Archive

Final figures for OUSA’s General Election drive

Posted 11:58pm Sunday 12th October 2014 by Bella Macdonald

As final figures come in, Dunedin North booth votes show an overall boost in votes by 11 per cent for the 2014 General Election versus the 2011 General Election. This follows a $28,000 budgeted spend by OUSA towards an enrolment and voting campaign this year. OUSA spent $20,127 more on Read more...

Craft Beer Festival Is a Hit For Dunedin

Posted 11:58pm Sunday 12th October 2014 by Josie Cochrane

This year’s Craft Beer and Food festival took place on Saturday 4 October. The event has been hailed as a success by organisers and attendees alike. The Critic team thoroughly enjoyed themselves, finding some new favourite brews, including Garage Project’s Tournesol and Green Man Brewery’s Read more...

Sickness at Student Health an extra $10

Posted 11:58pm Sunday 12th October 2014 by Laura Munro

As of 1 October 2014, Student Health have begun their trial period for the updated Health Declaration process during the exam period. Students will now be charged a non-refundable $10 on top of their consultation fee if they would like to be considered for the declaration. This means those with a Read more...

Dunedin students’ private photos exploited online

Posted 6:08pm Wednesday 8th October 2014 by Josie Cochrane

On Tuesday 7 October 2014, a group called “Rack Appreciation Society Awareness” was created on Facebook. 24 hours later, over 2,000 women were members of the page. The group was formed out of disgust at the “Rack Appreciation Society” – a Facebook group formed two weeks ago, with over 4,000 Read more...

Kia ora nga Tauira Maori o Te Whare Wananga

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Mariana Te Pou

YAY. It is that time when we’re nearing the end of lectures and the beginning of EXAMS! Yahooooo. This will be our last column for the year in the awesome Critic magazine. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with TRM this year: no matter how small or how big your contribution, it Read more...

Exams are just two weeks away

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Staff Reporter

The time is near, the assignments are (mostly) over and now it’s time to put all that information into your brain. You probably should have started studying for exams a while ago, but realistically this guide has just got you thinking, “Ah, I should go and pick up my course reader/ open that Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 26

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitThis week we’re going international for the Greatest Hit: to Hong Kong. After a change to Hong Kong elections that would mean only “China-approved” candidates would be able to be elected, students began an intense protest for democracy, storming Hong Kong’s Civic Square. Sometimes it’s Read more...

Critic just isn't going to stop tackling election year

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Carys Goodwin

At the time of writing, Labour is in turmoil. Once again, they are undergoing a leader selection process that is bitter and catty. The accusations of being “beltway politicians” are coming thick and fast and the spectre of election failure isn’t going away. Even New Zealand’s mainstream media sunk Read more...

We are the champions, again. *Yawns*

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Daniel Lormans

Back to the shiny, black and trophy-laden rugby desk this week where we are wrapping up our code coverage for this year with a little review of the recent Rugby Championship and some very early and unnecessary World Cup hype. As is old news by now, the mighty All Blacks have won yet another Read more...

New Zealand universities have work to do

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Emily Draper

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings have ranked the University of Otago in the 251–275 bracket. The score continues Otago’s steady decline in the rankings over the last few years. Last year, the university was placed in the 226–250 position. In 2011, it was in the 201–225 lot. Read more...

Brit takes over Critic but everything is hunky dory

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by The Critic Ghost

The new Editor of Critic for 2015 was announced last week. Josie Cochrane is “well chuffed” to be handling the reigns next year. She’s a blonde British case, both literally and metaphorically, and resides in the yonder hills of Dunedin. Floppy Jockles, Joppy Flockles and Flippy Whipples are just Read more...

Bodgies and wodgies take the stage in Dunedin

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Laura Munro

Moon at the Bottom of the Garden, brainchild of playwright Sarah McDougall, began as McDougall’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) work piece at the University of Otago. Now, with a few adaptations, it will be performed at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery from 10 – 19 October 2014 as part of Arts Festival Read more...

Election of students to University Council

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Critic

Voting for the two student representatives on the 2015 University of Otago Council runs from this Wednesday 8 October through to Friday 10 October. Voting will be conducted via an online voting site, with students notified on their student email addresses. The candidates standing are OUSA Read more...

Letter to the Shredditor?

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Laura Munro

University of Canterbury students have complained that their resident student magazine Canta has failed to print letters, suggesting Canta has a bias towards certain student associations. Complaints come from the coverage, or lack thereof, of the University of Canterbury Students’ Association’s Read more...

City council efforts to recover its vehicles elusive

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Emily Draper

Controversy continues over the Dunedin City Council’s $1.5 million Citifleet fraud case, with the DCC saying that it will be difficult to recover any of the vehicles sold to individual buyers, as most buyers seemed to have purchased the vehicles in good faith. The DCC found themselves in the Read more...

Electoral Commission pays for enrolments

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Anna Whyte

The recent 2014 New Zealand General Election involved enrolment drives from both OUSA and the Electoral Commission. Those hired by the Electoral Commission are paid depending on how many people they enrol, whereas other parties, such as OUSA, receive no payment. Murray Wicks, the Electoral Read more...

National media: Halls want porn

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Last week, 19-year-old University of Otago student Anton Hovius attracted nationwide attention after accusing the University of “draconian” alcohol and Internet usage policies at the Halls of Residence. His comments on the strict alcohol rules and blockage of various file sharing and pornography Read more...

Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival - Critic's pick of the crop

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Zane Pocock

This Saturday 4 October welcomes back the Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival, organised by OUSA. Bridging town and gown, there’s something for everyone – the average Scarfie can (oddly) have their usual Speight’s and drink it too, while the more discerning palate can opt for something a bit more, Read more...

Politweets | Issue 25

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Don’t we all. Whoops. Unfortunate. Breaking news. Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 25

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest Hit Without a doubt, Greatest Hit this week goes to John Oliver. Oliver is an American comedian who hosts Last Week Tonight, a show that essentially points out all the ludicrous things that have happened around the world. Last week, New Zealand featured! There’s nothing like a bit of Read more...

Critic (still) tackles election year

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

After the initial shock of Election Day, where, for all intents and purposes, nothing changed, have come the autopsies. For the left, whose momentum towards the end came from the revelations about the inner workings of the National Party as much as it did from their own parties’ merits, the result Read more...

Aaron Cruden and the irony of alcohol sponsorship of sport

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the rugby desk, where a few weeks ago I touched on the subject of the media’s relation to sport and how it can be used as a positive or negative distraction from real issues. A timely example came immediately following a long and eventful election campaign when it can be difficult to fill a Read more...

Proctology | Issue 25

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

All the Halls of Residence are now on alcohol ban, in preparation for the exam period. The Proctor notes, “This doesn’t mean their residents will stop drinking [but] it does seem to mean they will buy vast quantities of alcohol and sit in gardens and parks and drink it there.” The Proctor does not Read more...

Otago students ignite dunedin in all the right ways

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Bella Macdonald

A group of 20 Otago students have injected their time and talents into Dunedin not-for-profit organisations as part of the Ignite Consultants program, blowing away expectations from the organisations involved. In the presentations evening held at the Dunedin Art Gallery on Wednesday 24 Read more...

Gecko geeks and preserving the peninsula

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

The Jewelled Gecko is one of Otago’s treasures. The lively green reptile is so rare and valuable that the location of its conservation sites cannot be disclosed for fear of eager poachers. Carey Knox, a herpetologist for EcoGecko Consultants, says the markings along their backs are like Read more...

Otago archives of early maori and european contact

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Anna Whyte

The University of Otago’s Hocken Library will pave the way for influential research surrounding early Māori and European contact in New Zealand from 1808 to 1823. The Marsden Online Archive team will make Anglican cleric Samuel Marsden's personal, transcribed, hand-written letters and journals Read more...

Otago Blues and Golds awards

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Bella Macdonald

The University of Otago celebrated the success of sporting, cultural and service achievements at the annual Blues and Golds awards ceremony on Thursday 25 September at the University Rowing Club. OUSA Recreation Officer Henri Faulkner welcomed everyone to the event before introducing MBA Read more...

Studylink survey shows students sort of satisfied

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Laura Munro

StudyLink, in association with the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA), have released the results from their 2014 Learner Advisory Panel. Consisting of 178 learners from Universities and Polytechnics around New Zealand, the Panel aimed to outline the (in)experiences the students had Read more...

College of Education stretched for cash

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Laura Munro

In a meeting on Monday 22 September, it was announced that 20 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions at the University of Otago’s College of Education would be cut. The Otago Daily Times reported the following Wednesday that academic staff hours in the college would be reduced from 49.6 to 38 FTEs. Read more...

Student apathy not helped by OUSA

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Emily Draper

The OUSA Executive has been elected for 2015, but a lack of advertising for nominations and minimal campaigning has resulted in a nearly 40 per cent drop in votes this year. The OUSA Executive represents the wider population of students on major issues throughout the year. Despite this, Read more...

Bar owners against proposed alcohol rules

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Laura Munro

The new liquor laws currently being proposed by the Dunedin City Council have received a severe backlash from bar owners in the North Dunedin community. The aspects of the regulation that appear the most controversial are a 3am bar close-time, a 1am start to the one-way door policy, a prohibition on Read more...

2015 OUSA Executive election results

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The results are in for the 2015 OUSA Executive. The positions were all filled except for a 2015 International Officer. Paul Hunt won the position of OUSA President 2015 over Henri Faulkner. Faulkner thinks he “was really approachable” but notes that he failed to visit the halls, “didn’t Read more...

Are students a secondary priority?

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Laura Munro

The University of Otago is ranked as one of the best tertiary institutions in New Zealand. As quoted by Chancellor John Ward in the University’s 2013 Annual Report, “students are taught by world-leaders in their fields, and our graduates continue to be sought after by employers for their Read more...

Politweets | Issue 24

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Whoops. 23.5. Might be a good idea, John. Yes. Haha. Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 24

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitThis one’s really easy this week. By the time you read this, the election will be over, and I’ll be able to return to a relatively peaceful life. Thank the fucking Lord. Greatest ShitI really don’t think I could give it to anything other than the National Party for being sued by Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 24

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Disclaimer: This was written before the election The country is in disarray after a shocking turn of events leaves New Zealand with a government poised to make dramatic changes that were almost unheard of during the election campaign. When New Zealand took to the polls on Saturday Read more...

Sports stars are literally getting away with murder

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Daniel Lormans

This week we are back to normal sports news after last week’s wildly popular election special issue saw the sports desk jump on its high horse and try its hand at some loosely sport-related political commentary. We are not known for our unbiased approach when it comes to sports reporting so I didn’t Read more...

Black cats jazz up the Teachers' College

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Emily Draper

The Otago Dance Association (ODA) is preparing for another major event in Dunedin’s dance calendar, with the annual ODA Dance Showcase scheduled for later this month. The Black Cat Cabaret aims to showcase the variety of dance styles of its members, “from burlesque to ballet, contemporary to Read more...

Te wiki potitia - Voting week

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Mariana Te Pou

Te Hau (Te Roopū Māori Vice President) says, “You can’t have a feed if you’re not at the table” As you may already know, this month is full of elections – Te Roopū Māori elections, OUSA elections and the national elections. Te Roopū Māori was established to Read more...

University rankings fall

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Bella Macdonald

The University of Otago has slipped down four places, now ranked 158th in this year’s QS World University rankings. However, the University is defending the decline, blaming it purely on higher investments made from other universities. The QS World University Rankings are an annual league Read more...

Otago Employability Program wants you to get a job

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Bella Macdonald

Otago University Careers Centre has developed an employability program to give students more career options to compliment their studies and become ready for the working world. After attending a conference in 2013, the Otago Career Centre realised the benefits of having a more extensive Read more...

Execrable | Issue 24

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The meeting began with a round-up of everyone’s efforts this week. I’ll cover this quickly, because the rest of the meeting was a lot more interesting. OUSA President Ruby Sycamore-Smith continues work on the General Manager’s review. Education Officer Laura Harris has been attending the forums and Read more...

2015 OUSA Executive forums

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Laura Munro

From 15 to17 September, OUSA and Critic hosted forums for the candidates of the 2015 OUSA Executive. Candidates spoke of their main policies that they aim to implement if elected. Postgraduate candidate Claire Mitchell, Welfare candidate Payal Ramritu and Recreation candidate Jonny Martin could not Read more...

MBA gets Massive Big Assignment

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Steph Taylor

The University of Otago Business School’s Master of Business Administration degree is now being offered as an online course, as well as on-campus from early next year. The Master of Business Administration degree is the leading MBA programme within New Zealand, with a focus on teaching its Read more...

2015 OU$A Budget

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Josie Cochrane

After a six-minute meeting by the OUSA Executive, the 2015 budget was passed on Monday 8 September 2014. The OUSA Executive assured Critic that further discussions had gone on behind the scenes, but we can’t report on secret chat and are skeptical of how much discussion did occur. The budget Read more...

Disability Services confusing for all

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Anna Whyte

OUSA Welfare Officer Payal Ramritu is calling for the inclusion of a specific disability advocate to provide for the needs of students with disabilities. This comes after two Otago students were told that they were not able to live together due to their disabilities. Otago Accommodation Services, Read more...

MP Grant Robertson has a coffee

Posted 10:45pm Sunday 14th September 2014 by Laura Munro

On Wednesday 10 September, Wellington Central Labour MP Grant Robertson paid a visit to Otago University to speak to students about the current campaign. Amongst policy chat, tweeting and caffeine, Critic was able to sit down with Robertson and hear his views on the 2014 General Election so far. Read more...

Young Nats embark on pilgrimage for cheese rolls

Posted 10:45pm Sunday 14th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

In the lead up to the General Election, Critic sat down with three of the Young Nationals’ executive. President Sean Topham, Treasurer and Canterbury-Westland Chair Sam MacDonald, and Secretary Adam Roland were visiting to see the experience that is Castle Street on a Sunday morning. Topham Read more...

Interview: Metiria Turei

Posted 4:38pm Sunday 14th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Metiria Turei is a co-leader of the Green Party, and focuses on the social policy side of Green politics. She also doubles as a candidate for Dunedin North, meaning she spends much of her campaign time frolicking between Auckland, Wellington, and her modest “castle” out in the wops. Read more...

Match fixing condemned in sports but encouraged in politics...

Posted 4:38pm Sunday 14th September 2014 by Daniel Lormans

This week as New Zealand gets ready to go to the polls we have a timely report from the sports corruption desk, which brings to light an interesting double standard when it comes to laws allowing for the prosecution of athletes involved in match fixing. This also opened up a discussion about the Read more...

Politweets | Issue 23

Posted 4:38pm Sunday 14th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Aw. Letters are due 5pm Thursday, email critic@critic.co.nz Chur. Fake Asenati is confident. Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 23

Posted 4:38pm Sunday 14th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitA chance meeting that could have gone horribly wrong but didn’t: Max Key and Mona Dotcom. The Prime Minister’s son and Kim DC’s ex-wife met at a nightclub in Auckland and instantly became friends. Like a strange Beehive Romeo and Juliet, they danced the night away (as friends) and Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 23

Posted 4:38pm Sunday 14th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

On Monday 8 September, Critic hosted its own version of Back Benches with Wallace Chapman. Last week’s politics section was dedicated to introducing the participants, who were young politicians from across the spectrum; this week looks at the most hilarious quips and quotes offered by Wallace, John Read more...

OUSA 2015 Executive Elections

Posted 4:38pm Sunday 14th September 2014 by Critic

The nominations for the 2014 OUSA Executive have closed, and an array of good-looking candidates have put their names forward to represent you next year. Voting will take place on the OUSA website from 22 to 25 September, with the winners announced that evening. There are 11 voting positions Read more...

Execrable | Issue 23

Posted 4:38pm Sunday 14th September 2014 by Josie Cochrane

This Executive meeting was brief, but revealed a busier week for the team - enough to actually convince Critic that they may have met their hourly requirements! The Executive passed a motion to renovate the Aquatic Centre. They aim to spend $25,200 (excluding GST) on the vinyl flooring and Read more...

Dirty Student Politics

Posted 10:28pm Tuesday 9th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

*content warning* Kiwiblog's David Farrar stands by the blog post in which he argues OUSA President Ruby Sycamore-Smith is implicitly condoning rape in her support of Tom Scott’s @Peace song “Kill the PM.” On 1 September, Sycamore-Smith published a column in Critic in which she praised Read more...

Politweets | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Um, lol. Tau has been sassy this week. I don’t know, John in Clarendon Hills, Illinois. Read more...

Greatest hits/ Greatest shits | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest hitsStuff gets Shit, but they also get Hit for releasing a segment featuring up-close-and-personal portraits of what they call “political bloodstock.” Dark, gritty, and sly, these photographs come far closer to visually depicting the intensity of the election campaign than the majority of Read more...

Critic's guide to Young Back Benches

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

John Brinsley-Pirie | Young Nat / Dunedin South Campaign TeamFavourite policy in a sentence: The most valuable stance this Government has for me is their resistance to using tax increases to solve problems. Sometimes tax is an answer, but I appreciate that this government looks to others in the Read more...

Interview: David Clark

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

David Clark is probably one of the more familiar political faces around campus. He has an office right nearby, he’s our elected representative, and he’s vying to continue in his position. With experience in a number of student-related areas, including being Warden of Selwyn and taking a turn at Read more...

Premier League silly season breaks spending records

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the ridiculously expensive football desk where the transfer window has just closed and the best part of £1 billion has been spent. This obscene amount of money spent in this transfer window highlights just some of the absurdity in English football, with many fans and managers wishing that the Read more...

Who let the dogs out

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Steph Taylor

Recent figures released by the Dunedin City Council show that 244 dog attacks have been reported to the Council during the last year. Council figures report that the various dog attacks were on people, pets, livestock and wild animals. From July 2013 to July 2014, 69 dog attacks in the Read more...

Alumni events for students to meet Otago celebrity graduates

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Anna Whyte

The Otago Alumni are holding events at the University, with opportunities for past and current students to experience, interact and network for life beyond university. The Allan Hall Theatre is hosting a reunion party this weekend from 12 to 14 September to commemorate its 100th birthday. For Read more...

“Study Dunedin” enforces image that no one does anything but study here

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Emily Draper

The Dunedin City Council is launching a new brand in the hopes of combating decreasing international enrolment numbers. Study Dunedin, or Project Export Education Uplift, is one of six projects launched within Dunedin City Council’s Economic Development Strategy, designed to re-brand the region in Read more...

Medical student life appears less and less appealing

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Nina Harrap

Studylink’s current student loan policy finds many medical students having to find the final $20,000 to fund their last year of school. As the policy currently stands, students can borrow money for the equivalent of seven years of full-time study (7EFTS). This means that students doing long-course Read more...

Advanced voting available in the link

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Laura Munro

Voting in the 2014 General Election kicked off last Wednesday with advanced voting now available to all New Zealanders. This year, all voters have the opportunity to cast their votes earlier than the official Election Day, 20 September. Previously, a valid reason to vote early was required. Read more...

OUSA drops Volunteer Services Abroad membership

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Laura Munro

In an Executive meeting on 29 July, a decision was made that OUSA would end their membership to the organisation Volunteer Services Abroad. The decision was put forward by OUSA Admin Vice President Ryan Edgar and unanimously agreed upon by all executive members. Edgar said he was “certainly not” in Read more...

Execrable | Issue 22

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Josie Cochrane

A new, much needed assistant to the Executive, Projects Officer Annabelle Boelema, kicked off the meeting with general reminders for the Executive members. Annabelle presented the plans for the Election; with just over two weeks to go, OUSA have the RockEnrol with Generation Zero, Back Benches by Read more...

DCC proposes draconian alcohol policies

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 7th September 2014 by Nina Harrap

The Dunedin bar scene could be experiencing further changes in the near future as the Dunedin City Council considers tightening the restrictions on the sale of alcohol. The draft of a new Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) was recently released and includes a ban on drinking outside bars after 11pm, Read more...

Interview: Kevin Hague - Green MP

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Kevin Hague is a current Green MP, and looks after their health and sport policy. In the interest of providing something of note to the P.E. students that isn’t on the sport pages, I asked him about what policies he advocates for in the complex network of elite sport and school activities. I also Read more...

Consumer Magazine - is New Zealand’s icon of consumer protection hopelessly compromised?

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Laura Munro

Consumer New Zealand has long had a reputation as the guardian of the New Zealand consumer. Active since 1959, they claim they are “dedicated to getting New Zealanders a better deal.” And their biggest pitch has always been their independence. When Critic spoke to David Naulls, Deputy CEO and Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitThere are a few contenders this week, what with the UBS apparently giving out airline sick bags to anyone who bought a copy of Dirty Politics and the hilarious election broadcasts screening, but Greatest Hit has to go to one of the underdogs of the election: the Civilian Party. They Read more...

Politweets | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Winston are you okay, are you okay, are you okay, Winston? Poetic. Tragic. Ouch. That’s the real Asenati, too. Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Carys Goodwin

DISCLOSURE: Carys is a Green Party hack who is hardcore hacking it up for the election. But don’t worry – she has a few National Party friends who don’t hesitate to send in angsty letters to the editor when she strays too far into shill territory. In David Cunliffe’s ideal government there Read more...

Another year, another trophy for the All Blacks

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the predictably triumphant rugby desk where the World Champion All Blacks have locked away the Bledisloe Cup for the 12th year in a row with Richie and the boys setting some new records along the way. Their haul of 51 points at Eden Park was a record against the Wallabies, our man Aaron Smith Read more...

Watching for madness at the movies

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Josie Cochrane

A new study carried out at the University of Otago‘s Wellington campus has named ten of the best movies that they recommend medical students view in order to facilitate self-directed learning in psychiatry. Lead author Nick Wilson says that there is significant international literature on Read more...

Government still wants you to stop smoking

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Nina Harrap

October has been christened “Stoptober,” as the government pushes to implement a new anti-smoking campaign. According to a recent press statement, “the campaign, funded by the Ministry of Health’s Pathway to Smokefree New Zealand 2025 Innovation Fund, aims to generate 43,000 quit attempts, with 10 Read more...

Otago Students win National Brand Challenge

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Laura Munro

Four students from the University of Otago have successfully taken away first prize in the New Zealand Brand Challenge. Run by the New Zealand Marketing Association, the competition involved six universities from across New Zealand. Taylor Wheeler, Josie Cochrane, Ryan Edgar and Logan Edgar were all Read more...

Endangered Dunedin fish eaten by hungry trout

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Anna Whyte

Native Dunedin freshwater fish are enduring delays in their protection programme by the Department of Conservation, even though they are acutely and chronically threatened. The non-migratory Eldon’s Galaxias, a subspecies of the Galaxiid family that is native to New Zealand, has been declining due Read more...

Otago University I.T.S. members no longer have hair

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Two members of the University of Otago’s ITS Service Desk team have had their faces shaved by a blind man to support the Cancer Society’s annual Daffodil Day fundraiser. Customer Service Representatives David Steer and James Inger had their faces shaved by their blind colleague Simon Fogarty last Read more...

Proctology | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Once again, the Proctor has had reports of misbehaviour at the Botanic Gardens in recent weeks; there have been two particularly large groups who have been caught drinking in the gardens. The Proctor said that one group swiftly left the gardens once Campus Watch arrived, but the other group was Read more...

Execrable | Issue 21

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Laura Munro

To kick off the meeting, apologies were made on behalf of Hamish Barker, who had to leave the meeting early due to other commitments. Welfare Officer Payal Ramritu was also unable to attend due to car troubles. OUSA’s affiliation with the Justice in Palestine group was first discussed. The Read more...

Dunedin City Council at centre of $1.5 million fraud investigation

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 31st August 2014 by Emily Draper

The Dunedin City Council has been left reeling after a $1.5 million fraud scheme was uncovered within the council’s Citifleet department earlier this month. The alleged fraud involved $1.5 million of missing proceeds from the sale of 152 council cars. According to Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, the Read more...

Dunedin students snow how to party

Posted 1:47pm Thursday 28th August 2014 by Steph Taylor

Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium was the venue for the first Indoor Winch Jam held on Saturday 23 August. The event, which showcased snowboarding and skiing talent, involved snowboarders and skiers being towed by a winch on to a snow jump. The alcohol-free event had no charge for entry. Two Read more...

Home away from home or really expensive prison?

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Following reports from past and present students from the University of Otago Halls of Residence, Critic has spoken to numerous parties to address complaints regarding hall life. A number of students have reported to Critic that their time at their hall is “cliquey,” “lonely” and “not safe Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitWithout a doubt, Greatest Hit this week goes to Nicky Hager, who has created what can only be described as a “shitstorm” in response to the publication of his new book. Prior to its release, the hilarious Twitter speculation alone was enough to warrant it this prized award; but Dirty Read more...

Politweets | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Nice. Probably. I don't know but we definitely should. Poor Col. Read more...

Critic Tackles Election Year | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Since I’ve already featured an article in which I followed Clare Curran around for an afternoon, I figured it was only fair to take a look at two of the other people vying for the spot: Hamish Walker of the National Party and Shane Gallagher of the Greens. Initially, I was hoping to host a debate Read more...

A Season of Fire and Ice: The Game of Premier League Thrones

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Daniel Lormans

This week we go to the Weirwood and Valyrian steel football desk where over the past few years our two favourite things to illegally stream online have been HBO’s violent, softcore-pornography drama, Game of Thrones, and the less violent but equally awesome male soap-opera that is the English Read more...

Dunedin-destined Drugs; Prison-destined student

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Anna Whyte

A 21-year-old male student from Otago Polytechnic has been charged with importing class A and class B controlled drugs. The recent drug haul, which found LSD and MDMA (ecstasy) on Monday 11 August, had an estimated value of between $3,000 and $7,000 for the LSD and approximately $50,000 for the Read more...

Unaccounted leave leaves accountant unaccounted for

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Bella Macdonald

A former University of Otago student has been removed as a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants after giving false medical certificates to his former workplace and a fake reference to a recruitment company. At his hearing on 5 August 2014, Simon Michael Collins was Read more...

Toroa College blowing the budget even more

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Steph Taylor

Toroa College’s recent upgrade and expansion has gone over budget by even more than previously reported, with the total cost of the refurbishment now being over budget by almost $1 million. As previously found, the extreme difference in cost was recorded as being an error in the estimated cost. Read more...

Aoraki faces worst student numbers in the country

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Emily Draper

Aoraki Polytechnic continues to record a decline in student numbers, according to figures released by the Tertiary Education Commission. The figures show that Aoraki is losing students at a faster rate than any other New Zealand university or polytechnic. In 2013, numbers dropped from 915 to Read more...

Salient Editor Fails at Playing Critic

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Laura Munro

Cameron Price, Co-Editor of Victoria University’s student magazine Salient, has brutally failed at an attempt to troll the intellects at Critic. Price recently put himself forward for multiple executive positions in the VUWSA (Victoria University of Wellington Student Association) elections Read more...

Labour announces tertiary education policy

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Nina Harrap

The Labour Party has announced the tertiary education policy that they plan to implement if they are elected to government. The policy was released by Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson Maryan Street. It promises “a Labour Government will fully review the student support system – including Read more...

$10,000 street art fund not enough

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Bella Macdonald

Dunedin’s first Street Art Festival is set to take place in October. With a $10,000 Dunedin City Council grant for more artwork, organisers have raised a further $5,000 to bring international street artist Dal East to the festival. The contributions of 11 artists have been confirmed to attend Read more...

Execrable | Issue 20

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Josie Cochrane

We got a wee bit excited last Executive meeting after the team appeared to be having productive discussion. It didn’t last long. The meeting began with some good old-fashioned OUSA scandal. OUSA President Ruby Sycamore-Smith announced that she had entered into a relationship with Critic Read more...

Disabled student mistaken as drunk

Posted 12:53am Monday 18th August 2014 by Laura Munro

During Dunedin’s Illuminate Paint Party, which took place at Forsyth Barr Stadium on 10 July 2014, a University of Otago student was denied entry due to appearing intoxicated to staff. In actual fact he suffered from a number of physical disabilities. Critic spoke with the student, Richard, who is Read more...

The latest assault on Palestine (a primer)

Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Olivier Jutel

At university we are taught to be dispassionate analysts of world events, but in the face of the massacre in Gaza, academic detachment is hard to achieve. As the host of Radio One politics show The Revolution Will Not be Televised, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Peace and Conflict Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 19

Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest Hit On Wednesday last week, Clare Curran participated in an AMA on Reddit, an activity that involves answering anything that the New Zealand Internet deems worthy enough to ask her. While it wasn’t full of cheese rolls banter, Clare gets points for responding to “can you please tell Read more...