Archive

Medical Students Safe after SDHB Budget Cuts

Posted 10:53am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Joe Higham

The Department of Health Sciences has said budget cuts in the Southern District Health Board are not expected to affect Otago’s medical students. The SDHB has introduced a five percent budget cut for most health providers in the southern region in an attempt to solve their financial Read more...

Closure of Department of Applied Sciences

Posted 10:48am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Joe Higham

Design students say they feel their majors have been “dismissed” after the University of Otago announced the Department of Applied Sciences will be closed. Zac Newton, a Design for Technology major, says students have “worked so hard to show the value of what we do [as design Read more...

Execrable | Issue 22

Posted 10:43am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Laura Munro

The meeting kicked off with OUSA Events Manager Dan Hendra outlining what will be involved in the upcoming Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival. Hendra said the event, soon to be held for the third time, has four strategic goals. These are to “achieve a true town and gown event”, to Read more...

Paralysed After Commerce Building Accident

Posted 10:41am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Joe Higham

The University of Otago must pay $60,000 to a woman left permanently disabled after slipping on tiling in the Commerce Building. In June 2013 Katherine Casey fractured her spine and pelvis in three places after slipping on the building’s tiles. Casey later sued the university and it Read more...

Updates | Issue 21

Posted 11:59am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Football Manchester City kicked off the English Premier League season with ominous intent by winning their opening three games without conceding a goal and beating defending champions Chelsea 3–0. Formula One Lewis Hamilton dominated the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, taking pole Read more...

ITM Cup to Help Fine-Tune All Blacks

Posted 11:47am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The ITM has lost some of its importance recently with Super Rugby and All Blacks games taking precedence over the domestic provincial championship. This season though — instead of wrapping their players up in cotton wool before the World Cup — some of the All Blacks have been released Read more...

Warriors Need a Miracle

Posted 11:44am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Daniel Lormans

With just two games remaining in the regular season, the New Zealand Warriors sit 10th on the NRL ladder having taken 22 points from 22 games. This doesn’t sound too bad on paper, but the nature of what was their sixth successive defeat has really compounded their late season misery — Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 21

Posted 11:27am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Amber Allott

World Watch Barnstaple, United Kingdom A high school student who committed an armed robbery after believing he had failed his GCSE A-levels has been offered a place at the University of Plymouth. The 18-year-old was sentenced to three years and eight months at a young offenders’ institute Read more...

In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 21

Posted 11:19am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Henry Napier

I was talking to my mum last week about New Zealand politics, and on the topic of the Labour Party she said: “I still can’t figure Labour out, what do they stand for?” As my mother often does, she hit the nail on the head. Labour has had, and continues to have, trouble Read more...

Health and Safety Bill Has “Fundamental Flaws”

Posted 11:16am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Henry Napier

The Health and Safety Reform Bill was back in the spotlight last week following a 14-hour parliamentary debate. The bill will now continue to its third reading where it is likely to pass into law. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse, the minister in charge of the bill, has Read more...

Claim for Auckland Unlikely to be Heard

Posted 11:13am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Henry Napier

The Māori King has launched a Treaty claim for the wider Auckland area. Speaking at his annual coronation two weeks ago, King Tuheitia addressed the Kīngitanga’s new claim for sovereignty over the city. The king spoke to an audience of over 1000 people, including Prime Minister Read more...

ISIS Deputy Killed in US Airstrike

Posted 11:04am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

The deputy leader of ISIS has been killed in an American airstrike on Tuesday 18 August, near Mosul, in Iraq.  Ned Price, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council, made the announcement in a statement from the White House on Friday 21 August. “Fadhil Ahmad al-Hayali, also Read more...

North and South Korea Attempt to Defuse Tensions

Posted 11:01am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Jessica Thompson Carr

North and South Korea have successfully met to defuse tensions between the nations after recent confrontations escalated. The talks ended on Tuesday 25 August with South Korea agreeing to halt propaganda broadcasts and North Korea expressing “regret” over the incident. Tensions Read more...

French Gunman Denies Terrorism Accusations

Posted 10:59am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Angus Shaw

Four men have been recognised for their bravery after overpowering a heavily armed gunman on a train in northern France. The three Americans and one Briton were subsequently awarded France’s highest honour, the Légion d’honneur, for their role in stopping what is suspected to be a Read more...

20 Killed in Bangkok Bombing

Posted 10:58am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

More than 20 people have been killed and over 100 injured after a bomb exploded at a Hindu shrine in central Bangkok. The bomb, which killed nine tourists, exploded on Monday 17 August at 7pm local time. National police chief, Somyot Poompanmuang said in a press conference that the attackers Read more...

Victory for Vic Students

Posted 10:51am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Laura Munro

Victoria University of Wellington has announced that they will retain two democratically-elected student seats on their University Council. Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association President Rick Zwaan said, “it took a lot of work” to retain two student seats and Read more...

Execrable | Issue 21

Posted 10:49am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Bridie Boyd

With OUSA elections just around the corner, the executive had two major issues to discuss. First was the appointment of an independent arbitrator. The executive unanimously agreed that Professor Paul Roth, from the Faculty of Law, would take on this role. The role is in case the Returning Officer Read more...

Council Admits Cycle Network a Botched Job

Posted 10:46am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Sana Basharati

After admitting the South Dunedin Cycle Network was designed poorly, the Dunedin City Council has announced changes to the network will begin shortly. The main issues with the current network are a lack of signage and problems with vehicle access and road markings. Intersections are also said to Read more...

Central Countdown in the Crap

Posted 10:39am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Joe Higham

Central Dunedin’s Countdown store has been handed a three-day ban on selling alcohol as a result of selling illegally discounted drinks on two separate occasions earlier this year. The ban will run from 7–10 September. The store, located on Cumberland Street, was caught out after Read more...

OUSA Finally Fronts Up Debt

Posted 10:37am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Bridie Boyd

After refusing to make the payment for most of the year, the OUSA Executive have paid NZUSA the $21,275 owed in membership fees. After months of claiming they will “reallocate” the funds they contractually owe, Hunt announced the decision to pay on the day the money was due. When Read more...

F1 Season Reaches Half Distance

Posted 12:17pm Sunday 16th August 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Whether it is racing around the world’s best circuits or just racing to get to Castle 1 on time, the lives of Otago students and F1 drivers are hectic and require a lot of commitment — meaning we both deserve a break. As students are eyeing up some grab-a-seat deals to get back to Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 20

Posted 12:02pm Sunday 16th August 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Reykjavik, Iceland One of the central streets in Iceland’s capital city has been painted in rainbow colours as part of the city’s annual Gay Pride festival. Dozens of people arrived to help transform the road, including the city’s mayor, Dagur Eggertsson. Reykjavik Read more...

In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 20

Posted 11:48am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Henry Napier

In 2004, the Helen Clark-led Labour government passed the Foreshore and Seabed Act. Despite being greeted with outrage, the act set in train a series of events that ultimately preserved the Māori seats. That sounds contradictory, and it is. It’s a political paradox. In 2003, the Read more...

Craig Won’t Rule Out Auckland

Posted 11:44am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Hugh Baird

Former Conservative leader Colin Craig has not yet ruled out putting his hand up as a candidate in the race for the Auckland mayoralty next year. Craig has said he has been approached on many occasions to enter his candidacy for the position and admitted it is something he has not yet ruled out. Read more...

MP: the Bloggers are Harming the MPs

Posted 11:40am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Henry Napier

NZ First MP Tracey Martin has claimed Curwen Rolinson is in breach of the Harmful Digital Communications Act, passed in July. In a blog post, Rolinson, former leader of the NZ First youth wing, accused Martin of undermining party MP Andrew Williams. Speaking at the University of Otago last week, Read more...

UAE Puts a Ban on “Offending God”

Posted 11:34am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Emily Duncan

At the end of July 2015, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) passed a law that prohibits discrimination against religion.  Under the new law, it is an offence to commit an act that insults God, Islam, Christianity, Judaism or houses of worship, among other things. A breach of the law, which would Read more...

Aussies Desperate for Alcohol

Posted 11:31am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

Vegemite is reportedly being used to make homemade alcohol in dry Indigenous communities across Queensland and the Northern Territory in Australia. In some areas, there have been reported instances of people buying up to 20 jars of the yeast-based spread at a time. However, Queensland police have Read more...

South Carolina Officer Shoots Unarmed Teen

Posted 11:27am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Jessica Thompson

Caucasian teenager Zachary Hammond was shot and killed by a police officer while eating icecream on a date in South Carolina. Hammond, 19, was shot twice in his shoulder and torso. He was unarmed. The incident occurred in the parking lot of a Hardee’s fast-food restaurant in Seneca. An Read more...

Ceremony Marks 70 Years Since Hiroshima

Posted 11:24am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

A remembrance ceremony has been held at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to mark the 70th anniversary of the US bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Political leaders, survivors of the attacks and Hiroshima locals attended the ceremony. At the ceremony, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Read more...

Students Getting the Dollars on Time

Posted 11:18am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Angus Shaw

StudyLink, working with the New Zealand Union of Students’ Association (NZUSA), has made efforts to improve its services for students. NZUSA said students were “deeply unhappy” with StudyLink’s service in 2013 and made improving StudyLink a top priority. In 2013, the Read more...

Lucky Day for Local

Posted 11:14am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Joe Higham

A University of Otago commerce student, Neihana Kahukura, from Invercargill, has won an annual nationwide Night ’n’ Day competition, claiming the jackpot prize of $10,000. The competition was called “Get Lucky 24/7” and took place over a 24-hour period on 24 July Read more...

Huge Hostel on Logan Park

Posted 11:11am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Joe Higham

The Otago Polytechnic has revealed plans to build a new 235-room hostel on land in Logan Park, subject to a sale of the land by the council. The building will cost “approximately $20 million”, although funding for this project is “still under discussion” according to Otago Read more...

OUSSC Organising Snowy Snow Week

Posted 11:06am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Emily Duncan

The Otago University Snow Sports Club (OUSSC) is taking a group of 45 students to Wanaka from 23–28 August for Uni Snow Week, a week-long event organised and run by the OUSSC executive.  The week is comprised of organised competitive and social events. The competitive events run for Read more...

Execrable | Issue 20

Posted 11:02am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Laura Munro

The team began with the disaffiliation of the Volleyball Scorpions. The club has had minimal contact with OUSA in the last two years and President Paul Hunt said “the club itself is happy to be disaffiliated”. OUSA’s Student Support Manager, Philippa Keaney, is writing a book Read more...

Financial Stress Causing Depression and Anxiety

Posted 10:54am Sunday 16th August 2015 by Laura Munro

The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) has released its 2014 Income and Expenditure Survey, which shows that students are in a worse position financially than when the last survey was done in 2010. The survey found that housing costs across New Zealand have increased Read more...

Updates

Posted 11:59am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Football Arsenal’s 1–0 victory over Chelsea in the FA Community Shield was Arsene Wenger’s first win over José Mourinho in 14 attempts. Mourinho subsequently tossed his runners-up medal into the crowd. Motorsport Hayden Paddon crashed his Hyundai i20 out of Read more...

Back to Beijing: Part II

Posted 11:53am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Beijing will become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics after the Chinese capital was awarded the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. The final result of the two-year candidacy process was confirmed at the 128th International Olympic Committee session in Kuala Lumpur, Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 19

Posted 11:29am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam The authorities in Vietnam’s largest city have banned pets from its first pedestrian street. Nguyen Hue, a broad pedestrianised zone in central Ho Chi Minh City, opened to much fanfare at the end of April. But the local government has now issued a list Read more...

Republican Primary Kicks Off

Posted 11:17am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Henry Napier

The Republican primary is now in full swing, with the first debate taking place on Monday last week. The debate, which is being called the “Voters First” forum, featured 14 Republican candidates who each spoke for seven minutes.  The primaries are held before the presidential Read more...

Rumours Sparked Over Peters’ Successor

Posted 11:12am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Henry Napier

Speculation over who may succeed NZ First leader Winston Peters was stirred during the party’s conference last weekend. The annual conference took place in Rotorua, where a number of policies were announced in keynote speeches from Peters and fellow NZ First MPs. The party leadership became Read more...

Bin Laden’s Family Die in Suspicious Plane Crash

Posted 11:09am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

Three members of Osama bin Laden’s family died in a plane crash in the English county of Hampshire on 31 July. The passengers were his stepmother Raja Bashir Hashem, 75, her daughter Sana bin Laden, 53, and his brother-in-law Zouheir Anuar Hashem, 56.  The family passed away, along Read more...

MH370 Plane Wreckage Found

Posted 11:06am Sunday 9th August 2015 by India Leishman

The remnants of the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 have been found.  The plane is believed to have crashed into the Indian Ocean. This follows wreckage of the plane being washed up onto the French island of La Reunion. Residents on the island spotted suitcases and what they Read more...

TPPA Negotiations Break Down

Posted 11:03am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has suffered a major blow. Negotiations with Australia and other nations have broken down at the latest talks about the agreement.  The latest TPP talks, held in Hawaii at the end of July, were held back by a lack of consensus among the Pacific nations. Read more...

Vital Vaccine Victorious Against Virus

Posted 11:00am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Angus Shaw

A new vaccine could bring an end to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. A vaccine trial against the deadly virus has proven enormously effective, with initial findings showing 100 percent efficacy in individuals.  WHO (the World Health Organization) called the findings a Read more...

OUSA Refuses to Pay Debt

Posted 10:56am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Laura Munro

OUSA has been sent an invoice for $21,275 by the New Zealand Union of Students Associations (NZUSA) for the second half of its membership fee. Late last year, the executive withdrew its membership of the association. The NZUSA constitution, however, requires a one-year withdrawal period in which Read more...

Tasers Set to Shock the South

Posted 10:53am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Jessica Thompson Carr

On Friday 31 July, the decision was made to equip police in the southern districts of New Zealand with tasers. The decision was made to provide extra protection and control for police. Police Commissioner Mike Bush announced that “frontline police response staff will move to routine Read more...

New Zealander Refused Amnesty Pardon

Posted 10:45am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Bridie Boyd

The Last week, Wellington man Phil Blackwood was denied pardon in Myanmar, despite 7000 other prisoners being released for a holiday amnesty.  Early this year, Blackwood was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after using an image of Buddha wearing headphones to promote drinks at his Read more...

Execrable | Issue 19

Posted 10:40am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Bridie Boyd

This week’s meeting started off with latest round of grants being agreed upon. The Table Tennis Association was affiliated. President Paul Hunt put forward an executive restructure proposal for discussion. The proposal was for extending the vice-president position, which is currently 20 Read more...

Bog Blazes, Students Spectate

Posted 10:34am Sunday 9th August 2015 by India Leishman

Dunedin’s popular Irish bar, The Bog, caught fire on Sunday 2 August 2015, capturing the attention of many residents in the area.  Imogen Braddock, a member of the public who watched the fire, described it as “quite frightening”. By the time the fire was out, “a Read more...

No Miracle to Save Design Students

Posted 10:32am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Joe Higham

Students pursuing majors in Design for Technology and Clothing and Textiles have realised their courses will be phased out, according to class representative Ben Alder. The realisation came after a meeting between the Division of Sciences Pro-Vice Chancellor Keith Hunter and design school Read more...

Police Called to OUSA Executive BYO

Posted 10:22am Sunday 9th August 2015 by Laura Munro

OUSA Education Officer Zachariah Al-Alami is not facing disciplinary action after he was forcibly removed from a Dunedin restaurant for violence towards staff. The incident occurred at an executive dinner on 23 July 2015. The manager of the restaurant said issues began when Al-Alami attempted to Read more...

Street Art Begins on Castle Lecture Theatre

Posted 11:51pm Wednesday 5th August 2015 by Joe Higham

The work on a campus mural has begun. In collaboration with the University of Otago, OUSA has commissioned Canadian artist, Fluke, to work on a street art piece located on the outside of the Castle Lecture Theatres.  The work began on Tuesday 5 August, as part of a campus Read more...

Premier League Clubs Pre-Season Tour

Posted 12:16pm Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The English Premier League season is kicking off this weekend, and the teams have been busy in the transfer market in an effort to improve on their position from last season. In preparation for the 2015–16 season, many of the teams embarked on what has now become standard practice — an Read more...

Opinion: The Art of Sport

Posted 12:14pm Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Daniel Lormans

With the theme of this week’s issue in mind, I spent some time thinking about whether or not sports can be considered as art. Art is a very subjective concept to define properly, but I see it as an expressive form of human creativity, skill and imagination that combine to produce a work/text Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 18

Posted 11:47am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Transylvania, Romania A music festival is taking inspiration from the world’s most famous vampire and offering free or discounted tickets to people who give blood. The Untold festival takes place at the end of July, and organisers are hoping their “pay with blood” Read more...

Opinion: The Comeback of Judith Collins

Posted 11:41am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Henry Napier

Former minister Judith Collins’ journey back to political significance is one of the most interesting undercurrents of New Zealand politics right now. It would be surprising if there was a backbench MP in history who had as much influence as Collins does today. Last year, Collins was forced Read more...

Labour Poll Sees Little Change

Posted 11:38am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Henry Napier

Last week, 3 News released a political poll showing support for the Labour Party was unchanged as a result of recent controversy surrounding Chinese house buyers. The poll showed Labour at 31.1 percent, a mere 0.7 percent increase from previous polls. The party has come under fire in recent weeks Read more...

Craig Hands Out Accusatory Pamphlets

Posted 11:35am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Henry Napier

Former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig is back in the media after announcing intentions to sue for defamation.  Craig has made claims that John Stringer, Cameron Slater and Jordan Williams all publicly made false allegations against him. These include recent allegations of sexual Read more...

Foul Play Suspected in Sandra Bland Death

Posted 11:28am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

African-American woman Sandra Bland, who was arrested for assault on a public servant on 10 July, has been found dead in her Texas jail cell three days after her arrest. Authorities claim the death was a suicide, but activists suspecting foul play have led to an investigation by Texas Read more...

Cinema Shooting Kills Two

Posted 11:23am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by India Leishman

The lives of two women have been cut short after a second cinema shooting took place in Lafayette, Louisiana, on 23 July. Jillian Johnson, 33, and Mayci Breaux, 21, were fatally shot during an evening screening of Trainwreck. The shooting left three dead, including gunman John Russell Houser, and Read more...

Cannabis Petition Lights Up Debate

Posted 11:21am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

A petition calling for the legalisation of cannabis in the United Kingdom has amassed over 150,000 signatures, making it likely to receive serious consideration in parliament. The online petition asks the government to allow the sale, production and recreational use of marijuana, citing Read more...

Tobacco Tax Could Save $3.87 Billion

Posted 11:18am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Joe Higham

Research conducted at the University of Otago shows the continuation of yearly 10 percent tax increases on tobacco will have multiple benefits for society.  The research, directed by Professor Tony Blakely, looks at the outcome of the government’s yearly 10 percent tax increase on Read more...

Prisoner Voting Ban Breaches Bill of Rights

Posted 11:15am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Joe Higham

A judgement delivered by the High Court in the recent case of Taylor v Attorney-General has deemed New Zealand’s blanket ban on prisoner voting a breach of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Five prisoners had taken the matter to the High Court to challenge the legitimacy of the Read more...

Scarfie Grandma Spins a Yarn

Posted 11:11am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Angus Shaw

A Whangarei woman has become the decoy-grandmother of all Scarfies this week after her hand-knitted beanies were snatched up in seconds.  Geraldine Edwards has been sending the Otago Chaplain, Greg Hughson, regular boxes of hand-knitted beanies for the past few months. Her only request: Read more...

ICT Students Can Rejoyce

Posted 11:06am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Amber Allott

A new information technology graduate school, which is being built in association with local IT businesses and other South Island tertiary institutions, is set to be opened in Dunedin. From 2014 to 2018, the New Zealand government will be investing in the construction and development of Read more...

Professor Extinguishes Firewalking Fears

Posted 11:03am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Laura Munro

Sparks flew outside St David’s lecture theatres last week as students were invited to take part in a firewalking demonstration. Physics expert, Dr John Campbell, hosted the event, which was preceded by a public lecture on why we’re able to safely walk on the coals, which were around Read more...

Students Spark Design Intervention

Posted 10:57am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Laura Munro

University of Otago design students have made a submission against the proposed changes to the Applied Sciences Department. The proposal, which students became aware of earlier this month, would see the removal of Design for Technology and Clothing and Textiles as major subjects. The 16-page Read more...

Execrable | Issue 18

Posted 10:43am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Laura Munro

The executive meeting kicked off with talk of the possible closure of the design department. Announced earlier this month, a proposal by the Division of Sciences would get rid of Design for Technology and focus more on Clothing and Textiles. President Paul Hunt says he and Philippa Keaney of Student Read more...

University of Otago Foundation Trust Divests

Posted 10:41am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Last week, the University of Otago Foundation Trust, an entity separate to the university that holds half its investments, announced that it would be divesting from fossil fuels. The trust will now also prohibit any future investment involving the exploration for and extraction of fossil Read more...

Acceptance and Equality the Big Winners at the ESPY Awards

Posted 12:59pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The ESPYs (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards) are Hollywood’s “ratings-orientated” sports awards, which recognise people for sporting as well as humanitarian contributions to society and popular culture. This year’s edition provided much Read more...

Keeping Track of the Highlanders in Black

Posted 12:43pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Daniel Lormans

By the end of August, the 43-man All Blacks squad needs to be further narrowed down to the 31 players who will head to England for the World Cup. Only five of the Super Rugby title-winning Highlanders were selected for the initial test squad, with only one of them taking part in the first two tests. Read more...

Labour Flagged for Hypocrisy

Posted 12:28pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Henry Napier

In a recent press release, Labour leader Andrew Little opposed the idea of changing the flag, claiming the money could be spent elsewhere. However, while Labour has been quick to bash National’s flag referendum, a review of the flag has been part of Labour’s policy since before Little Read more...

My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 17

Posted 12:20pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Henry Napier

Sam Lotu-liga should be sacked as a minister. That statement sounds like something you might read on Whaleoil, but it’s the truth. Last week a video emerged on YouTube, which showed a number of organised fights happening in Mt Eden prison as part of an inmate-run fight club. Following the Read more...

Government Speeds through Transport Bill

Posted 12:17pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Henry Napier

The House went into urgency last week following fears that thousands of speeding tickets issued through local councils were invalid.  The Land Transport (Speed Limits Validations and Other Matters) Bill — which sought to amend a technicality in the law that had rendered many speed Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 17

Posted 12:09pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Italy Italy’s farm animals are being given showers, fans and air conditioning in their stalls to try to keep them cool during the current heatwave there. Temperatures in Italy have reached up to 40°C and this has caused a fall in production on the country’s Read more...

Elections to Replace FIFA President

Posted 11:56am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

FIFA announced last Monday that elections will be held next February to replace its controversial president, Sepp Blatter. The election is part of a series of overhauls and reforms designed to restore the organisation’s image after a year of corruption allegations. Blatter, speaking at a Read more...

Mitsubishi Apologises for Torture of Prisoners

Posted 11:54am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Joe Higham

An apology has been issued by Japanese corporation, Mitsubishi, for its use of American prisoners of war during World War Two. The prisoners were used for forced labour at Mitsubishi factories throughout Japan. It has been said that the use of the prisoners of war was deemed necessary to fill Read more...

Five Servicemen Killed at Military Base

Posted 11:51am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

On 16 July, a lone gunman opened fire on two military bases in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The shooting, which occurred shortly after 10am, killed five servicemen. Another serviceman and a policeman were left injured, and the shooter was also killed at the scene. Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez, who was Read more...

Execrable | Issue 17

Posted 11:30am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Executive meetings have been scarce for the past two months , though President Paul Hunt said the team needs to get “back into the swing” of things and start meeting “weekly”. The team were as enthusiastic as Critic about this prospect. Two clubs were affiliated Read more...

Students Remain Poor in Thriving City

Posted 11:04am Sunday 26th July 2015 by India Leishman

Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL) has released its 2014 report, which shows positive growth in Dunedin’s economic and employment sectors in the year to March 2014. The report also shows encouraging results in the tourism and creative sectors. Economically, Dunedin grew by 2.2 Read more...

They’re Giving Us More Money

Posted 11:02am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Laura Munro

The University of Otago has announced two new undergraduate scholarships and increased the values for eight of the scholarships currently offered. The University of Otago New Frontiers Scholarship and the University of Otago Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship, were approved in a council meeting Read more...

Aoraki Students “Worried” about Proposed Merger

Posted 10:59am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Joe Higham

Aoraki Polytechnic is considering closing its Dunedin campus in a possible merger with Christchurch Polytechnic and Institute of Technology.  Founded in 1987, the polytechnic describes itself as a “major provider of tertiary education and training in Mid and South Canterbury and North Read more...

Design Staff and Students Sacrificed

Posted 10:53am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Laura Munro

University of Otago design students have obtained, through an Official Information Act request, documents detailing the possible future, or lack of, for design at Otago. The first document is a review of the Department of Applied Sciences conducted in late 2014. The second is a proposal to get Read more...

Party Restrictions “Ridiculous”

Posted 10:49am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Angus Shaw

View Street’s controversial “Backpackers” flat was forced to cancel a planned party last week, despite getting initial approval from the Dunedin City Council and local police. The “Backpackers’ Ball,” a tradition of several years, was scheduled for Friday 17 Read more...

State of Origin

Posted 12:00pm Sunday 19th July 2015 by Daniel Lormans

After the game in Apia, the All Blacks and Samoa players swapped shirts, shared some laughs and posed together for pictures with fans in what seemed to be a very calm atmosphere of camaraderie, mutual respect and sportsmanship. Just a few hours later there was a distinctly different atmosphere in Read more...

All Blacks Make History with Samoa Test

Posted 11:57am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Last week saw a rare doubleheader of big rugby matches with the first ever All Blacks test match in Samoa and then the State of Origin series decider in Brisbane. These two games showed how two very different rivalries can play out. The State of Origin players and fans seem to want to hurt each Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 16

Posted 11:32am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Denmark Archaeologists are mystified after finding nearly 2000 tiny golden spirals in a field in eastern Denmark. The coils date from between 900BC and 700BC, but the archaeologists are not quite sure what they have found.  Florida, United States A man convicted of having Read more...

Hager Hits Back Against “Invasive” Raid

Posted 11:26am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Henry Napier

Investigative journalist Nicky Hager took his case before the High Court in Wellington last week to seek a judicial review of the raid that took place last October following the release of his book, Dirty Politics. The book — which focused on the relationship between right-wing blogger, Read more...

Labour Stirs Race Debate

Posted 11:24am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Henry Napier

The Labour Party has come under a flood of controversy following comments made last week by housing spokesperson, Phil Twyford. Appearing on TV3’s The Nation, Twyford claimed that Chinese buyers, many of whom were likely based overseas, were responsible for around 40 percent of property Read more...

Nuclear Agreement Struck With Iran

Posted 11:16am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

Six world powers - the US, the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - have reached an agreement with Iran to limit Iranian nuclear activity in exchange for the lifting of international oil and economic sanctions. The agreement was struck at a conference in Vienna after 20 months of Read more...

Greece Accepts “Intrusive” Bailout

Posted 11:14am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Joe Higham

After 26 hours of negotiations, an agreement on a series of economic measures has been reached between debt-ridden Greece and eurozone leaders, paving the way for a third financial bailout deal. The agreement prevents a Greek exit from the European Union for the near future and is worth up to Read more...

EU Assistance Sees Migrant Deaths Drop

Posted 11:10am Sunday 19th July 2015 by India Leishman

Recent financial boosting from the European Union has prevented the likely deaths of thousands of African migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The EU implemented Operation Triton in late April this year after shockingly high numbers of migrant deaths were reported. The operation, run by the Read more...

“Devalued” Degrees could be Discontinued

Posted 11:06am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Joe Higham

The Division of Sciences Pro-Vice Chancellor, Keith Hunter, has sent a letter to design students revealing a proposal to discontinue two applied science majors. The proposal, which is being discussed, would see Clothing and Textiles (CLTE) and Design for Technology (DETE) phased out as major Read more...

Commerce Kids Commend New Association

Posted 11:01am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Amber Allott

Business and commerce students at the University of Otago are celebrating the launch of their new Commerce Students’ Association, COMSA.  The new association was founded by two Otago students, Elliott Chow and Hilary Derrick, following the demise of previous association, OCOM. Derrick Read more...

Students Praise Rental Regulations

Posted 10:58am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Bridie Boyd

The Minister for Housing, Nick Smith, has announced new rental regulations that have potential benefits for the poor student flatting conditions in Dunedin.  The new regulations will require smoke alarms in residential rental properties, as well as ceiling and underfloor insulation. The Read more...

Blackboard Blocked after Student Falsely Accused

Posted 10:53am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Laura Munro

A University of Otago student is taking matters into his own hands after feeling he has been wronged by the university’s proctor. The student, who wishes not to be named, was given a fine and had access to his online course resources suspended for a week after Campus Watch officers Read more...

Council Protest Fails to Retain Student Voice

Posted 10:47am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Laura Munro

At a University Council meeting on 14 July 2015, the number of seats reserved for students on the council was reduced from two to one. The number of seats reserved for staff was also halved from four to two. The draft constitution, which was passed in a six to nine vote, reserved four ministerial Read more...

Super Rugby Season Grades Confirmed

Posted 12:14pm Sunday 12th July 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Now that the Super Rugby season is finished and the trophy is safely locked away down at Forsyth Barr Stadium, we can dish out final grades for our five New Zealand teams after an epic season of rugby. The Highlanders and the Hurricanes were a cut above the rest while the Chiefs ran out of steam, Read more...

NZ First Turned House of Cards

Posted 12:07pm Sunday 12th July 2015 by Henry Napier

NZ First Deputy Leader Tracey Martin has been replaced in what seems a rather controversial turn of events. Last month the party’s caucus voted on the deputy leader position, leading to the appointment of Ron Mark, long-standing rival of Martin. In a post on The Daily Blog, NZ First board Read more...

Key Denies Economic Struggle

Posted 12:04pm Sunday 12th July 2015 by Hugh Baird

Prime Minister John Key has knocked back suggestions from economists that New Zealand is headed for a large economic slowdown. Speaking at a post-cabinet press conference, Key said he was “not at all panicked”. However, he did accept that there were “a few headwinds Read more...