Archive

OUSA Lead the Way in Re:Orientation Glass Ban Initiative

Posted 10:32am Sunday 16th July 2017 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

A new initiative is being launched during this year’s Re-Orientation week that will ban glass in the North Dunedin area, in the hope of cleaning up the glass that regularly plagues the streets of the city's student quarter. The initiative continues to be student led, initiated by OUSA Read more...

Keeping tabs on the Exec | Issue 15

Posted 10:28am Sunday 16th July 2017 by Joe Higham

The Department of Tourism have made a proposal to “repaint the two corridors in the Division of Commerce building ... in the rainbow colours that have been utilised both by the LGBT community and the post-apartheid South Africa as an emblem of inclusivity”. The department wanted to know Read more...

Twelve Years On From a Series Whitewash, the Lions Could Make History

Posted 12:44pm Sunday 9th July 2017 by Joe Higham

As the Saturday of the final match of the 2017 British and Irish Lions approaches at breakneck speed, (mainly) Lions and (surprisingly) All Blacks fans alike will be feeling the nerves associated with a test-series decider. The Lions last won a test series against the All Blacks in 1971 (2-1) Read more...

Winnie's man in Whangarei: Shane Jones joins NZ First

Posted 11:49am Sunday 9th July 2017 by George Elliott

Former Labour MP Shane Jones has joined NZ First and will run in the Whangarei electorate in the coming election. The former cabinet member under Helen Clark, who retired in May 2014 and is usually known solely for his scandals, will become a conspicuous lieutenant for Winston Peters. Since Read more...

Like a Young Nat’s Wet Dream

Posted 11:40am Sunday 9th July 2017 by Joel MacManus

At 24, Todd Barclay was New Zealand’s youngest MP, anointed as the replacement for Bill English in Clutha-Southland, the safest National electorate in the country. He won by a huge majority. By 27, he was a disgraced politician who had not only ended his own career but also irreparably damaged Read more...

University seeks student feedback on CCTV proposal

Posted 11:11am Sunday 9th July 2017 by Critic

The University of Otago made a complaint to Critic Magazine that the article published on the University's CCTV implementation plan was not fairly reported. As a result, Critic provided this space for the University to respond to these issues.   The University of Otago is seeking Read more...

University of Otago Researchers Criticise Government’s Tobacco Strategy

Posted 11:02am Sunday 9th July 2017 by Anna Linton

University of Otago scientists from the Burden of Disease Epidemiology, Equity and Cost-Effectiveness Programme (BODE³) have published research in the international journal Tobacco Control last month advocating various tobacco endgame strategies. This follows a 2011 announcement, Read more...

The Most Famous Pub In New Zealand Is Up For Sale... Again

Posted 10:56am Sunday 9th July 2017 by Joe Higham

The Captain Cook Hotel is once again up for sale. With a name arguably as well known as any other pub anywhere in the country, the recently renovated Cook (as it’s known to most students) should, it is hoped, be snapped up as quickly as possible. ABC Business Sales, who are tasked with Read more...

Tenants Receive Financial Payout After Council Flats Found to be Unsafe

Posted 10:51am Sunday 9th July 2017 by Joel MacManus

Eleven tenants, many of whom are students, at a council-owned flat complex have received financial payouts after investigations found faults in the fire alarm system which would have put residents in danger in an emergency. The boarding house on the upper two levels of the Moray Place carpark Read more...

Dunedin Hospital Rebuild may Cost Millions, Billions or Squillions

Posted 10:48am Sunday 9th July 2017 by Joe Higham

Dunedin’s Hospital rebuild has suffered yet another setback in its completion dates, with the Otago Daily Times reporting that the best case scenario is now 2027. They claim the worst-case scenario is a completion date of 2031, which would be a “part rebuild and part refurbishment on Read more...

Unipol Struggling to Keep In Shape

Posted 10:45am Sunday 9th July 2017 by Joel MacManus

The University Plaza Building, which houses the Unipol Recreation Centre, is suffering structural issues in the stonework. The cause of many of the issues has not yet been identified, although efforts are underway. Since the building was completed just over five years ago, a number of cracks have Read more...

Dr Timothy Molteno – University of Otago Physicist and Internationally Wanted Criminal

Posted 10:42am Sunday 9th July 2017 by Joe Higham

What names do you associate with Interpol’s wanted criminal list? El Chapo? Osama Bin Laden? Pablo Escobar? The list of infamy goes on and on. One name a little closer to home than downtown Medellín or the mountains of Afghanistan is Dr Timothy Molteno. Currently a Senior Lecturer Read more...

Keeping tabs on the Exec | Issue 14

Posted 10:37am Sunday 9th July 2017 by Joe Higham

Your OUSA Executive continued to meet up and work on your behalf throughout the semester break. With the results of the referendum coming just before the beginning of first semester’s exam period, they spent much of the meeting discussing the complaints arising out of the voting period and the Read more...

UKIP Tries to Stay Relevant by Turning to Islamophobia

Posted 11:51am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Cameron Meads

The Brexit vote rattled Britain and the world. The death of the European Union and the rise of a new world order seemed imminent with Donald Trump and Marine Le Pen’s mobilisation of alt-right voters. Almost a year on, many of these fears have faded while new implications have Read more...

Labour Confronting Important Issues

Posted 11:48am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Jack Pacey

The Labour Party has added to its promises for the upcoming election with another set of policy announcements centred around the growing housing debate and the issue of mental health in New Zealand. These plans represent the start of what Labour hopes to develop into a coordinated effort to present Read more...

The G.O.A.T. Series Part Two: Women’s Edition

Posted 11:37am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Charlie Hantler

Following on from the men’s edition, we now turn our focus in on the women’s sport and their greats. Names such as Venus and Serena Williams, Flo-Jo and Irene van Dyk spring to mind, due to their sheer dominance of their codes, but they have plenty of competition for their respective Read more...

Winston Peters Speaks at Otago Uni, Doesn’t Like Tomato Sauce

Posted 11:17am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Joe Higham

NZ First leader Winston Peters spoke at the University of Otago’s Main Common Room last Wednesday, and within just a few minutes of his speech beginning, began targeting Critic for an article we published in Issue Four. The article, entitled “Winnie Blues: Winston Peters on Yet Read more...

Opinion Piece: On The Upcoming OUSA Referendum

Posted 11:13am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Sam McChesney

A few years back, when the government was pushing through Voluntary Student Membership (VSM), students’ associations across the country were being slammed as leftwing fringe groups. Students’ associations, it was claimed, had no business making political statements on behalf of students Read more...

Students Outnumbered By Pizzas at OUSA Student Forum

Posted 10:57am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Joe Higham

OUSA’s annual Student Forum took place on Monday 22nd May, providing a chance for students to ask questions in relation to the 11 questions included in the upcoming referendum, due to begin from 9am on 29 May. The event is notoriously poorly attended, and this year saw even the amount of Read more...

Announcement of Financial Help for Students Not All It Seems for Dunedin

Posted 10:54am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Joel MacManus

Students in financial trouble may breathe a slight sigh of relief after the changes announced in the 2017 Budget, although little help is on the way for those studying in Dunedin. Minister for Finance Steve Joyce announced a $20 per week increase in the accommodation supplement for those on Student Read more...

CompSci pips Biology for hardest subject at Uni

Posted 10:51am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Joel MacManus

If you’re looking for an easy pass on that last paper of your degree, we’ve got your back. A request made by Critic under the Official Information Act (OIA) has revealed the average pass rates by subject area at the University of Otago for the last several years. As a public Read more...

Otago Scientist leads New Zealand Study in Opioid Addiction Recovery

Posted 10:38am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Anna Linton

An Otago Medical Anthropologist, Dr Geoff Noller, has conducted a study in New Zealand into the controversial use of ibogaine in treating opioid dependency. Ibogaine is a plant-alkaloid derived psychoactive substance. It has been toted as an alternative medicine treatment for drug addiction, Read more...

University To Finally Provide Late Night Study Spaces To Students

Posted 10:32am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Joel MacManus

The University of Otago has responded to student demand for more late night study spaces on campus. From 22 May to 21 June the St David lecture theatre concourse and surrounds, as well as the upstairs, will be available 24 hours with student swipe card access. From 29 May to 18 June the Union Read more...

Keeping tabs on the Exec | Issue 13

Posted 10:27am Sunday 28th May 2017 by Joe Higham

This OUSA Executive meeting was the final one before the vital referendum kicks off at 9am on Monday 29 May. During the meeting, Education Officer Bryn Jenkins pointed out that “this is the most important [OUSA] referendum in a decade,” a statement that caused the other eight members of Read more...

Teams I Hate and Why You Should Hate Them Too: Liverpool FC

Posted 11:22am Sunday 21st May 2017 by Charlie Hantler

Everyone has sports teams they love, for me these are Otago, the mighty Highlanders, the Black Caps, Manchester United, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. I thoroughly enjoy cracking open a Speight’s, putting my feet up and watching them do their thing. It really is a great time. However, like Read more...

Ransomware attack: Mass infrastructure catastrophes no longer sci-fi

Posted 11:15am Sunday 21st May 2017 by George Elliott

The ransomware attack last week, coined WannaCry, has been heralded as a wake-up call for the world on the very material dangers that cyberwarfare can have on society’s infrastructure. First appearing in Spain on 12 May, WannaCry spread via email, exploiting vulnerabilities in Microsoft Read more...

Animal Research at Otago

Posted 11:09am Sunday 21st May 2017 by Oska Rego

Animal testing is always a hugely controversial and divisive topic, with each side rigid in their beliefs. The University of Otago are following through on plans to spend $50 million on a new animal research facility meaning the debate has reared its head once again throughout campus. If Read more...

OUSA Referendum Questions

Posted 11:00am Sunday 21st May 2017 by Critic

Voting on student issues in the OUSA Referendum begins next week and will finish at 4pm on Wednesday. To discuss any of the questions head along to the OUSA Forum this Monday at 1pm in the Main Common Room in the Link. The things you can vote on are: Should the Otago University Students’ Read more...

Keeping tabs on the Exec | Issue 12

Posted 10:55am Sunday 21st May 2017 by Joe Higham

Concern over the Bible Elohim Academy, which some have labelled as a ‘religious cult’, was discussed, due to the group wanting to affiliate with OUSA. They are seen by OUSA Recreation Manager Michaela Tangimetua as being an “extension of” controversial South Korean religious Read more...

CCTV Debate Continues In The Run Up To Vital OUSA Referendum

Posted 10:49am Sunday 21st May 2017 by Joe Higham

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 12.0px; font: 8.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 11.3px; line-height: 12.0px; font: 8.0px Helvetica} Dunedin City Councillor Lee Vandervis, who has long been a vocal advocate for extra surveillance to be Read more...

Iconic Dunedin Castle May Soon Be Open To The Public

Posted 10:47am Sunday 21st May 2017 by Joel MacManus

One of Dunedin’s greatest historic landmarks may soon be accessible to the public, if plans go smoothly, according to Steven De Greef, Chairperson of the Cargill’s Castle Trust. Cargill’s Castle, one of only two castles in New Zealand (the other being Larnach Castle, also in Read more...

Satire: The Truth is Out There

Posted 10:36am Sunday 21st May 2017 by Charlie O’Mannin

Over the past week construction has stopped on the stretch of the Leith River between Union St and the Leith St footbridge, around the same time as a mysterious blue tarpaulin appeared. They have clearly found something that has halted construction. One anonymous law student said that he “saw Read more...

Hepatitis C Resource Centre Closes Doors Due To Funding Shortfall

Posted 10:32am Sunday 21st May 2017 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

After facing a tumultuous period in recent years, the Otago and Southland branch of the Hepatitis C Resource Centre Trust has shut its doors for good. Since the government cut the centre’s already meagre funding (they only received $45,000 per year, to cover wages amongst all the other Read more...

Labour floats “Māori-run” prison idea

Posted 11:05am Sunday 14th May 2017 by George Elliott

Last week, Labour’s corrections spokesman Kelvin Davis mentioned an idea to turn the existing Ngawha prison in Northland to one run sole on Maori values: "A prison based on Māori values, not exclusively for Māori but for anybody, but they'll know that the values that the Read more...

You Can Count On Us To Keep Workplace Gender Identity Issues Down

Posted 10:55am Sunday 14th May 2017 by Joel MacManus

Countdown supermarkets have garnered praise from LGBT support organisations after releasing a new policy to support employees transitioning between genders. The policy, which has been introduced at all Countdown supermarkets, distribution centres, processing plants, and support offices allows for Read more...

After Hours Oral Pleasure Cumming to Campus

Posted 10:52am Sunday 14th May 2017 by Joel MacManus

The University of Otago is seeking to revamp and extend its campus food and beverage offerings, with a specific focus on increasing availability and atmosphere outside of typical study hours. A tender has been put out to consultants to provide a “campus wide food, beverage, and retail Read more...

‘Love Another Mother’ Campaign Begins, Helping Dunedin’s Vulnerable Women

Posted 10:49am Sunday 14th May 2017 by Anna Linton

Te Roopū Pūtaiao (TRP), the University of Otago Māori Science Students’ Association, has expanded their  ‘Love Another Mother’ volunteer initiative, which is aimed at giving gifts to vulnerable women in the Ōtepoti community for Mother’s Day. The Read more...

Keeping tabs on the Exec | Issue 11

Posted 10:41am Sunday 14th May 2017 by Joe Higham

The University of Otago’s Deputy Proctor Andrew Ferguson and Team Leader for Media Engagement Jo Galer were both present to inform the executive confidentially about the university’s plans. Ferguson began his pitch selling the initiative to the executive, although, approximately two Read more...

Otago University To Install 60 CCTV Cameras in North Dunedin's Streets

Posted 9:16am Friday 12th May 2017 by Joe Higham

A procedural mistake made during the latest OUSA Executive meeting (Monday 8 May) has provided Critic with an unintended and exclusive insight into Otago University’s controversial plans to drastically increase the amount of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV), the large majority of Read more...

The G.O.A.T. Series Part One: Male Athletes

Posted 11:57am Sunday 7th May 2017 by Charlie Hantler

G.O.A.T., or the ‘greatest of all time’, is an American phrase which has now become commonplace in sporting circles with discussions about which sportsperson is the best to ever grace their code’s pitch/ring/field and so on. Throughout the rest of the year, Critic will conduct a Read more...

Interview with Nicky Hager

Posted 11:43am Sunday 7th May 2017 by George Elliott

George Elliot: There’s been a lot of blowback from Hit & Run. What is your assessment from the response to that? Nicky Hager: So far the book is going very well. It could seem like the goal was that the government announced the enquiry, and that was the test of whether it worked, but Read more...

Critic Sides With Scientific Evidence As Pro- and Anti-Vaxxers Lock Horns

Posted 11:31am Sunday 7th May 2017 by Joe Higham

An OUSA Facebook post promoting National Immunisation Week (1-7 May) provided the latest platform for both sides of the vaccination debate to lock horns. OUSA made the post on 2 May to help spread awareness for the Southern District Health Board’s program of providing free human Read more...

National Drafts New Law Following Landmark $2 billion Pay Equity Settlement

Posted 11:24am Sunday 7th May 2017 by Anna Linton

The National Party has announced that they are currently drafting legislation to overhaul the pay equity laws. The new law will provide a non-judicial framework for pay equity claims and narrow the current ‘comparator’ process. Under the current Equal Pay Act 1972, employees must find Read more...

License Suspensions Handed Out For Branson’s Bar and Alley Cantina

Posted 11:20am Sunday 7th May 2017 by Joel MacManus

Two Dunedin bars popular with students have had their licenses suspended following rulings from the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority. Branson’s Bar on St Andrew St and Alley Cantina on George St had their licenses temporarily revoked, for 72 and 48 hours respectively, for serving Read more...

NZ Government Pissed Off With Australia’s Backstabbing Education Reform

Posted 11:15am Sunday 7th May 2017 by Joe Higham

The Australian Government has decided to impose international tuition fees on New Zealand students at Australian universities as part of their recently introduced Education Reform Package. The changes will come into effect from 1 January 2018 and will likely affect thousands of New Read more...

NZME & Fairfax Merger Declined Amid Concerns for NZ Democracy

Posted 11:11am Sunday 7th May 2017 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

The authorisation for a merger between media companies NZME and Fairfax has been declined by the Commerce Commission. The decision came after a year of lobbying and speculation involving some of the country’s largest media brands. NZME’s subsidiaries include the NZ Herald and Newstalk Read more...

Winnie Blues: Winston Peters on Yet Another Anti-Immigration Rant

Posted 11:07am Sunday 7th May 2017 by Joel MacManus

Winston Peters has targeted international students in his latest crusade on immigration, calling on the government to get rid of rules that allow foreign students to earn work visas and permanent residency after completing their qualifications. “We’re going to restore the integrity of Read more...

Human Rights Commission Report Shows Serious Mistreatment in NZ Prisons

Posted 10:52am Sunday 7th May 2017 by Joe Higham

An independent report, conducted by the Human Rights Commission, has raised several serious concerns about the use of seclusion and restraint practices in New Zealand’s prison system.  The report, written by international expert Dr Sharon Shalev, “indicates that seclusion and Read more...

Keeping tabs on the Exec | Issue 10

Posted 10:46am Sunday 7th May 2017 by Joe Higham

The Otago Students Against Animal Testing group was affiliated to OUSA without any issue.  President Hugh Baird and Campaigns Officer Eden Lati recently returned from visiting the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) in Wellington, where they were determining a strategy Read more...

Folkloric Heroes: NZ Cricket’s All-Time Battlers XI

Posted 11:34am Sunday 30th April 2017 by Charlie Hantler

Kane Williamson. Martin Crowe. Richard Hadlee. Ross Taylor. These are but a few of the names that have been carved into national cricket history as heroes for the right reasons. Unfortunately, in a nation of roughly 4.5 million people, and with a professional cricket population of about 100, Read more...

Kaye Takes Education & Brownlee Takes Foreign Affairs in Safe Cabinet Reshuffle

Posted 11:21am Sunday 30th April 2017 by George Elliott

The reshuffle has been perceived as a safe refresher for PM Bill English’s team—a balanced response to the departure of two senior officials. Nikki Kaye will replace Hekia Parata as Education Minister; Gerry Brownlee will replace Murray McCully as Foreign Affairs Minister. Gerry Read more...

France�s �Radical Centrist Macron to Face Populist Le Pen in Election� Second Round

Posted 11:18am Sunday 30th April 2017 by George Elliott

Newcomer centrist Emmanuel Macron and hard-right populist Marine Le Pen will face off in the second round of France’s presidential elections on the 7th of May after no candidate won a majority last week. Macron came away with 24.01 percent of the vote, while Le Pen was a million votes behind Read more...

Does Andrew Little Have a Point On Immigration Policy? No, he does not.

Posted 10:59am Sunday 30th April 2017 by Joe Higham

As with any election year, political parties tend to ramp up their immigration rhetoric, and with five months left until we know who will be leading our country for the next three years, this trend is already well underway.  With net permanent and long-term migration (arrivals minus Read more...

Second Blackest Black Paint in the World Not That Black

Posted 10:54am Sunday 30th April 2017 by Lucy Hunter

Critic recently obtained a small bottle of “Stuart Semple Black”, which was meant to be a replica of the world’s black- est material, “Vantablack”, of which controversial artist Anish Kapoor has exclusive rights.  Vantablack absorbs about 99.6 percent of light, Read more...

Common Sense Prevails in Australia’s Bloody Battle With Sharks

Posted 10:46am Sunday 30th April 2017 by Sam Fraser-Baxter

The Western Australia (WA) Government has announced that they will not cull sharks following the death of a teenage girl in the Australian state two weeks ago. 17-year-old Laeticia Brouwer was surfing with her father near Esperance in South Western Australia when she was mauled by what is Read more...

Otago University Coy Over Plans to Replace Dept. of Politics Staff Member

Posted 10:45am Sunday 30th April 2017 by Joe Higham

Critic understands that a second staff member from the Department of Politics has taken an offer of voluntary redundancy, with the University keeping tight-lipped on whom, if anybody will be replacing them. It is not publically known at this stage which staff member has taken up the offer. The Read more...

What the Hell is Going On with the Hospital Rebuild? A Short History

Posted 10:42am Sunday 30th April 2017 by Joel MacManus

The Dunedin hospital rebuild has been continually stalled for the last two years, dragging along with more reluctance than a student finishing a research assignment.  Another roadblock appeared this week with news that the Ministry of Health apparently doesn’t know what parts they can Read more...

Mondelez International To Give Cadbury World a $3 million Upgrade

Posted 10:36am Sunday 30th April 2017 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

Cadbury World owners, Mondelez International, are looking to revamp their Dunedin tourist attraction. They have released a series of plans that will look at upgrading the attraction, with plans still being in the concept development stage, and with no final decision having been made. According to Read more...

Protestors March Against Construction of Animal Testing Facility

Posted 10:31am Sunday 30th April 2017 by Anna Linton

A recent protest on University of Otago grounds saw more than 70 people voicing opposition to the construction of an animal testing facility on Great King Street.Headed by the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS), and supported by several national and international organisations, the protest Read more...

Keeping tabs on the Exec | Issue 9

Posted 10:30am Sunday 30th April 2017 by Joe Higham

Funding applications from Autism New Zealand and the Rotary Club sparked discussion about whether the budget allocation for charitable causes should be dedicated to only student-centric charities. Colleges Officer James Heath said that we should “only be finding charities working in the Read more...

All King James's Horses & All His Men

Posted 11:56am Sunday 23rd April 2017 by Charlie Hantler

With the NBA regular season wrapped up for another year, and packed with intriguing storylines and stat-lines, we now enter the business end of the season: the playoffs. Do or die ball. After Russell Westbrook and James Harden’s MVP battle, LeBron James maintaining his normal standards, and Read more...

National�s Kiwis first� Immigration Rule Labeled Meaningless By Labour

Posted 11:36am Sunday 23rd April 2017 by George Elliott

Under the government’s new immigration rules the classification of temporary high and low skilled workers and their residency eligibility will be determined by income, regardless of their industry position. Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse announced last week that temporary migrants Read more...

Struggle? In 2017?

Posted 11:23am Sunday 23rd April 2017 by Tyler West

Look at that, four months have passed already! It’s been an active year thus far; students are still getting themselves into strikes, riots, killings, and occasionally a victory. So maybe it’s worth keeping half an eye on what those damned young radicals are up to an island, country, or Read more...

New Zealand Unprepared for Future Climate Refugee Crisis in the Pacific

Posted 11:03am Sunday 23rd April 2017 by Sofie Hagland Børseth

Climate experts are saying that climate change could trigger a future refugee crisis in the Pacific if New Zealand does not start a mass migration soon. Professor in Meteorology and Climatology at the University of Otago Dr Nicolas Cullen said that the communities in the Pacific are vulnerable to Read more...

Uni Strives To Be A Leader On Environmental Issues With New Plan

Posted 10:55am Sunday 23rd April 2017 by Joel MacManus

The University of Otago announced a new plan last week to increase environmentally sustainable practises throughout the institution over the next four years, something it hopes will showcase its “desire to strengthen our efforts towards sustainability, becoming genuinely world class in how we Read more...

Will the University Have Any Staff Left After Yet More Redundancies?

Posted 10:52am Sunday 23rd April 2017 by Joe Higham

Otago University’s Support Services Review is reaching the end of its ‘Solution Design’ phase, coming as rumours have been circulating that as many as 300 jobs will be lost once the final ‘Implementation Stage’ begins.  However, Otago University Human Resources Read more...

Tinder, Wine, & Sleeping Naked Prove Popular in Dunners

Posted 10:46am Sunday 23rd April 2017 by Joel MacManus

Otago residents are more likely than any other region in New Zealand to be looking for love on Tinder, be munching crunchy peanut butter, and smashing back some Central Otago Pinot Noir, according to the results of a nation -wide census.  The Vogel’s Big Little Kiwi Census surveyed Read more...

Female Workers Set for Historic Pay Rise After Government Announces Pay Equity Settlement

Posted 10:40am Sunday 23rd April 2017 by Mikade Barns-Graham

Unions, organisations, and workers in the disability, care and support industry enthusiastically welcomed the recent announcement of the Government’s pay equity settlement last week. After 20 months of negotiations between the government and unions such as E Tu union, New Zealand Read more...

Keeping tabs on the Exec | Issue 8

Posted 10:36am Sunday 23rd April 2017 by Joe Higham

Congratulations to the executive for their work and participation with Relay For Life, an event that saw Otago University Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne and Arana College Warden Jamie Gilbertson shave off OUSA Colleges Officer James Heath’s hair. This year’s OUSA contingent at Relay For Read more...

Outpost of Empire: The Far Right in New Zealand Up to the 1920s

Posted 11:40am Sunday 9th April 2017 by Tyler West

For the most part, New Zealand has missed the kinds of ultra-reactionary mass movements that typified fascist, and otherwise hardline nationalist, politics during periods of crisis in other countries. Classical fascist movements, or contemporary populist chauvinism (such as, say, Read more...

Sweeping Aside the Opposition

Posted 11:31am Sunday 9th April 2017 by Charlie Hantler

On the back of a strong domestic season with both Otago and Derbyshire on the English County circuit, one of our favourites Neil Broom earned a recall to the Black Caps. He came out firing, with scores of 22, 109*, and 97 in the three ODIs against Bangladesh, to average 114 for the series, before Read more...

Academics Issue Open Letter in Defence of Free Speech

Posted 11:25am Sunday 9th April 2017 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

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Former OUSA President Creates Community Project On Albany St, All Welcome

Posted 11:21am Sunday 9th April 2017 by Anna Linton

Former OUSA President 1979-1980, and local activist, Paul ‘ the Governor’ Gourlie is preparing to launch a community project intended to teach entrepreneurship and tether stronger relations between the town (Dunedin City) and the gown (Otago University). ‘Aotea Peace Read more...

Totally Execrable

Posted 11:11am Sunday 9th April 2017 by Joe Higham

This week there were discussions about grants policy, committee reports, and the clubs council amongst other things, but Critic doesn’t want to distract from the calamitous events outlined below by discussing these other issues. We promise you you’re not missing anything Read more...

Behind the Scenes at Hyde Street

Posted 10:47am Sunday 9th April 2017 by Joe Higham

If you want the raw statistics from Hyde Street, you’ll find them in this article, but you’ll also find much more about what preparations are put in place, and by whom, to make the day tick smoothly and to mitigate the disasters that have occurred in the past. The average attendee was a Read more...

Charlie Hantler Sits Down With Marty Banks

Posted 11:42am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by Charlie Hantler

There are a few genuine folklore legends in this current Highlanders squad: Ben Smith, Richard “Barracuda” Buckman, Joey Wheeler… but perhaps the standout is the curly-haired assassin Marty Banks. I caught up with Banksy for an ice-cold Speight’s and chewed the fat. By God Read more...

Paris Climate Agreement’s Aims Undermined by Trump

Posted 11:30am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by George Elliott

Last week US President Donald Trump followed through on promises to dismantle former President Barack Obama’s environmental regulations, prompting an existential crisis for global efforts to cut pollution. Trump signed an executive order Tuesday directing the Environmental Protection Agency Read more...

The New Language of Racism and Othering

Posted 11:27am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by Kirio Birks

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No End in Sight For Syrian Civil War, But You Can Help

Posted 10:55am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 12.0px; font: 8.0px 'Fira Sans'} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 12.0px; font: 8.0px 'Fira Sans'; min-height: 12.0px} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} The Civil War in Syria is a crisis that has been on going for six long Read more...

Alibi Bar Closes Due to DCC’s Hard Line on New Alcohol Legislation

Posted 10:51am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 12.0px; font: 8.0px 'Fira Sans'} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 12.0px; font: 8.0px 'Fira Sans'; min-height: 12.0px} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} Alibi Bar and Restaurant is set to close its doors on April 9th, Read more...

Financial Position of PE School “Not sustainable” ­ —Pro-Vice Chancellor

Posted 10:48am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by Joel MacManus

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12.0px; font: 7.5px DobraSlab} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 8.5px; line-height: 12.0px; font: 7.5px DobraSlab} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} The Department of Physical Read more...

Absence of Students the Reason Dunedin Won’t Host 2018 Sevens

Posted 10:46am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by Joe Higham

Speculation had been growing that either Hamilton or Dunedin would become the new hosts for the New Zealand leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series, however that was soon dismissed when the event’s dates were not able to be aligned with the university year, meaning students would not be in town to Read more...

University Working with OUSA To Address Sexual Harm

Posted 10:41am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by Joel MacManus

The University of Otago has taken a major step to address the issue of sexual harm among students, establishing the working group called Sexual Harm and Assault Response and Evaluation (SHARE). The aim of the group is to “investigate a co-ordinated response to any future reports of sexualised Read more...

OUSA to Provide Flu Vaccinations to 2,500 Students After Success of Pilot Scheme

Posted 10:37am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by Joe Higham

OUSA will build upon the success of their 2016 flu vaccination pilot scheme to provide free vaccinations to roughly 2,500 students at a cost to the association of approximately $50,000.  The 2016 pilot scheme provided 150 free flu jabs to students in late May, and was part of former Read more...

Flaws in Funding Model Incentivises Research Over Teaching, Report Claims

Posted 10:35am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by Anna Linton

A report published by the Productivity Commission on tertiary education last week has highlighted that the current funding model incentivises research over teaching.  It claims that both the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) and international rankings systems encourage tertiary Read more...

Keeping tabs on the Exec

Posted 10:31am Sunday 2nd April 2017 by Joe Higham

The executive began by formally disaffiliated the Otago University Dive Club and proposed giving the entirety of their diving gear to the Otago University Spearfishing Club. Education Officer Bryn Jenkins reminded the group that doing that doing so could create difficulty in future if the Dive Club Read more...

Things You Aren’t Allowed to Say in NZ Parliament

Posted 11:58am Sunday 26th March 2017 by Joel MacManus

Debate in the chambers of parliament can, and should, be heated and intense. But the Speaker of the House must maintain order, and does so by ruling on what language is appropriate. ‘Unparliamentary Language’ means any insults, unbecoming language, or accusations of Read more...

Hager/Stephenson Book & Fallout Shows Need for Independent Inquiry into SAS Raid

Posted 11:46am Sunday 26th March 2017 by George Elliott

Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson, two of New Zealand’s most renowned investigate journalists, claim that a 2010 NZSAS-led raid in Afghanistan killed six civilians and injured 15 more – contrary to the official story. The allegation is made in a book titled Hit and Run: The New Zealand Read more...

Spick & Span to Play for Grand Slams

Posted 11:32am Sunday 26th March 2017 by Charlie Hantler

At the time of writing, organisers are tidying up the iconic Dunedin Railway Station to host the ID Fashion Week Runway Show this weekend. Having covered the Premier League, Super Rugby and cricket already this year, not wanting to talk about league because the Warriors are shit, and saving a Read more...

Union Negotiations with New World Reach Standstill but Members Pledge to Continue Protesting

Posted 11:05am Sunday 26th March 2017 by Joe Higham

First Union has reached a standstill in its negotiations with New World Centre City’s franchise owners for a collective agreement for store members but they have pledged to continue to protest in the hope that it will bring about substantive improvement to both pay and working Read more...

Rowdy Ass Pants

Posted 10:59am Sunday 26th March 2017 by Mat Clarkson

Mike Hosking wakes in his penthouse apartment atop the most exclusive high-rise in Auckland’s CBD. He is the first to rise, but he is not alone. All around there are ten to twenty people of varying familiarity to him, including several strangers passed out drunk and someone he probably used to Read more...

PE Alumni Raise Concerns over Falling Enrolments and Departmental Changes

Posted 10:48am Sunday 26th March 2017 by Joel MacManus

Physical Education (PE) Students have raised serious concerns about the future of the PE department after reports of dwindling enrolments and budget cuts risk changes to the curriculum and degree structure. The organisation Phedders United, which formed in 2015 to represent the interests of alumni Read more...

Coca-Cola Christmas In the Park is a National Disgrace

Posted 10:45am Sunday 26th March 2017 by Joel MacManus

It’s time for us to accept it: Coca Cola Christmas in the Park has become a disgrace. Every year thousands of irresponsible and careless middle-aged people descend on public property, get off their chops on eggnog and sherry, leave a disgusting mess of cans, cups and mince tart wrappers Read more...

Keeping tabs on the Exec

Posted 10:42am Sunday 26th March 2017 by Joe Higham

The meeting began with a warm welcome to Te Roopu Maori President, Eli Toeke, who was elected during the Te Roopu Maori Annual General Meeting that was held on 14th March.  After a thoroughly captivating discussion about health and safety, Recreation Officer Caitlin Barlow-Groome presented Read more...

Media Displays Frenzied Yearning for a Trump Tax Return Silver Bullet

Posted 11:42am Sunday 19th March 2017 by George Elliott

I witnessed something fascinating last Wednesday. Rachel Maddow, one of the most well-known liberal prime-time television hosts in the United States, tweeted “BREAKING: We’ve got Trump tax returns. Tonight, 9pm ET. MSNBC. (Seriously).” Her colleague, Lawrence O’Donnell, Read more...

One Nation Are Growing Despite Weak WA Results

Posted 11:29am Sunday 19th March 2017 by Tyler West

The recent state election in Western Australia (WA) has swept a new Labour government under Mark McGowan to power, ousting two-term Liberal Premier Colin Barnett. As of writing, Labour is resting on 38 seats in the 59-seat legislative assembly, set to rise as high as 41. It’s one of the Read more...

“And Solskjaer Has Won It" - Best Sporting Comebacks

Posted 11:20am Sunday 19th March 2017 by Charlie Hantler

Last week Barcelona completed what was, arguably, the greatest football comeback of all-time in their round-of-16 tie against Paris Saint Germain last week. Coming from 4-0 down in the first leg to scoring three goals in the final 5 minutes of the second leg and conquering the Parisian based side Read more...

Abortion Law Reform Coming to Forefront of Public Debate

Posted 10:52am Sunday 19th March 2017 by Joe Higham

A resurgence of public debate surrounding abortion reform is currently taking place in New Zealand, just as the United Kingdom has signalled its intent to discuss the possibility of decriminalising women who bring about their own abortion. New Zealand women currently have to adhere to strict Read more...

Otago University Physicists Make Substantial Breakthrough

Posted 10:49am Sunday 19th March 2017 by Joe Higham

A team of six University of Otago physicists have managed to control individual atoms, causing them to appear wherever they want them to. The success was down to seven lasers, with components from compact disc players, and precision mirrors.  Lead Otago researcher Dr Mikkel Andersen says Read more...

Movement for Gender-Neutral Bathrooms on Campus Growing

Posted 10:45am Sunday 19th March 2017 by Joel MacManus

The Auckland University of Technology (AUT) has reassigned 165 on-campus gender-neutral bathrooms in an effort to provide more comfortable arrangements for gender diverse students. According to AUT Rainbow Community manager Audrey Hutcheson, the change was made to ensure students safety on campus, Read more...