Archive

Missing Mexican Students Spur Protests

Posted 12:23pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by George Elliott

Thousands of people marched through Mexico City on 26 September to mark the one-year anniversary of 43 students disappearing in the southern state of Guerrero.  The anniversary sparked widespread outrage at government corruption and fuelled opposition to an already unpopular Read more...

2015 in Brief

Posted 12:01pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by Laura Munro

US Supreme Court Legalises Gay Marriage On 26 June, the US Supreme Court legalised the marriage of same-sex couples in all 50 states. After the decision was announced, the White House was illuminated in rainbow colours. An open supporter of gay marriage, President Obama said: “If Read more...

SDHB Injected With $7 Million

Posted 11:58am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Bridie Boyd

The government has announced it will be giving the cash-strapped Southern District Health Board $7 million to help pay its outstanding bills. However, Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman confirmed in a statement that no more money would be given to the board until it has confirmed its deficit for Read more...

Drunks Stopped with Barbed Wire

Posted 11:55am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

The University of Canterbury has been forced to use barbed razor wire to deter students attempting to climb on construction cranes on campus. A university spokesperson said students gained unauthorised access to construction sites in three incidents, two of which occurred after the barbed wire Read more...

RAs Worse Off after Pay Changes

Posted 11:52am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Joe Higham

Residential assistants (RAs) say they have been left worse off after the University of Otago changed its payment system at the beginning of 2015. Although the change has increased RAs’ initial pay, the accommodation supplement has been scrapped, meaning they have less in their pockets Read more...

Anti-TPPA Protest Draws Small Crowd

Posted 11:48am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Bridie Boyd

The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) was the subject of another student protest last week, this time taking place on the Union Lawn. The protest was the largest University of Otago activist event in 2015, attracting around 100 people. The protest, organised by leader of the Otago Read more...

Vic Students Vote to Stay in NZUSA

Posted 11:39am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Laura Munro

Victoria University students voted to stay in the New Zealand Union of Student Associations (NZUSA) in a referendum held on 24 September. Students were asked whether the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Assoication should withdraw or retain its membership of NZUSA, with 72 Read more...

Harris In The House

Posted 11:05am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Staff Reporter

Over the 10-day voting period, which ended last week, 4311 Otago students cast their votes for the 2016 OUSA Executive. Although only 21 percent of the student population voted in the election, voter turnout was up by over 1000 from 2014, after a clear increase in on-campus campaigning. The Read more...

All Blacks Shake Off Rusty Start against Pumas

Posted 12:19pm Sunday 27th September 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The All Blacks certainly looked the part in their new high-tech carbon-woven jerseys, which are the “blackest All Blacks jersey ever”, according to makers Adidas.   Ex-England captain Matt Dawson put out a parody video called the “Hakarena”, inspired by the catchy 90s Read more...

South Africa Defeated By Japan: Blame the Seagulls

Posted 12:17pm Sunday 27th September 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The Japanese team really lived up to its nickname when a gutsy performance saw them pull off a last-minute 34–32 victory over two-time World Cup winners, South Africa. Don’t think the game was just handed to Japan though; they worked their red and white socks off — especially Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 25

Posted 11:57am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Frankfurt, Germany  Construction work has unearthed the skeletons of 200 French soldiers from the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. The soldiers are believed to be from Napoleon’s Grand Army retreating from Russia in 1813. They probably died from battle wounds or typhus. More Read more...

In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 25

Posted 11:52am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Henry Napier

Last week the prime minister was asked the same question a record seven times, six times with exactly the same wording. Key was forced to masterfully deflect the long-time opposition favourite: Does he stand by all his statements? However, this time the old Trojan-horse question was accompanied by Read more...

Red Peak Climbs into the Mix

Posted 11:49am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Henry Napier

Prime Minister John Key has confirmed that the Red Peak flag design will be included in the first referendum, scheduled for November.  Last week the Green Party submitted a bill under urgency to parliament, seeking to amend the selection process to allow for five flags rather than Read more...

Greek Prime Minister Takes Out Second Elections

Posted 11:46am Sunday 27th September 2015 by George Elliott

Alexis Tsipras and his left-wing anti-austerity party Syriza have won their second election in less than nine months. The snap elections were called earlier this year after Tsipras resigned in late August amid the Greek financial crisis. Tsipras said shortly after his resignation that he felt his Read more...

13 Killed in Chile Earthquake

Posted 11:44am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Thirteen people were killed in Chile after an 8.3 earthquake struck the nation on 16 September. A tsunami followed shortly afterward. The earthquake occurred offshore from Illapel, Chile, just before 8pm. The earthquake’s epicentre was 143 kilometres north-north-west of the city of Read more...

Pentagon Programme Deemed a Failure

Posted 11:42am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

Around 75 fighters trained by American, British and Turkish military forces have entered Syria, a monitoring group has claimed. The trained fighters crossed over from Turkey on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September. They are now north of the Syrian city of Aleppo. The fighters were trained and Read more...

Cake, Coffee and Chemistry

Posted 11:38am Sunday 27th September 2015 by India Leishman

A new chemistry-themed café, The Lab, has opened in the university’s Centre for Innovation. The café replaces the Fix café, which closed last July. Kate Cooper, the manager of the Staff Club, said the Centre for Innovation approached her about the potential for a Read more...

DCC to Buy New Lightbulbs

Posted 11:36am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Emily Duncan

The DCC has announced a new draft energy plan that will showcase Dunedin’s night sky as a tourist attraction.  The initiative aims to replace all of Dunedin’s outdoor lighting with LED technology in order to reduce light pollution, giving a clearer view of the stars and the night Read more...

All the Awards at Blues and Golds

Posted 11:33am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Laura Munro

Student achievements in sports and culture were celebrated at the OUSA Blues and Golds awards last Thursday. The Blues award for Sportsman of the Year went to Fa’asiu Fuatai, who has been selected for the All Blacks’ 7s squad after playing in the University of Otago Premier team. The Read more...

OUSA Executive Forums

Posted 11:06am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Presidential Candidates Payal Ramritu Payal went for an unusual tactic during the debate, claiming she doesn’t need to run “any bullshit campaign … I’m already doing the work, making things happen right now.” The MC, and current OUSA acting president Isaac Read more...

2016 Presidential Candidates

Posted 10:57am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Laura Munro

Payal Ramritu P ayal passionately discussed her neighbourhood project. Critic asked Payal to point out the biggest weakness of each of her fellow candidates, considering she has worked on the executive with all three. She felt Laura could be “intimidating”, Nina was Read more...

Ex-Cop Announced as New Otago Proctor

Posted 10:47am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Joe Higham

Ministry of Justice official and former police officer Dave Miller has been announced as the university’s new proctor. Miller is to replace Simon Thompson, who held the position for 15 years and retired on 25 September. Miller will begin his tenure on 28 October. Miller, who is finishing Read more...

Execrable | Issue 25

Posted 10:44am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Laura Munro

An emergency executive meeting was held last Wednesday, three days after voting for the 2016 executive opened. Admin Vice President Isaac Yu ran the meeting because the current president, who is running for re-election next year, was “out campaigning”. The finance officer, who is also Read more...

Vigil for Pigs Shot at Otago

Posted 10:40am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Laura Munro

Animal rights activists held a silent vigil at Dunedin’s vivisection laboratory last week after learning live pigs were shot in the head during back-spatter experiments.  Back-spatter is the term given to blood and tissue that issues from the entry wound caused by a bullet and moves Read more...

The 2015 Rugby World Cup Kicks Off

Posted 1:00pm Sunday 20th September 2015 by Daniel Lormans

It seems like only yesterday that Richie McCaw was proudly holding up the William Webb Ellis Cup in the middle of Eden Park and John Key was performing his infamously awkward triple handshake after the All Blacks won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Pool A has been labelled as the “group of Read more...

Thousands Run in the Dunedin Marathon

Posted 12:55pm Sunday 20th September 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Nearly 2000 people took part in the 37th annual Cadbury Dunedin Marathon on Sunday 12th September.  A group of 21 Otago students used the event to raise $4,800 for the Do It In a Dress campaign, raising money for One Child - an education initiative for young girls in Africa.  The first Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 24

Posted 12:50pm Sunday 20th September 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Tokyo, Japan An endangered lemur is being sent from Japan to the Channel Islands in the hope that she will find a mate. Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo is sending Ala, a female aye-aye lemur, on an “extended romantic vacation” to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Zoologists Read more...

In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 24

Posted 12:32pm Sunday 20th September 2015 by Henry Napier

Jacinda Ardern is young, popular and a woman. Those qualities have been entirely absent from the Labour Party leadership since Helen left. It’s about time they were brought back. The last four leaders of the Labour Party have been relatively interchangeable, at least on the surface. Phil Read more...

UK Labour Party Heads Left

Posted 12:29pm Sunday 20th September 2015 by Henry Napier

After Ed Miliband’s departure last week, Jeremy Corbyn has been elected as the new leader of the UK Labour Party. Although an unlikely candidate, Corbyn won by a landslide majority with 60 percent of the vote. Corbyn received 251,000 of the 422,000 votes cast. Party members, registered Read more...

Veteran Politician is Australia’s New PM

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

Liberal Party MP Malcolm Turnbull has become Australia’s fourth prime minister in 27 months. Turnbull, who requested a leadership ballot after months of openly criticising now former prime minister, Tony Abbott, won the vote 54–44. In a press conference before the ballot, Turnbull Read more...

Californian Wildfires Consume Over 130,000 acres

Posted 12:21pm Sunday 20th September 2015 by George Elliott

California has declared a state of emergency as wildfires consume more than 130,000 acres of land. State authorities have said the two wildfires, dubbed the “Valley fire” and the “Butte fire”, have destroyed more than 700 homes and displaced over 23,000 people. Flames Read more...

11 Refugee Children Killed as Boat Capsizes

Posted 12:18pm Sunday 20th September 2015 by Emily Duncan

A boat carrying refugees between Turkey and Greece has capsized, killing 34 people. Of these, 11 were children and four were babies. The boat, which was said to be overcrowded with Syrian refugees, capsized off the coast of the Greek island, Famakonski. The cause is believed to be high Read more...

Germany Imposes Border Controls for Refugees

Posted 12:16pm Sunday 20th September 2015 by Sana Basharati

Germany has imposed a temporary control on its border with Austria in an attempt to deal with the unprecedented influx of refugees into the country. More than 13,000 refugees arrived in Munich on Saturday 12 September. A day later, Thomas de Maizière, Germany’s interior minister, Read more...

2016 Executive Nominations

Posted 11:10am Sunday 20th September 2015 by Staff Reporter

The nominations for the 2016 OUSA Executive have closed, and an array of good-looking candidates have put their names forward to represent you next year. Voting is open via the OUSA website from 21 to 30 September, with the winners announced that evening. There are 10 voting positions on the Read more...

Auckland Trumps Otago for the Second Year

Posted 10:51am Sunday 20th September 2015 by Laura Munro

The University of Otago has been named as the only university in New Zealand whose worldwide ranking has dropped since 2014 in the QS world university rankings. In the recently released QS world university rankings, Otago was ranked at 173; this dropped from the 2014 ranking of 159. Otago has Read more...

Connectedness is Focus of Tribute Ceremony

Posted 10:48am Sunday 20th September 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

Over 400 individuals attended the recent World Suicide Prevention Day ceremony held on Thursday 10 September. The ceremony was held at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Dunedin.  In an event organised by Life Matters, attendees paid tribute to the 569 New Zealanders who died by suicide Read more...

Reaching the Breaking Point

Posted 10:42am Sunday 20th September 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Dunedin bar The Break has been officially closed after the owners were found to be unsuitable applicants to operate licensed premises. The Dunedin District Licensing Committee made the ruling, and the bar closed its doors on Friday 11 September. Colin Weatherall, a committee member, said the Read more...

Execrable | Issue 24

Posted 10:36am Sunday 20th September 2015 by Laura Munro

In order to garner a greater student audience, the executive held its meeting in the university’s Main Common Room. One spectator attended with sushi in hand, though Critic assumes he was simply trying to watch the football playing on the projector. President Paul Hunt spoke of the upcoming Read more...

Medical Students Report Harassment and Bullying

Posted 10:31am Sunday 20th September 2015 by Joe Higham

A survey conducted by the New Zealand Medical Students’ Association (NZMSA) has revealed extensive bullying and sexual harassment of medical students in hospitals across New Zealand. The survey focused on fourth-, fifth- and sixth-year medical students on clinical placements. Of the Read more...

Premier League Transfer Spending Exceeds $2 Billion

Posted 11:58am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The English Premier League has never been short of cash, and it has been flooded with even more money having recently negotiated a record-breaking broadcasting rights deal worth $12 billion over three seasons, far outstripping the previous $2 billion per season agreement. The deal cements the Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 23

Posted 11:29am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Adygea, Russia A special police unit has been set up in southern Russia to ensure security at weddings. The 40-strong detail will patrol the area making sure that wedding motorcades observe the highway code and nobody fires weapons from car windows. The people of Adygea have a Read more...

In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 23

Posted 11:21am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Henry Napier

I get the distinct feeling that protesters against the TPPA are mostly gullible idealists with little idea of the reality of government or international relations. I don’t profess to be an authority, or even an expert. However, I feel justified in saying that I am intelligent enough to Read more...

Bill Concludes Five Treaty Settlements

Posted 11:18am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Henry Napier

Four Te Huki iwi have concluded Treaty of Waitangi settlements following the enactment of the Te Huki Claims Settlement Bill.  The four iwi are Ngāti Kuri, Te Aupōuri, Ngāi Takoto and Te Rarawa. The bill was accompanied by another Treaty settlement, which gave effect to a Read more...

Peters says Men Should Defend Their Own Country

Posted 11:15am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Henry Napier

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has called for male refugees from Syria to return home and help their country fight ISIS.  Last week Peters threw his support behind the emergency one-off intake of an extra 600 refugees from Syria, as well as a further 150 over the next three years. Read more...

When Human Rights Prevail

Posted 11:12am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

A Kentucky clerk who was imprisoned after refusing to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples has been released from jail. Kim Davis was originally held in contempt of court after defying repeated orders by US district court judge, David Bunning, to issue the licences. She was jailed for five Read more...

Thousands Flee Syria for Europe

Posted 11:08am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

More than 450,000 Syrians are expected to cross the Mediterranean Sea to seek refuge in Europe over the next year, UN officials announced last week. This is on top of the approximately 366,000 who have already attempted the journey this year. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called for stronger Read more...

Marketing Students Oh So Successful

Posted 11:00am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Emily Duncan

Four marketing students from the University of Otago won the Marketing Association’s National Brand Challenge competition.  Teams from seven New Zealand universities were given a real-life case submitted by the beverage company Frucor. They were asked to market a new “Sparkling Read more...

Microsoft Recognises Innovative Students

Posted 10:56am Sunday 13th September 2015 by India Leishman

A student team from the University of Otago has won two prestigious awards for a virtual desktop project.  At the Tertiary Education ICT conference, the project was awarded the Microsoft Supreme Award and the Excellence in Technology Innovation Award. After three years of development, the Read more...

Cull says Dunedin May Welcome Refugees

Posted 10:52am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Joe Higham

Dunedin could become home to Syrian refugees arriving in New Zealand, but Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull says an adequate resettlement programme needs to first be established. Currently, New Zealand’s most southerly resettlement programme for refugees is in Nelson. Cull says before refugees Read more...

Attempts At Saving the Student Voice

Posted 10:49am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne has announced she intends to create new ways for students to contribute to university governance.  Hayne announced the proposal, which came after the number of student seats was halved earlier this year, in a University Council meeting on 8 Read more...

Student Throws Pot Plants, Not Charged

Posted 10:46am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Joe Higham

A student from the University of Otago has escaped charges after drunkenly attacking a Dunedin resident in her home on Saturday 29 August.  The attack, which lasted for several minutes, began after the intoxicated student followed her friend home. The student entered the victim’s Read more...

Execrable | Issue 23

Posted 10:40am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Laura Munro

President Paul Hunt kicked off the dryest meeting of this year by outlining that Vice President Isaac Yu has been finalising a review of the Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival as well as other OUSA events. Hunt said Yu will make “potential recommendations” based on “what students Read more...

The CensorShip has Sailed

Posted 10:36am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Jessica Thompson Carr

On Thursday 10 September, students, staff and members of the public gathered in the Link to silently protest the interim restriction order placed on Ted Dawe’s young adult novel, Into the River. The novel, which won the Best Young Adult Fiction and the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year awards Read more...

All Blacks Finalise Squad for Rugby World Cup

Posted 12:12pm Sunday 6th September 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The speculation from armchair critics is now over, and our 31-man All Blacks squad to defend the World Cup has been finalised. The squad balance suggests that the All Blacks will continue their open and attacking style of play — expect “spinning it wide” to try and scores in Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 22

Posted 11:52am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Yamalo-Nenets, Russia Residents of a remote region in Siberia are to be given rubber bullets to help them ward off polar bears. Polar bears are a common threat in the area and residents of one town have been trying to ward off one particularly obnoxious polar bear for more than a Read more...

In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 22

Posted 11:45am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Henry Napier

The ideological distinction between the left and right has taken a blow, raising an interesting question: does it exist at all? 3 News recently ran a story about Labour’s associate education spokesperson Kelvin Davis attending a fundraiser for a Northland charter school, a decision that Read more...

No Plans to Accelerate Spending

Posted 11:40am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Hugh Baird

The government is confident that a slide in global markets this week does not spell recession for the country. Speaking to the media on Tuesday 1 September in the wake of “black Monday”, which saw markets around the world plummet, neither Key nor English believed that a slowing Read more...

Labour Calls for Refugee Quota Increase

Posted 11:36am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Henry Napier

The Labour Party has called on the government to increase New Zealand’s refugee quota. A recent press release urges that the 750 quota be increased by 250–500 people per year. The recent surge in refugees leaving Syria has placed pressure on countries around the region. The European Read more...

Rubbish Crisis in Lebanon Sparks Protests

Posted 11:29am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

Thousands of Lebanese have rallied in the country’s capital, Beirut, to protest the “rubbish crisis” occurring in the city. Rubbish has been accumulating in the city since July after the closure of the city’s main landfill. More than 20,000 tonnes of garbage have piled up Read more...

European Refugee Crisis Escalates

Posted 11:25am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Bridie Boyd

The refugee crisis in the European Union has escalated, with more than 700 people attempting to enter Austria alone since 30 August. Refugees have also been trying to get into Spain via Morocco. One man was hidden underneath a car hood, with his body wrapped around the motor. He was treated Read more...

Singer’s Assault Comments Under Fire

Posted 11:19am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Staff Reporter

Rock singer Chrissie Hynde is under fire after claiming in a Sunday Times interview that provocatively dressed women should take responsibility if they are sexually assaulted. The Pretenders frontliner revealed that when she was 21 years old, she was sexually assaulted by members of a motorcycle Read more...

Jeans Too Tight for the Genes

Posted 11:11am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Bridie Boyd

A new study is hoping to identify a genetic link between obesity and diabetes in New Zealanders.  The million-dollar study will be the largest so far in the attempt to discover the genes that can predispose Kiwis towards type-2 diabetes and obesity. The study was announced at Maurice Read more...

Māori Bar “Shows No Credibility or Integrity”

Posted 11:07am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

The Māori Party has condemned former All Black Byron Kelleher’s sports bar, “The Haka Corner”, claiming it disrespects Māori culture. The Māori-themed bar is set to open in Kelleher’s residence of Toulouse, France. The bar has come under fire for creating an Read more...

Otago Academic Wins Prime Minister’s Award

Posted 11:04am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Otago’s Associate Professor Suzanne Pitama has won the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award for tertiary teaching excellence. Pitama, who is the director of the Māori/Indigenous Health Institute, was formally presented the award at the National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards on 11 Read more...

Dumb Things Still Happen in Thirties

Posted 11:00am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Emily Duncan

A recent University of Otago study has confirmed that students aren’t the only ones waking up with Sunday morning woes. The study, conducted by Otago’s Jennie Connor, shows that adverse affects from drinking alcohol still occur as New Zealanders approach middle age. The study Read more...

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...