful, with no police attendance required and campus Read more...

Meningitis case serves as reminder

Posted 10:13am Sunday 21st August 2016 by Hugh Baird

Brittany Arthur, an Otago Polytechnic nursing student in her final year, died last Saturday after an acute case of meningococcal meningitis.  Arthur had been out for dinner, celebrating her final nursing exam. She awoke the next day with a headache and decided to go back to bed. However, she Read more...

Williamson coming of age

Posted 2:47pm Monday 15th August 2016 by Sean Nugent

During the second test against Zimbabwe last week, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson became the youngest ever batsmen to score a century against every test-playing nation. Not only was he the youngest to do so by over four years, but he also did so in the quickest time —both in terms of days Read more...

International scientists reveal 2015 worst on record for global warming indicators

Posted 2:41pm Monday 15th August 2016 by Sally Wilkins

Findings in a major international report indicate that 2015 was the worst year in modern history across a range of key climatic indicators with the “toppling of several symbolic mileposts”, international scientists have said. The report noted record highs in the average global Read more...

It’s not looking good for Aunty Helen, according to leaked UN Security Coucil straw poll

Posted 2:36pm Monday 15th August 2016 by George Elliott

Despite a worldwide media campaign, a celebrated televised debate performance and a refreshing message, Helen Clark’s bid for the United Nation’s top job could be coming to an end. Clark is in seventh place, according to the results of an informal straw poll conducted by the Security Read more...

Real Change’ remains unchanged: Exec elects to say ‘bye’ to by-Elections

Posted 2:31pm Monday 15th August 2016 by Joel MacManus

2016 is shaping up to be the first year in over two decades in which no OUSA by-elections have taken place. According to records of meeting minutes and annual reports, the last Executive group to make it through an entire year without a by-election was the group from 1994. The last year in which no Read more...

Sleepy second semester students seek secure study space

Posted 2:28pm Monday 15th August 2016 by Joel MacManus

OUSA is hoping to ensure the return of the 24 Hour Study Space for second semester exam time this year. The initiative, which saw the Clubs and Socs building on Albany Street extend its opening hours pasts its usual 10:30pm closing time, was hugely popular among students, who packed out the Read more...

Gender equality takes a hit as pay gap widens

Posted 2:26pm Monday 15th August 2016 by Joe Higham

The gender pay gap widened last quarter from 12.9 percent to 13.2 percent, a seemingly small change, yet one that highlights a step away from gender equality in New Zealand’s workplaces. The Pay Equality Coalition’s spokesperson Angela McLeod spoke of how it is “time for action Read more...

Viability of computerised exams investigated

Posted 2:24pm Monday 15th August 2016 by Joe Higham

Otago University has revealed it is investigating whether widespread use of computer-based examinations (CBE) is a possibility. A Working Group set up by the University includes representatives from the Divisions of Humanities, Health Science, Science, Commerce, and also OUSA, among others. The Read more...

Funnily enough Dunedin does need students

Posted 2:20pm Monday 15th August 2016 by Hugh Baird

The annual University of Otago Economic Impact Report was released last week at the latest University Council meeting. The report, which was compiled by the office of the Vice-Chancellor reported on the economic impact that the University had on the local economy, through expenditure of the Read more...

OUSA Execrable | Issue 19

Posted 2:16pm Monday 15th August 2016 by Joe Higham

Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Division of Humanities, Tony Ballantyne, attended this week’s executive meeting in order to provide answers to the student representatives in relation to the ‘Management of Change’ process taking place in the division, in which redundancies are certain Read more...

Harawira is back, and a Maori-Mana alliance over Te Tai Tokerau is on the cards

Posted 11:26am Sunday 7th August 2016 by George Elliott

Harawira lost his seat in the Maori electorate of Te Tai Tokerau to Labour’s Kelvin Davis by nearly seven percent of the vote in the 2014 election. It was a devastating loss for Mana, which had held the seat since it split with the Maori Party in 2011. Pundits chalked the de-crowning moment up Read more...

Have you heard of a feminist foreign policy? Sweden has

Posted 11:20am Sunday 7th August 2016 by George Elliott

In the aftermath of the Cold War, a feminist approach to international relations became popular among some academic circles. Two of the movements founding scholars, Cynthia Enloe and Carol Cohn , proposed using a critical "feminist consciousness" when examining how countries do business Read more...

All Blacks name squad for upcoming Rugby Championship

Posted 11:09am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Hugh Baird

Chiefs fullback Damien McKenzie and midfielder Seta Tamanivalu are the notable omissions from an All Blacks squad named last week to play in the upcoming Rugby Championship. Instead the All Blacks coaching staff have opted for Blues midfielder George Moala, who impressed in the test series Read more...

Opinion: Three Olympic events you need to watch

Posted 11:06am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Sean Nugent

The 2016 Rio Olympics are underway! It may be the most controversial games in history. But let’s forget that for a moment and focus on the actual events and the athletes taking part. Of course, there are some events that are must-watch television. However, instead of rattling off some obvious Read more...

Man jumps from plane without parachute, world shits itself

Posted 11:00am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Charlotte Haselden

A 42-year-old skydiver has plummeted back to earth, becoming the first person to jump from a plane with no parachute, landing in a net instead. Luke Aikins jumped from 25,000 feet above the desert landscape of California's Simi Valley, landing in a 39-by-39-metre two-tiered net which was set Read more...

American man kills home intruder by tying him to a tree

Posted 10:55am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Tom Kitchin

Tying a burglar to a tree with layers of tape and a clothesline, leading to death; some things can only happen in the US.   Nathaniel Johnson, a 68-year-old resident of the town Leroy, Alabama, had become annoyed at the increasing number of burglaries at his property and decided something Read more...

Octagon Sleep-Out a resounding success

Posted 10:53am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Joe Higham

If you were drinking in town on the 29th July, you may have been wondering why there was suddenly a huge group of people sleeping in the Octagon. No they weren’t drunk students or the homeless community, but if you’d said the latter, you would’ve been close.  In fact, 150 Read more...

Hope for AIDS eradication in Africa disappearing, experts say

Posted 10:51am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Georgia Vosper

Hope for the end of AIDS in Africa is disappearing, with recent warnings by health experts suggesting that ‘the end of AIDS by 2030’ is not actually a very achievable goal. The number of infections is rising and the input of funding internationally is declining, possibly due to the Read more...

Uncertain times for humanities staff as five departments facing redundancies

Posted 10:49am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Joe Higham

A media briefing held by Otago University on Wednesday 3 August, provided few assurances to the future of staff members in the Division of Humanities.  Otago University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor, Tony Ballantyne, addressed the media, stating that five departments within the division will Read more...

OUSA on a mission to get students voting

Posted 10:46am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Joel MacManus

OUSA has launched what Administrative Vice-President Jarred Griffiths describes as “the largest student voter enrolment drive we’ve ever done”. Over the past two weeks, Exec members have been visiting halls and encouraging enrolments with the promise of pizza for the floors who Read more...

Yet another proposal could chip away at already diminishing student freedoms

Posted 10:44am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Joe Higham

A registration scheme for students planning flat parties is being considered by OUSA following its successful implementation in the Riccarton West suburb of Christchurch.  The scheme allows people who are planning to throw a party to register it in order to seek advice on issues such as Read more...

Hyde street residents fearing for safety after spate of attacks

Posted 10:41am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Joel MacManus

A number of residents on Hyde street have raised concerns over student safety after a series of attacks in the area. Police were called to the area last Saturday after a male student walking with his girlfriend was assaulted by two males believed to be non-students. No arrests were made. Another Read more...

OUSA Execrable | Issue 18

Posted 10:37am Sunday 7th August 2016 by Joel MacManus

Following the results of the 2016 OUSA Referendum, there will no longer be regulations against offensive costumes at the annual Hyde Street party. The controversial measure, which was introduced this year, was defeated by a 28 percent margin, with a total of 3205 votes cast.  In a more Read more...

The greatest ever Olympic moment?

Posted 11:34am Sunday 31st July 2016 by Hugh Baird

After a four year wait since London, this week will see the commencement finally of the Rio Olympics. In honour of that, we here at Critic decided to take a look back at likely the finest moment in Olympic history: Eric Moussambani—“Eric the Eel” Eric Moussambani produced quite Read more...

Opinion: IOC just another dodgy sports organisation

Posted 11:26am Sunday 31st July 2016 by Sean Nugent

In the early hours of Monday morning, the leaders of the International Olympic Committee convened to discuss the banning of the Russian Olympic team from the upcoming games. Over the course of three hours, they had the chance to come to a conclusion that could change the future of sport forever. Read more...

Plea for Policy: Why the government should devolve social services to iwi

Posted 11:13am Sunday 31st July 2016 by Henry Napier

The 21st century so far has offered some significant ebbs in New Zealand race relations. If one were to ask a New Zealand politics student what the major blows for bi-culturalism were in the last 16 years you would likely receive a list of the following; the passing of the Foreshore and Seabed Act Read more...

John Key plans to eradicate all NZ predators by 2050

Posted 11:04am Sunday 31st July 2016 by Joel MacManus

The Government has announced what John Key calls “the most ambitious conservation project attempted anywhere in the world”, with a lofty goal of making New Zealand predator-free by 2050. The plan would establish a new Crown Entity, Predator Free New Zealand, which will work alongside Read more...

Labour and Greens already arguing, despite ‘Memorandum of Understanding’

Posted 10:58am Sunday 31st July 2016 by Joel MacManus

Trouble in Paradise? The Labour-Greens agreement has had its first public spat, a disagreement over housing policy. Greens Co-Leader Meteria Turei said she wanted to see a 50 percent drop in house prices over the next 10 to 15 years, and outlines a plan to get there by introducing a Capital Gains Read more...

Hospital to change focus from specialised to general provider

Posted 10:55am Sunday 31st July 2016 by Joe Higham

The Dunedin Hospital may look like a carpark, but now, plans are being developed to completely rebuild the hospital, at a cost of approximately $300 million. On top of that, or despite it depending on how you look at it, the Southern District Health Board are also in the process of changing the Read more...

Cull served with defamation papers ahead of election

Posted 10:44am Sunday 31st July 2016 by Joel MacManus

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull is facing a $500,000 defamation action after being served with legal papers while walking down Bath St last Thursday. The claim was filed by fellow Dunedin City Councillor Lee Vandervis. At a council meeting in December, Cr Vandervis had stated a belief that there were Read more...

Political conventions are stupid, dumb, pointless, fun

Posted 11:04am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Joel MacManus

We are right now in the middle of the most meaningless, overhyped, expensive exercise in political cheerleading in the Western World ­—The Republican and Democratic National Conventions. National Conventions are to the US what the Monarch is to New Zealand – Formerly powerful Read more...

Tiger Woods out for season, set to play off course instead

Posted 10:57am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Hugh Baird

Tiger Woods has announced he will pull the pin on the rest of the season, citing on-going rehab from a spate of back surgeries late last year.    The PGA released a statement last week in which they announced that Woods had withdrawn from their upcoming tournament. Woods’ agent, Read more...

Opinion: Just how stupid is the Super Rugby format?

Posted 10:53am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Sean Nugent

Answer: Extremely. In fact, it could be argued that it is the worst in the world, across all sports and all competitions. It’s so bad I don’t even know where to begin.  First of all, what’s the deal with the conferences? Are there two or are there four? Surely it would be a Read more...

President Erdogan yet to rule out death penalty following coup

Posted 10:46am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Hugh Baird

More than 50,000 people in Turkey have been rounded up, sacked or suspended from their jobs in the wake of an attempted coup, including teachers, university deans and those in the media. Additionally, 103 generals and admirals have also been formally charged, making up over a third of the general Read more...

Trump chooses conservative, homophobic, overly religious running mate

Posted 10:43am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Georgia Vosper

Donald Trump has announced Governor of Indiana Mike Pence as his vice-presidential running mate, after he was officially sworn in as the Republican presidential candidate last week.  Politically, Pence is a ‘safe’ choice for Trump, due to his vast legislative and executive Read more...

Neither rich white nominee will help quell America’s racial tensions

Posted 10:37am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Joe Higham

As America narrows its presidential hopefuls down to just two, the expectation on whoever is sitting in the Oval Office come the end of the year is intensifying.  American President Barack Obama, who is now about to reach the culmination of his administration, remains largely unable to quell Read more...

Dunedin in lockdown as election excitement grips city

Posted 10:34am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Joe Higham

Dunedin’s Local Elections are underway, with nominations opening on July 15. Nominations close on August 12, with election day set for Saturday October 8 at noon.  With only 10 days having passed since the nominations, it is understood that more people will decide to run for the Read more...

Reserve Bank pulls out new lending restrictions

Posted 10:29am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Hugh Baird

The Reserve Bank announced last week that new restrictions will be put in place for lending on property in an attempt to cool the already heated property market.  The changes announced will see property investors throughout the country needing a minimum required deposit of 40 percent, while Read more...

South Dunedin fucked without bold decisions

Posted 10:27am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Joe Higham

A report made by the Otago Regional Council has discovered houses in South Dunedin are in danger in relation to sea-level rise without bold decisions from those in power.  The report, which used seven years of data, identified that rising water levels could potentially cause permanent Read more...

Drinking in cars set to skyrocket during NY festivities.

Posted 10:25am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Hugh Baird

For those looking at making the annual pilgrimage to Rhythm and Vines, expect to be hit in the pocket. This year, the campsites organisers are planning on doing away with the BYO after concerns from local police and council.  On site camping at Rhythm and Vines increased last year after the Read more...

Students sleeping in Octagon by choice this time

Posted 10:23am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Joe Higham

The Dunedin Sleep Out, an event in which participants sleep out in the Octagon to raise awareness and money for homelessness in Dunedin, will take place from 7pm on July 29.  Last year, the event raised $12,000, which went toward contributing the final amounts needed for the Dunedin Night Read more...

OUSA Execrable | Issue 16

Posted 10:19am Sunday 24th July 2016 by Joe Higham

The Executive met on Friday July 15, in the first meeting since OUSA President Laura Harris left for a leadership course in Beijing. OUSA Administrative-Vice President, Jarred Griffiths, chaired the meeting in her absence.  A Returning Officer's’ Report was presented at a previous Read more...

Rory McIlroy blasts inclusion of golf in Olympics

Posted 11:05am Sunday 17th July 2016 by Sean Nugent

Earlier this week top golfer Rory McIlroy dished out a scathing attack on the Olympics, maligning the inclusion of golf in the games for the first time since 1904. He spoke bluntly and honestly about his decision to not compete in the games, citing the fact that the Olympics are not, and never have Read more...

Opinion: Are the Olympics starting to lose legitimacy?

Posted 11:02am Sunday 17th July 2016 by Sean Nugent

After Rory McIlroy’s comments this week, one was reminded of the ridiculous amount of sports now included in the Olympic Games. This year’s games will have 308 events across 28 different sports, an Olympic record. To put this in context, there were only 43 events at the first modern Read more...

DCC accused of “active and wilful campaign to discourage student voters”

Posted 10:58am Sunday 17th July 2016 by Joel MacManus

The Press Council has part-upheld a complaint from Dunedin City Council against this article. The PressCouncil decision is here http://www.presscouncil.org.nz/ Negotiations have broken down between OUSA and Dunedin City Council over plans to place a special Read more...

Emails reveal DCC deception over 2013 voting booth decision

Posted 10:55am Sunday 17th July 2016 by Joel MacManus

The Press Council has part-upheld a complaint from Dunedin City Council against this article. The PressCouncil decision is here http://www.presscouncil.org.nz/ Emails have been acquired by Critic between DCC Electoral Officer Pam Jordan and a number of Read more...

International student fees set to rise across the board

Posted 10:50am Sunday 17th July 2016 by Joe Higham

Otago University is set to increase fees for international students in all subjects bar one, a decision that has not been welcomed across the student body. The only papers that have escaped the increases are within the postgraduate clinical dentistry course, which will see their cost cut by up to Read more...

Sociability hit as ‘Pokemon Go’ takes hold

Posted 10:47am Sunday 17th July 2016 by Sally Wilkins

Gotta catch ‘em all” has taken on a whole new dimension with the release of Pokemon Go on July 6. Topping Apple’s app chart in mere days, the game has taken the virtual and real world by storm with users hitting the streets in search of Pokemon to catch. New Zealand, alongside Read more...

Opinion Piece: ‘Secret’ animal research facility plans “appalling”

Posted 10:41am Sunday 17th July 2016 by Otago Student Animal Legal Defence Fund

Otago Student Animal Legal Defense Fund are startled by Otago University’s announcement of plans of a new animal research facility, to be included in a new $50 million, five-storey development on the Dunedin campus.  As students whose fees contribute to the funding of University Read more...

More landlords need to use HD projectors as bait for tenants

Posted 10:37am Sunday 17th July 2016 by Joe Higham

With Flatting Week upon us and students already searching for their 2017 flats, Critic thought it would look at all of the flats students are, or will soon be, choosing from. Every flat listed on Trade Me as of 14 July with three-plus bedrooms that are located in North Dunedin has been included, and Read more...

Violent attacks hit Dunedin city

Posted 10:35am Sunday 17th July 2016 by Tom Kitchin

Fractured jaw, surgery, weeks spent in recovery. One may not expect such an assault from a night out in Dunedin. Unfortunately, on Friday July 8 this very kind of attack took place.     A group of four to five males assaulted a man and a woman around 11:00 – 11:30pm that night, on Read more...

Messi in a mess

Posted 10:40am Sunday 10th July 2016 by Hugh Baird

A Barcelona court has found Argentine and Barcelona football star Lionel Messi, and his father Jorge Messi guilty on three counts of tax fraud.  The court rulings come after the prosecution had argued that both Messi and his father, Jorge used tax havens in Belize and Uruguay as well as Read more...

Donald Trump is losing to himself

Posted 10:35am Sunday 10th July 2016 by Joel MacManus

Recent reporting on the financial and organisational state of the Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton campaigns show a historically unprecedented divide in resources and planning that could very well lead to a landslide election.  Hillary Clinton boasts 823 paid staff around the country, $42 Read more...

A Brit on Brexit

Posted 10:31am Sunday 10th July 2016 by Kirio Birks

The U.K. is set to dismember itself from the EU after a referendum which saw 51.9 percent of the public vote to leave.  The aftermath has been turbulent. The pound fell to its lowest point since 1985, and the global economy is tilting after US$ 3 trillion was wiped off world stock markets Read more...

New proctor supports Hyde Street, already student favourite

Posted 10:24am Sunday 10th July 2016 by Joe Higham

After his predecessor was in the job for a brief four months, Dave Scott was appointed as his replacement, a job he considers a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” Despite there being a host of similarities between his previous role in the police force and his new role, he told Critic that Read more...

OUSA Execrable | Issue 14

Posted 10:23am Sunday 10th July 2016 by Joe Higham

OUSA President Laura Harris will be away in the Chinese capital, Beijing, for three weeks from Saturday July 9, meaning she will miss the first three weeks of second semester. Harris was selected for a leadership scholarship by Otago University, which will take place at Beijing Normal University. Read more...

From an ABBA tribute band to opening for Sam Smith

Posted 10:20am Sunday 10th July 2016 by Hugh Baird

With Broods playing as part of the Reorientation festivities next Monday we thought we’d take the opportunity to sit down and chew the fat with Georgia Nott, who makes up one half of the brother sister duo, to talk ABBA tribute bands and life on the road!  You guys are down here for Read more...

France’s new generation ready to bring joy back to nation

Posted 11:15am Sunday 29th May 2016 by Sean Nugent

Paul Pogba and Antoine Greizmann headline a French squad full of youthful exuberance for the upcoming European Championships. As hosts, France will have the weight of expectation on their shoulders to win their first international tournament since 2000. A talented side, many onlookers see them as a Read more...

Leaders budget chat proves predictable

Posted 11:08am Sunday 29th May 2016 by Joel MacManus

Bill English promised that this year’s budget would be ‘predictable and boring’. As it turned out, that applied not only to the fiscal announcements, but to the traditional leaders remarks. Andrew Little stayed disciplined on his rhetoric, painting the government as ‘out of Read more...

Clark V. Woodhouse | Issue 13

Posted 11:00am Sunday 29th May 2016 by David Clark

David Clark On the one hand, it does seem odd that the ability to become our head of state is genetically determined, a privilege reserved for a single inbred family of German descent. On the other hand, constitutional monarchies like New Zealand are amongst the wealthiest and healthiest Read more...

Critic breakdown: Budget 2016

Posted 10:54am Sunday 29th May 2016 by Henry Napier

The government collects approximately $75 billion a year from income taxes, corporate taxes and GST.  The budget is the annual allocation of government funds to state services and initiatives. The allocation covers all government spending from social welfare to health. Spending breakdown: Read more...

Student finds $5 million in bank account, spends it all

Posted 10:44am Sunday 29th May 2016 by Charlotte Haselden

A 21-year-old student living in Australia went on a lavish shopping spree after mistakenly receiving an unlimited overdraft of nearly $5 million. Christine Jia Xin Lee, a Malaysian student living in Sydney, found Westpac bank had accidentally given her AUS$4.6 million which she spent over an Read more...

No good being TV’s Robin Hood

Posted 10:40am Sunday 29th May 2016 by Tom Kitchin

If you streamed the fight between boxing heavyweights Joseph Parker and Carlos Takam on Facebook last Saturday evening you’re a ‘lowlife shithead’ according to Dean Lonergan. The Duco events promoter and former rugby league player is seriously unhappy that the fight was Read more...

Escalating taxi rank violence causes DCC to get involved

Posted 10:37am Sunday 29th May 2016 by Joe Higham

Recent violence at Dunedin’s Octagon taxi rank has prompted the DCC to get involved in order to find a solution to the issue.  The taxi rank, which is located outside ‘10 Bar’, regularly has long lines until the early hours of the morning and runs parallel to the Read more...

DCC gets AC/DC (cars)

Posted 10:34am Sunday 29th May 2016 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

A new initiative by the Dunedin City Council (DCC) is looking to add twenty electric vehicles to the council’s car fleet.  The motion was put forward by Councillor Kate Wilson, and the changes will take place within the next five years.  Staff figures determine that even though Read more...

Students vent anger at disruption caused by Dental School demolition

Posted 10:32am Sunday 29th May 2016 by Joe Higham

Otago University dental students voiced their outrage during a meeting last week after they were told they would have fewer clinics as a result of the ongoing planned demolition taking place within parts of the dental school.  One dental student attributed the cause of the inconvenience to Read more...

“...and my axe”

Posted 10:29am Sunday 29th May 2016 by Sally Wilkins

The thief responsible for stealing almost 100 exam papers from the University of Otago clocktower building last November has been denied a discharge without conviction.  The 23-year-old woman’s lawyer, Stuart Grieve QC, successfully argued for permanent name suppression due to her Read more...

OUSA Execrable | Issue 13

Posted 10:21am Sunday 29th May 2016 by Henry Napier

The OUSA executive has suffered a major breakdown in communications according to Administrative-Vice President Jarred Griffiths.  Last week Mr Griffiths released a statement saying communication between himself and President Laura Harris have broken down, following ongoing rumours of an Read more...

Students to break free of third-world living?

Posted 11:04am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Connor Fry

Nine months ago I pulled my bed out from the mildew and mould creeping along the walls, sent a few emails to my then landlord asking about fixing the leaking roof of questionable structural integrity and opened my window to help air what other damp belongings I had with me. For me dripping walls Read more...

A quick preview of Roland Garros

Posted 10:51am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Sean Nugent

The 115th edition of the French Open begins in Paris on Monday, signalling the start of the second tennis major of the year. The long-awaited tournament will be noteworthy for a number of reasons, none more so than being the first major since Maria Sharapova was banned for using performance Read more...

Cancer victim receives United States first penis transplant

Posted 10:46am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Hugh Baird

A United States man who had his penis removed due to cancer has received the nations first penis transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Just last week Thomas Manning, a 64-year-old bank courier from Halifax, Massachusetts underwent the 15-hour surgery, which was made possible Read more...

Incriminating satellite images shed new light on MH17’s crash

Posted 10:44am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Jonathan Guildford

Incriminating new satellite images have been released, which would appear to confirm the exact time and location of the air defence system that was used to take down flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine on the 17th July 2014.  The satellite images were released by global intelligence agency, Read more...

Industry competition and journalism at stake in proposed giant media merger

Posted 10:40am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Joe Higham

Recently it has been confirmed that Australian and New Zealand media giants APN and Fairfax Media are in talks to merge, in a move that is subject to Commerce Commission approval. The two media outlets produce many newspapers, magazines and radio stations throughout both countries, including Read more...

NZ fisheries have caught 24.1 million more fish than they reported

Posted 10:36am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Joe Higham

A collaborative study has discovered that New Zealand fishery catches are 2.7 times more than previously reported. The study was conducted by Glenn Simmons from Auckland University, alongside various researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of British Columbia as well as Read more...

University of Otago animal research centre opposed by animal rights activists

Posted 10:33am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Anonymous Bird

On May 11 the University of Otago announced plans to build a $50 million animal research centre on campus.  The SPCA have actively opposed the plans, with the New Zealand chief executive explaining that animal testing causes unnecessary pain and suffering. He told the Otago Daily Times that Read more...

Police discover woman falsified abduction

Posted 10:30am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Joe Higham

A teenager who made an allegation to police claiming that two men in a parked vehicle attempted to abduct her has now been ousted as a liar following a thorough investigation into the claim. The 18 year old told police she was the victim of an abduction attempt at around 4.25pm on May 7 while she Read more...

MP believes hospital food steering in the wrong direction

Posted 10:27am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Tom Kitchin

Make sure you keep yourself healthy in Dunners this winter, because if you’re unlucky you might be sent to our glorious public hospital where you’ll be in for a treat when it comes to meal time. Some people have said it’s food you wouldn’t share to your pets, one person has Read more...

OUSA Execrable | Issue 12

Posted 10:22am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Henry Napier

The OUSA programme to provide free flu vaccinations to students will be offering a mere 150 shots to the 20,000 students enrolled at Otago University. OUSA has negotiated with Student Health Services to provide 150 free flu vaccinations to students for two hours on Thursday 26 of May, with a Read more...

Campus Watch turns up heat on fire safety in flats

Posted 10:18am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Henry Napier

Landlords should be responsible for ensuring working smoke alarms in student flats says Deputy Proctor Andrew Ferguson. The comments come following last week’s flat fire in the 6/60 flat on Castle Street where a fire begun early in the morning and continued to spread unbeknownst to the tenants Read more...

The Captain Cook Tavern is back, but not as students will remember

Posted 10:16am Sunday 22nd May 2016 by Liam Brown

Even Dunedin’s sweet summer children who have not yet survived a winter will still have heard praise of the revered pub, which was forced to close in 2014 due to legal matters. However, other factors such as students favouring a cheap trip to the liquor store for a Scrumpy or a box of Read more...

The Healthy Homes Bill is Andrew Little’s ‘Cool Runnings’ moment

Posted 11:12am Sunday 15th May 2016 by Joel MacManus

Feel the rhythm! Feel the ride! Get on up, it’s bobsled time!.” The 1993 family sports comedy Cool Runnings (AKA the greatest movie ever made), tells the tale of a rag-tag group of failed Jamaican sprinters who team up to become their nation’s first Olympic bobsled team. With the Read more...

Kangaroos kick Kiwis’ winning streak to the curb

Posted 11:09am Sunday 15th May 2016 by Willy Chapman

There has been a feeling of disappointment from both sides of the ditch after last weekend’s annual ANZAC rugby league test match between the Kangaroos and Kiwis. Despite the Kangaroos coming away with the 16-0 win, critics have labeled both sides performances as underwhelming.   As Read more...

The Oklahoma City Thunder & Arsenal F.C.

Posted 11:05am Sunday 15th May 2016 by Sean Nugent

Every year seems to be a repeat of the last for both the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA and Arsenal in the Premier League. As the Thunder stare down the barrel of another playoff defeat, it makes one wonder whether they will ever get a better chance to win the NBA championship. Having made the NBA Read more...

North Korea seeking peace?

Posted 11:02am Sunday 15th May 2016 by Georgia Vosper

Kim Jong-Un has stated that North Korea will not be the first to use Nuclear Weapons. Jong-Un recently declared this at the National Workers’ Party congress, the first congress meeting in more than 35 years.  North Korea has said it will strengthen self-defensive nuclear weapons Read more...

Questions asked of Silver Fern Farms suitor

Posted 11:01am Sunday 15th May 2016 by Sally Wilkins

Research released by New Zealand First has questioned the viability of the proposed merger of Dunedin based Silver Fern Farms (SFF) and the “indebted” Chinese company Shanghai Maling. The merger comprises of a NZ$261m cash investment on behalf of Shanghai Maling in return for a 50 Read more...

Dunedin addresses listed in Panama Papers

Posted 10:58am Sunday 15th May 2016 by Henry Napier

The release of 240,000 names by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) following the Panama Papers leak, has left many New Zealanders perplexed as to how they were implicated despite having no involvement in so-called “foreign trusts”.  The online Read more...

Police officers breath easy after J-Day protest

Posted 10:56am Sunday 15th May 2016 by Sam Fraser-Baxter

Each year our national J-Day sees cannabis enthusiasts turn out to protest New Zealand’s prohibition of the drug.  Around 200 partook in J-Day in Dunedin’s Octagon which falls on the first weekend of May each year. This years events marked the 25-year anniversary since its Read more...