Archive
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 OMannin
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 Dunedins 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 Bransons 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 Australias 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 Crickets 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...
Frances 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 Australias 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...
Nationals 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 Brseth
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
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} Following the closure of the Read more...
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 Agreements 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
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} Language doesn’t need Read more...
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 DCCs 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 Wont 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 Arent 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...
Hepatitis C Continues to Plague NZers As Govt Fights Losing Battle
Posted 10:38am Sunday 19th March 2017 by Joe Higham
The Otago Hepatitis C Resource Centre is continuing to struggle to survive amid funding issues from central government. The current six-month contracts are doing little to provide financial security to the centre. Hepatitis C is a disease that is spread through blood-to-blood contact, an Read more...
Wellington Students Protest NZ Rape Culture
Posted 10:32am Sunday 19th March 2017 by Anna Linton
A protest set up by three Wellington high schools against New Zealand rape culture saw hundreds march from Parliament to Civic Square in Wellington last Monday. The protest comes as a result of offensive comments made recently by high school students at Wellington College surfaced on Read more...
Executive Pledge to be Apolitical in Election Year
Posted 10:27am Sunday 19th March 2017 by Joe Higham
Recreation Officer Caitlin Barlow-Groome began with the affiliation of the ‘ACT On Campus’ group, which drew immediate discussion from the executive about former OUSA President Logan Edgar’s colourful relationship with the group (well worth a read if you are unaware of what Read more...
Dunedin Landords face Tenancy Tribunal over Illegal Letting of Rooms
Posted 10:23am Sunday 19th March 2017 by Joel MacManus
The Tenancy Tribunal has ruled several North Dunedin landlords have been requiring tenants to sign illegal fixed term contracts before granting them residence in studio rooms or boarding houses. The practice is believed to be widespread in Dunedin, and according to a Critic investigation, may be Read more...
Charlie Hantler Sums Up The English Premier League Season With Nine Games to Go
Posted 12:20pm Sunday 12th March 2017 by Charlie Hantler
I was searching for inspiration for this week’s column, and so I delved into last year’s work. Boy oh boy did I find a goodie, with claims that Pep Guardiola, the new Manchester City manager, was making the English Premier League look easy. He was undoubtedly doing so at the time, but Read more...
Trump Faces Immediate Challenges, Has No Strategy as Rivals Race Towards ISIL Capital
Posted 12:08pm Sunday 12th March 2017 by George Elliott
Fighters belonging to the most important players in the Syrian civil war converged on the small Syrian city of Manbij last week, illustrating the complexity of a conflict which will be six years old on March 15 and reminding us that the Trump administration is yet to outline a coherent Read more...
PMs Proposed Raise in Retirement Age Receives Little Cross-Party Fanfare
Posted 12:04pm Sunday 12th March 2017 by George Elliott
Prime Minister Bill English broke with his predecessor last week in a major policy shift, announcing a proposal to raise the age of eligibility for superannuation, New Zealand’s pension scheme, from 65 to 67 years old in the year 2037. English argues that this measure will cut costs for an Read more...
Critic Interviews Don Brash
Posted 12:01pm Sunday 12th March 2017 by Joe Higham
Don Brash is the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Leader of the Opposition, from 2003-2006 (National Party), and, for seven months in 2011, led the ACT party. His return to the political sphere comes as one of the two spokespeople for controversial political lobbying group Read more...
International Womens Day 2017
Posted 11:39am Sunday 12th March 2017 by Mikade Barns-Graham
Wednesday 8 March marked 2017’s International Women’s Day; a day that has for over 100 years given people a chance to stand up for issues of gender equality. This year has encouraged a sense of boldness and action as the #BeBoldForChange campaign focused in particular on gender Read more...
Preloading Pressing Issue for Dunedin Police
Posted 11:33am Sunday 12th March 2017 by Anna Linton
Information released under the Official Information Act last week has highlighted the effect pre-drinking is having on Southerners. The Alco-Link data reveals that the majority of intoxicated offenders are drinking at home before going out, raising questions about the relationship between Read more...
SKY TV Ripping Off Students
Posted 11:30am Sunday 12th March 2017 by Joel MacManus
Under a new policy from Sky TV, students in the North Dunedin area are being offered significantly worse deals than non-students or residents in other suburbs of Dunedin. In 2016, first-time subscribers were offered a package of $39 a month including Sports, Movies, and MySky. The price this year Read more...
Totally Execrable
Posted 11:27am Sunday 12th March 2017 by Joe Higham
The executive began by discussing which charity the proceeds from the Capping Show would be given to. Postgraduate Officer Lucy Northwood proposed the Lucy Foundation (no connection), as an alternative to suicide prevention charity Life Matters, which was proposed by President Hugh Baird at the Read more...
Black Caps in DunedinTips & Tricks
Posted 11:41am Sunday 5th March 2017 by Charlie Hantler
At the time of writing, Martin Guptill has just put the South African bowling attack to the sword, with an undefeated 180 leading the Black Caps to a 7 wicket win. This levels the series at 2-2 with the final game to be played in Auckland on Saturday; thus by the time you’re reading this, the Read more...
Highlanders Sunk by Chiefs
Posted 11:37am Sunday 5th March 2017 by Jamie Green
If there’s one problem with sports, it’s that you have to pick sides, one side wins and one side loses. No other entertainment product has this problem. Unfortunately, I was on the losing side on Friday night as the Chiefs made the trip to the lunch box to take on our beloved Read more...
Jacinda Ardern a smart pick for Labour deputy
Posted 11:30am Sunday 5th March 2017 by George Elliott
Labour’s caucus will elect a new deputy leader this week and they’d be stupid to not be on board with Jacinda Ardern. Annette King’s most recent tenure as deputy was always meant to be a temporary arrangement, but she did leave with one last battle cry last week, sternly telling Read more...
Struggle, What Struggle?
Posted 11:20am Sunday 5th March 2017 by Tyler West
The entirety of ‘things wot gon dun happened to students last year’ can’t in all honesty be contained in a listicle. Much as in years before, and likely years to come, 2016 was an often bloody year for anything that might resemble a real ‘student movement’ Read more...
How to keep talking when the world is upside down
Posted 10:50am Sunday 5th March 2017 by Associate Professor James Maclaurin
James Maclaurin is a philosopher of science at the University of Otago. He has a particular interest in the life sciences and computing and information science (particularly artificial intelligence and it’s impact on humanity). We asked him to talk about how to argue constructively. The Read more...
Annette Kings Departure Leaves Jacinda Ardern Poised to Become Labours Deputy Leader
Posted 10:40am Sunday 5th March 2017 by Anna Linton
Annette King has stood down as the Labour Party’s Deputy Leader, with both herself and leader Andrew Little endorsing Jacinda Ardern as her successor. “I did ask her [King] to stay on the front bench with the Health Portfolio, and she did consider it,” Little told Critic, Read more...
Anti-Glass Alliance Assemble
Posted 10:35am Sunday 5th March 2017 by Joel MacManus
The Dunedin City Council (DCC) has engaged with local liquor store owners in a coordinated effort to reduce the number of glass products sold in North Dunedin, although they failed to nail down any specific plans. The policy was a key election promise made by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull during the Read more...
Hyde St Residents shocked After Assaults
Posted 10:28am Sunday 5th March 2017 by Joel MacManus
Residents on Hyde St have described feeling “shocked” and “unsafe” following a spate of assaults on the street in O-Week, culminating in three arrests being made. A total of four assaults allegedly occurred around the student area in the early hours of the morning of Read more...
Why Use Facts When You Can Use Anecdotes?
Posted 10:24am Sunday 5th March 2017 by Joe Higham
Prime Minister Bill English has blamed unemployment rates on young people failing workplace drug tests; despite admitting the comments he made were based entirely on anecdotal evidence. English explained that high unemployment figures do not reflect a need to limit the amount of unskilled Read more...
Last Night's Bad Choices Now Have a Calorie Count
Posted 10:21am Sunday 5th March 2017 by Joel MacManus
A number of major players in the New Zealand beer industry have made the voluntary step to start featuring nutritional information labels on their beverages. Both Lion Nathan and DB Breweries, the two largest producers in the country, have got on board, and from this week onwards the labels will be Read more...
Protestors Oppose Goldman Sachs Recruitment Drive
Posted 10:18am Sunday 5th March 2017 by Joe Higham
A group of protesters gathered at the entrance to the Hunter Centre on Wednesday 1 March in opposition to a Goldman Sachs information session as a result of their sizeable investments in the fossil fuel industry. Goldman Sachs, a global finance company, was holding the information session Read more...
Super Rugby Preview
Posted 11:44am Sunday 26th February 2017 by Charlie Hantler
With the Scarfies back in town, the main event of Orientation Week gets ever closer: the Highlanders taking on the Chiefs at The Forsyth Barr. As a student at Otago, you’re obliged to get behind the blue and gold, making yourself part of the ‘Landers Army’. With a promising Read more...
Its Frances Turn At This Populist Nationalism Thing
Posted 11:18am Sunday 26th February 2017 by George Elliott
We’re all probably feeling a bit electioned out. The American presidential election was exhausting for everyone, even for observers behind computer screens in faraway lands. Regardless, the onslaught continues; the American political system is already gearing up for the midterm elections next Read more...
Will Parliament Lose its Resident Bow Tie Aficionado?
Posted 11:16am Sunday 26th February 2017 by George Elliott
The Green Party announced last week that it won’t be standing a candidate in the Ohariu electorate this year. The move improves the chances that Labour Party candidate, Greg O’Connor, ousts United Future’s Peter Dunne. Since the announcement, the Greens and Labour have repeatedly Read more...
Bottle Smashing Down, Number of People Being Dicks Remains the Same
Posted 11:09am Sunday 26th February 2017 by Joel MacManus
Egg throwing, couch burning and bottle smashing continue to be problematic at Otago despite progress, according to the 2016 Vice-Chancellors Report on Discipline. Last year a total of 483 students were sent to the proctor’s office, with 21 being referred on to the vice-chancellor. The number Read more...
Previous Results 
