Archive

Failure to Launch

Posted 5:43pm Sunday 22nd March 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

T he National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) launch of a Super Pressure Balloon (SPB) was recently delayed due to concerns about the impact of Cyclone Pam. The launch, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday 15 March, was delayed until Friday 20 March. The balloon was Read more...

NZUSA President Makes Final Plea for Membership

Posted 5:43pm Sunday 22nd March 2015 by Laura Munro

Last week, New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) President Rory McCourt met with OUSA regarding its withdrawal from NZUSA last year, shortly after VUWSA (Victoria University Students’ Association) also withdrew. NZUSA’s constitution states: “A constituent member may terminate its Read more...

Yelling down Microphone to Keep Rights We Have

Posted 5:43pm Sunday 22nd March 2015 by Laura Munro

O n Thursday 19 March, the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) launched a joint campaign with the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) at Otago University. NZUSA President Rory McCourt led the launch alongside TEU National President Sandra Grey. The campaign, which was Read more...

Execrable | Issue 5

Posted 5:43pm Sunday 22nd March 2015 by Laura Munro

President Paul Hunt began the meeting by commenting on the executive’s performance so far this year. He said although they are “kicking into gear well,” the team is still only running at “six gears out of ten.” OUSA has officially put in its submission regarding the proposal to abolish the Read more...

The Real Cost of Hyde

Posted 5:43pm Sunday 22nd March 2015 by Joe Higham

T he annual Hyde Street Keg Party, which took place on Saturday 21 March, has come under scrutiny due to its apparent cost to taxpayers. Last week, The Wireless published an article quoting Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull stating, “The public resource that goes into that one day is about Read more...

RUGB215

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Daniel Lormans

T he first four rounds of assignments for the semester have been completed, so Critic turns the sometimes subjective and arbitrary University of Otago grading scale to New Zealand’s Super Rugby teams. Is your team going to be accepted for Honours or have an embarrassing grade on their Read more...

Indonesian Authorities Tired of Australia

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Henry Napier

An Indonesian Minister, Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, has made threats of what he calls a “human tsunami” if the Australian Government doesn’t stop the pressure it is putting on Indonesian authorities. The threats come after a continuous effort from the Tony Abbott-led government to save the lives of the Read more...

US Presidential Election Updates

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Henry Napier

L ikely candidates for the 2016 presidential election, still ten months away, seem to be kicking off their campaigns early this year. Last week, nine soon-to-be Republican Party candidates travelled around Iowa apparently preparing for the coming election. None of the candidates has officially Read more...

Little Plays Politics

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Henry Napier

L abour leader Andrew Little has confronted the fact his party’s candidate for the Northland by-election, Willow Jean Prime, is an unlikely contender. Little has hinted that a Labour endorsement for New Zealand First leader Winston Peters may be on the cards. Prime Minister John Key has Read more...

An Interview with David Xie

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Laura Weir

Facebook pages ‘Humans of [insert city here]” have grown tremendously in popularity during the past year. The original, Humans of New York, now has 12.4 million likes. David Xie, a University of Otago IT administrator, decided to create a page for those living right here in Dunedin, and Read more...

At Least We Believe in Ourselves

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Laura Munro

Times Higher Education has published its World Reputation Rankings for 2015, placing Harvard University in the US at #1 for the fifth year in a row. The rankings, published annually, show a list of the world’s 100 most prestigious universities. This is based on an invitation-only survey of senior Read more...

Proctology | Issue 4

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Laura Munro

T he proctor said February this year was “one of the busiest” he has seen in regards to students in his office: “It has been a bit frantic.” This said, it seems as though it has been multiple flats rather than individuals, “which accounts for lots more people.” Noise from flats is an Read more...

Ploughing Proves Dangerous

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Joe Higham

U niversity of Otago research has shown that the ratio of male cancer risk is higher in populations descended from plough-using societies. The research, conducted by Professor David Fielding from the Department of Economics, looked at societies where the plough was adopted in the Neolithic Read more...

Tourism Gives $11 Million Boost for Otago

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

T he Otago economy experienced a boost of almost $11 million last month, a 32 per cent increase from last year. New figures from the electronic transactions processor Paymark showed the foreign credit and eftpos card transactions in the region grew from $33.7 million in February 2014 to $44.5 Read more...

Gates Are Opened for Otago Research

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Joe Higham

A $14.6 million grant has being given to an Otago-led government initiative, Ageing Well. Directed by the dean of Otago’s School of Physiotherapy, David Baxter, the initiative is one of the eleven research areas the government has targeted in order to improve the lives of New Zealanders. The Read more...

Rattray Mural Adds to Street Art

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

A s part of a project by the Dunedin Street Art group, Australian artist Fintan Magee has begun a new mural on Rattray Street. The mural, which spans from three to four storeys, is one of three projects in the area and is located on the side of the Scenic Hotel building. It is set to take a Read more...

Discipline Report Shows Decline

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Laura Munro

I n 2014, a total of 482 students were involved in disciplinary matters referred to the proctor. Of these, 23 were deemed extreme enough to be recommended to the provost. The proctor deals with students who breach the code of conduct, and then if the matter is serious, he can refer them to the Read more...

Execrable | Issue 4

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Laura Munro

T o begin the meeting, OUSA President Paul Hunt mentioned the possibility of OUSA renewing its membership to Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA). The membership would cost $100 per year and Hunt said that they would ask for OUSA to have a seat on the VSA Board. In 2014, OUSA withdrew its Read more...

Unions Plan Protests Outside Wendy’s

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 15th March 2015 by Joe Higham

A new branch of the fast-food giant Wendy’s has opened on Anderson’s Bay Road, Dunedin, making it the southernmost Wendy’s in the world. The new location was officially opened on Monday 9 March 2015, bringing 54 new jobs to the area. “We’ve been wanting a presence here for a long time, but Read more...

Interview: Sigma

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Basti Menkes

Drum and bass duo, Sigma, is made up of British talents Joe Lenzie and Cameron Edwards. Critic caught up with them just before their bombastic set at the Orientation Afterparty, to talk about dubstep, e-cigarettes and Karl Pilkington. Critic: Firstly, I’ve got to ask — what flavor vape are Read more...

Interview: Kiesza

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Basti Menkes

Headlining the OUSA Orientation Afterparty, Kiesza performed for nearly 4000 students last Thursday night. Critic sat down with her beforehand to hear about the road she’s travelled to get here and what her thoughts are on L&P, Crocs and James Brown. Critic: We’re just going to start off Read more...

Leaking Dunedin Hospital Helps Fish

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Bridie Boyd

T his February, the Southern District Health Board (DHB) was issued with a BECA (an engineering consultancy group) report concerning the state of Dunedin Hospital, in particular the Clinical Services Building. The report outlined that the building would need to be replaced within ten years and Read more...

Athletes Around the Country

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Daniel Lormans

T he most popular sports from around the world are dominated by large, synthetic and inflatable balls that are delicately manipulated by the hands, feet and sometimes heads of the players. However, there is another group of more sharply dressed individuals who prefer to derive their pleasure Read more...

Russian Opposition Leader Shot Dead

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Henry Napier

L ast week, the Russian opposition leader, Boris Nemstov, was shot dead. Nemtsov, 55, was shot four times in the back as he was heading home from dinner with his wife. His death came only a day before a planned protest against the current Russian government. Nemstov was the co-leader of Read more...

Peeping through the Key Hole

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Henry Napier

N ew Zealand is in the spotlight after Edward Snowden, former NSA analyst and “whistle-blower”, has revealed a mass of data showing New Zealand’s spying activity in the South Pacific. The data shows that the GCSB (Government Communications Security Bureau) has collected phone calls, emails and Read more...

Peters Flies North... Or Crawls

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Henry Napier

The Electoral Commission has confirmed the 11 candidates who will run in the upcoming by-election for the vacant Northland seat. In the 2014 election, the seat was won by National MP Mike Sabin. However, after rumours of a police investigation surrounding him came to light, Sabin stepped down. The Read more...

Electoral Donations Raise Questions

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Henry Napier

P rime Minister John Key has come under fire recently concerning a fundraising dinner he attended in 2013. Key has confirmed that he attended a private dinner at the home of Chinese businessman, Donghua Liu. The dinner is said to have been organised by Botany MP and National Party member, Read more...

Otago Academic Awarded Harkness Fellowship

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Laura Munro

D r. Jennifer Moore, from Otago’s Law Faculty and the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, has been awarded the prestigious Harkness Fellowship for 2015. After being interviewed on the afternoon of 3 December, Moore was told she had won the fellowship a mere three hours later. Read more...

Otago Staff Receive Teaching Awards

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Emma Lodes

On Monday 2 March, four University of Otago teachers received awards for teaching excellence. The awards went to Dr. Roslyn Kemp, Dr. Rachel Zajac, Associate Professor Christine Jasoni and Associate Professor Jacinta Ruru. Along with a certificate to recognise their efforts, they each received Read more...

Cheaters Reveal All the Tissues

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Laura Munro

T he University of Otago’s Annual Discipline Report has shown a total of 42 recorded cases of alleged dishonest practice, otherwise known as cheating, in 2014. The Humanities exceeded all other divisions in alleged dishonest practice in 2014, with 16 cases reported. Of these, 11 were Read more...

Roadworks Make the Right Turn

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Emma Cotton

T he Dunedin City Council has recently decided to publish a list of current roadworks to its website. The list, which was first posted last week, will be updated each Friday. Depending on feedback, the list may soon be published on social media, said Cr Kate Wilson, Chairwoman of the Council’s Read more...

Skiing Flights Ready for Take Off

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Joe Higham

In the wake of Air New Zealand abandoning several regional flights, a new service picking up some of the routes has been offered by airline entrepreneur Ewan Wilson and several associates. The new venture will see flights depart from Dunedin, travel to Queenstown and then fly directly to Read more...

Dunedin’s Debt Drops by $25 Million

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Emma Fletcher

Dunedin City Holdings Ltd (DCHL)’s half-yearly report, released Friday 27 February, shows its debt has dropped by $25.8 million in the last six months, bringing the total to $586.5 million. The report, which shows finances to 31 December 2014, says that the previous year’s debt peaked at more than Read more...

Execrable | Issue 3

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Laura Munro

Recreation Manager Debbie Coulter kicked off the meeting with the OUSA Aquatic Centre’s repairs and capital work. This included painting and repairing structural support for the canopy located above the deck, as well as the fire-exit steps. The rust is “so severe” that the steps have to be replaced. Read more...

Pregnancy Counselling Services Criticised

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 8th March 2015 by Amber Allott

A n advertisement for Pregnancy Counselling Services (PCS) played on Radio One has been removed due to “numerous complaints” from the public. The advert was also printed in the first two issues of Critic this year. The original advert stated: “On call 24/7, local people who Read more...

Critic’s Night at the Rugby!

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Daniel Lormans

7:00pm: I decide I can’t afford stadium-priced beer so I knock back a few leftover Cindys as I wait for my friends to show up. Their lack of punctuality is noted for the future. KICKOFF: A huge roar from the crowd as the Highlanders’ season gets underway. Unfortunately, we are still five Read more...

Political Round Up | Issue 2

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Henry Napier

1. ANDREW LITTLE — FACE OF HYPOCRISY — Opposition Leader Andrew Little has been caught out for accidentally not paying one of his workers. The individual, a contractor, was owed $950 for nearly four months. Funnily enough, Little had spoken out against the challenges small-business owners face Read more...

Best of the Week | Issue 2

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Henry Napier

N ews this week has been dominated by Prime Minister John Key’s decision to send New Zealand troops to Iraq. The decision, coming as no surprise after months of discussion in Parliament, was finalised on Tuesday 24 February. Key confirmed that 143 New Zealand soldiers will be sent to Read more...

Cumberland Courts No More

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Emily Draper

C umberland Courts, affiliated with Castle Street’s Cumberland College, are no longer running. James Lindsay, Director of Accommodation Services, said “the properties are being administered by UniFlats for 2015” — this is a university operation that mostly houses single-semester international Read more...

Massive Magazine Back in Print

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Laura Munro

M assey University’s magazine, Massive, is back in print after being online-only since February 2014. The Magazine, launched in 2012, was forced out of print due to a lack of funding. In order to get the print format back up and running, MAWSA Manager James Collings said it was a case of Read more...

Otago Researchers Prep for Diabetes Trial

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Amber Allott

A group of research scientists from the University of Otago is currently preparing to begin clinical trials of a cure for type 1 diabetes. Led by cell biologist, Dr. Jim Faed, clinical trials are expected to begin within the next two years. The research involves extracting bone marrow from Read more...

What You Need To Know: The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA)

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Carla Green

I f you type “TPPA” into a search engine, the first result will probably be the website of It’s Our Future NZ, a hub for anti-TPPA activity in New Zealand, decorated with a handy countdown to the next action organised against the agreement. The second will probably be Greenpeace’s webpage Read more...

DCC Goes Green

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Carla Green

T he Dunedin City Council has presented its Sustainability Audit Subcommittee with a draft proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to cut emissions by five per cent of 2013–2014 levels before 2019. The plan comes as the DCC prepares to vote on an ethical investment policy Read more...

OUSA and VUWSA Hit With NZUSA Bill

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Laura Munro

A fter its withdrawal application last November, OUSA has received a bill from NZUSA (the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations) for $22,500. The bill, which is half of the 2015 membership fee, was also sent to the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA). Read more...

Fruit and Vege Scheme Goes Bananas

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Joe Higham

A ll Saints’ Anglican Church is aiming to “prepare well” for the deluge of interest in their new fruit and vegetable distribution scheme. The scheme involves the supply of various fruits and vegetables in three different box sizes (single people – $3, couples – $6, and family/flats – $12) to Read more...

Execrable | Issue 2

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Laura Munro

T o kick off the second executive meeting for 2015, President Paul Hunt warned that the proceeding 40 minutes would be the final “warm-up meeting” for the year. In the future, “more substantial issues” are to be covered. That said, business this week was swift and productive. The Read more...

DCC Considers Liquor Ban Extension

Posted 6:26pm Sunday 1st March 2015 by Emma Lodes

A View Street residence known as “Backpackers” has come under scrutiny from the Dunedin police and neighbouring houses, as the behaviour of its inhabitants is seen to have crossed the line. Urinating on the street, wrecking household items, blasting music and smashing bottles and windows have Read more...

Seriously accurate predictions to continue

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 22nd February 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Last year’s FIFA World Cup coverage proved our credentials in providing serious analysis, accurate predictions and the ability to type a sentence like that with a straight face. Here is an update and preview of some of the sports action that we will be reporting on and ranting about in 2015. Read more...

Fears deepen as drought drags on

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 22nd February 2015 by Bridie Boyd

O n January 30 2015, the Otago Regional Council asked the government to officially recognise the devastating dry spell as a recorded drought, after the longest dry spell since 2004. Except for the Clutha River, most tributaries and rivers still have dangerously low levels, with no sign Read more...

Backlash over University Council amendments

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 22nd February 2015 by Carla Green

A bill amending the 1989 Education Act has come under fire recently from university student associations around New Zealand. In addition to creating a new professional body for teachers — a move that infuriated the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) — the bill aims to decrease the current Read more...

Dunedin Sick of Mores

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 22nd February 2015 by Emma Lodes

S ycamore trees have become a topic of conflict in recent weeks, with the Dunedin City Council and the Chalmers Community Board arguing that they’re choking out native plants, hogging sunlight and stamping out undergrowth bush. According to Lisa Wheeler, DCC Parks Manager, the city is Read more...

Execrable | Issue 1

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 22nd February 2015 by Laura Munro

T he first OUSA Executive meeting for the year kicked off with OUSA President Paul Hunt laying down the law for 2015. Executive members were instructed to raise their hand if they want to say their piece during the meeting. Additionally, it was clarified that if an executive member misses Read more...

Posties stamped out

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 22nd February 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

D unedin-based postal workers are at risk of unemployment as New Zealand Post makes cuts to its residential delivery services. Dunedin is currently home to around 60 posties, all of whom could be at risk of unemployment as part of a five-year strategy to restructure New Zealand’s postal Read more...

O Week heats up

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 22nd February 2015 by Carla Green

O n Wednesday 18 February 2015, emergency services were called to four separate North Dunedin areas in the early hours of the morning. A house located on Leith Street was left with severe damage to the front porch, as well the front two rooms of the house. The Leith Street residents had not Read more...

Parties go ahead despite warnings

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 22nd February 2015 by Laura Munro

T he University of Otago took a tougher stance on out-of-control flat parties leading up to the 2015 Orientation Week, with flats being asked to cancel events before the week had even begun. Residents of the Dundas Street V Flat, Dylan Hall, Tessa Lunam, Baily Beecher and Ross Stocker, Read more...

Dunedin's proposed Local Alcohol Policies

Posted 12:31pm Monday 1st December 2014 by Isaac Yu

I'm sure you've all heard the saying that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. We all like to think, especially when it comes to the affairs of others, that what we are doing is for peoples’ own good - that if we could sit them down and have a chat we could sort them out and have their Read more...

OUSA Withdraws From NZUSA

Posted 6:51pm Thursday 27th November 2014 by Josie Cochrane

After prolonged discussion, Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) has withdrawn from the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). The unanimous decision follows the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) decision to also withdraw earlier this Read more...

OUSA President Resigns, Effective Tomorrow

Posted 10:04pm Thursday 6th November 2014 by Josie Cochrane

At the Executive meeting held on the evening of Wednesday 5 November 2014, OUSA President Ruby Sycamore-Smith announced her resignation. Giving three days of notice, her resignation is effective from Friday 7 November 2014. On Monday 3 November 2014, the OUSA Executive discussed Read more...

Critic Sport takes a stroll down memory lane

Posted 11:58pm Sunday 12th October 2014 by Daniel Lormans

For this sad occasion, the last issue of Critic for this year, we go the tear-soaked nostalgia desk and revisit some of the most memorable sporting moments of 2014, pointing out when we got things right with our predictions and conveniently not mentioning when we got things wrong. Thanks for reading Read more...

Critic tackles election year one more time

Posted 11:58pm Sunday 12th October 2014 by Carys Goodwin

This is it. The final Critic of the year. A year of the most tumultuous election activity we could have asked for; a year of the weirdest gaffs; and a year of the most frustratingly normal results. It got so strange that Twitter began to wonder when we’d hit “peak cray,” and a simple search of the Read more...

Dunedin students’ private photos exploited online

Posted 11:58pm Sunday 12th 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...

Execrable | Issue 27

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

This week’s meeting went on for nearly three hours, but the presence of the 2015 Executive made for a little more excitement than usual. 2015 OUSA President-elect Paul Hunt held the chair for this meeting to give him some experience as the incoming top dog. The Executive also welcomed the new Read more...

No bones about it, there are some top supervisors

Posted 11:58pm Sunday 12th October 2014 by Emily Draper

The Supervisors’ Awards, instituted by the OUSA and the Graduate Research School, aim to recognise and celebrate excellence in PhD, thesis or dissertation supervision. This year, Associate Professor Ruth Fitzgerald of the Anthropology & Archaeology Department was awarded the grand prize of 2014’s Read more...

AUSA Dismisses General Manager

Posted 11:58pm Sunday 12th October 2014 by Anna Whyte

The Employment Authority and Employment Court have deemed the 2012 dismissal of former Auckland University Student Association General Manager Tom O'Connor justified. O'Connor brought the case to court after he was dismissed by AUSA due to the mismanagement of AUSA finances. However, O'Connor Read more...

Top Lecturer Of The Year wants “no part of UCSA”

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

The University of Canterbury Student’s Association (UCSA) has come under scrutiny recently by staff member Dr Ekant Veer. The popular lecturer of the marketing department wrote a blog post on 7 October declaring that he would hand back his Lecturer of the Year award, as well as the $50 prize. Read more...

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...