Archive

Politweets | Issue 15

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Rude. You go, fake Hekia. Poor Brazil. Truth. Fake Russell gets on Labour’s Kiwi-everything bandwagon. Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 15

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin

The world of political discourse has always, and will always be, full of people who speak really loudly. Sometimes, these people are members of parliament or those who are otherwise politically involved. Sometimes, they’re politics students who happen to write for a student magazine and enjoy trying Read more...

The good, the bad and the ugly of Unipol

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Daniel Lormans

This week we are checking in with the sweaty, grunting and largely ignored student fitness desk, where we know that being a University of Otago student comes with more perks than just a six-figure student debt and a decent chance to score a drunken pash at Boogie Nites. We also know that you can do Read more...

Record number of degrees in 2013

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Anna Whyte

The Government released figures showing a 20 per cent increase in undergraduate degree qualifications in 2013, compared to those in 2008. According to the results, 25,800 New Zealand students graduated from their bachelor degrees in 2013. In 2008, 20,800 were completed. Tertiary Education Minister Read more...

High performing polytech wins popularity contest

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Nina Harrap

Otago Polytechnic is showing an outstanding level of performance. As discussed at an Otago Polytechnic Council meeting on 4 July, the Polytechnic recently received three national teaching awards and the student roll has been rising rapidly, with a predicted increase of 10 per cent this year. Read more...

University to fork out $650m for upgrades

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Nina Harrap

The University of Otago is set to spend $650 million on campus upgrades over the next 15 years. The new Priority Development Plan (PDP), recently approved by the University Council, includes over 20 upgrades. These include major changes to seven faculties, a number of health and safety Read more...

The great OUSA by-election of 2014

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Critic

Following the departure of four executive members last semester, nominations have been received for the positions of Finance Officer, Welfare Officer, and Colleges and Communications Officer. The positions of Finance Officer and Welfare Officer each have two candidates running for the roles, whilst Read more...

Open textbooks launch at Otago

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Laura Munro

University of Otago lecturers have recently led an Open Educational Resource (OER) project in conjunction with academics and librarians from New Zealand and Australia. The open textbook Media Studies 101 was created on 16 and 17 November 2013 and is partially funded by Creative Commons New Read more...

OUSA Recreation Centre officially opened

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Laura Munro

After a year-long construction process, the new OUSA Recreation Centre has officially been opened. Staff, students and members of the public attended the opening, which was held at the facility last Tuesday 8 July. Attendees gathered in the foyer as guest speakers shared their views on how Read more...

Execrable | Issue 15

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Last week’s meeting opened with discussion of the health and safety issue that is the upgrade of the barriers at OUSA’s Aquatic Centre. Originally budgeted for $18,000, OUSA now has to spend up to $42,000 on the upgrade, which they hope will last at least another 18 years. It was moved that the Read more...

No more liquor in the North D

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Laura Munro

A liquor store located at 21 North Road has been granted a temporary off-licence for the next three months, following objections by the University of Otago to renew the licence. Store owner Preet Minhas originally applied for licence renewal on 5 June this year. The University immediately opposed Read more...

Politweets | Issue 14

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Well, that’s nice, Paula. #DJSuMo You’re not wrong, Tau. Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 14

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitOur dearly beloved long-lived politician John “Banksie” Banks has resigned after a bit of a hiccup with the law. The Auckland readers of Critic will know him best, as he ruled the city with an iron fist for two separate terms (2001-2004; 2007-2010); Epsom residents will know him even Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 14

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin

If you regularly read this page, you’ll know I have a bit of a fascination with Clare Curran. The Dunedin South MP/Twitter Warrior provides me with great Politweets fodder, and has tried a few times to make #cheeserolls trend. In fact, my encounter with her came down to a Twitter conversation. Read more...

Suarez

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Daniel Lormans

Welcome back to the second semester, sports fans! Plenty to catch up on so, first, let’s go to the teeth-marked World Cup desk where, without a doubt, the biggest controversy so far has been Vampire Diaries and True Blood fanboy Luis Suarez’s attempt to sneak in a mid-game snack. Now, we all like Read more...

Sharks, sex and banana stunts

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Anna Whyte

The International Science Festival is set to offer students a chance to prematurely boot their brains back into action for semester two. Taking place over Re-O Week from 5 July to 13 July, the festival will offer students a sober break from the traditional Re-O Week activities. Leading Read more...

Crimes on Cargill by violent school girls

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Three young women were assaulted in Dunedin on the night of Saturday 28 June on Cargill Street. Footage of the attack has been widely shared across social media sites, showing the women being punched and kicked by seven other teenagers. One girl was kicked in the forehead so hard that it left an Read more...

Pinging for better grades

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Laura Munro

Recent research conducted at the University of Auckland has shown that six per cent of the 400 students surveyed had used drugs as a study aid. The most common drug used by students was Ritalin, a B class drug often referred to on the streets as “Ritz.” Ritalin is a medication prescribed to Read more...

Gigatown bribes students and gets #insensitive

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Laura Munro

Chorus’ Gigatown competition has come under fire after a post on their Facebook page was seen as insensitive by members of the public. On 8 June, a head-on collision involving four teenagers occurred on Dunedin’s Southern Motorway. Gigatown Dunedin’s Facebook page posted a status on the day of the Read more...

The DCC's $4,000 mistake

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Laura Munro

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has mistakenly spent $3,900 of rate payer’s money on purchasing what he believed to be leg irons used to hold Maori prisoners in the Victorian Era. Cull told Critic the DCC discovered the auction when it was published in the Otago Daily Times, along with an image of Read more...

The Bye-Bi-By-Election

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The start of the second semester will bring in a few fresh faces to the OUSA Executive, following the resignation of four Executive members at the end of the first semester. Two of the resignations were expected as Brydie Ockwell, Colleges and Communications Officer, and Nick Tenci, Finance Read more...

Execrable | Issue 14

Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The second round of quarterly reports were presented at last week’s OUSA Executive meeting. It was to be the final meeting for four Executive members, who recently resigned, but with the exception of outgoing International Students’ Officer Kamil Saifuddin they failed to show, believing that their Read more...

Textbooks: Funding lecturers to wine and dine

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Purchasing textbooks is yet another cost universities expect students to meet every semester. The cost and quality of textbooks ranges enormously between papers and, too often, the matter is aggravated when lecturers only use a few chapters of the textbook, or require a new edition of the text Read more...

Politweets | Issue 13

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Snap. Clever. That is an incredible mental image. It’s ok to be bald, Tau. We all have our guilty pleasures. Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 13

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsThe Greatest Hit this week goes to a brand new political party attempting to grace New Zealand with its presence: the Civilian Party. Based on the satirical news site, the Civilian Party stands for a variety of ludicrous and hilarious things. Some of their policies include “defend the Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 13

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

On 15 May, the annual New Zealand Budget was released. For many people the word “budget” elicits an eye roll and a groan, bringing forth images of Excel spreadsheets and a motherly voice explaining exactly why you can’t buy that hideous sofa from the Sallies. In some respects, that’s exactly what Read more...

One of the many reasons I am not in the All Blacks

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the superlatively super Super Rugby desk, which has shaken itself from its slumber and is starting to get exciting. We all know I am a sucker for a nice drop goal and Hayden Parker’s golden boot has been in good form, racking up all 18 points for the Highlanders against the Hurricanes. Read more...

Sausage gets messy at SGM

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The Student General Meeting (SGM) was held at 12.35pm last Thursday outside the OUSA office, in order to notify OUSA members of last year’s constitutional breach at the NZUSA election. The breach in question occurred when three representatives of OUSA attended the NZUSA election last year. Read more...

Proctology

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

This week’s visit to the Proctor saw students fronting the cost of their drunken antics by way of joy rides in the ambulance, trips to the dry cleaners and stolen lunches. While many end up at A&E on a Saturday with little recollection of how their injuries were sustained, the Proctor was Read more...

Pickering picks OUSA pockets

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Emily Draper

Talented Ice Hockey player Luke Pickering was among the eight talented students selected in the first round of Individual OUSA Grants this year. OUSA have awarded 45 Individual and Club Grants so far this year, and have completed two out of six rounds of grants. Pickering used his $500 grant Read more...

St David’s 2 receives $9.65 million upgrade to not fall

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Laura Munro

St David’s 2 will become the new home to the Department of Applied Science following a $9.65 million upgrade necessary to increase the building’s earthquake safety rating. Originally constructed in 1997 and formerly used for Foundation Studies, the building was measured in 2014 to be at 34 per cent Read more...

Poppa's sale complicated by lease extension refusal

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

The future of another student institution is up in the air with Poppa’s Pizza on the market and the current landlord unwilling to comment on its future after the lease’s expiry. The existing lease is set to terminate in December 2016, with the current operator, Steve Munro, saying, “I’ve done my Read more...

DCC to trial pedestrian precint

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Nina Harrap

Two Otago post-graduate students are working to transform the lower Octagon into a pedestrian precinct with their submission to the DCC’s Annual Plan gaining momentum and support from councillors. Georgina Hampton, a PhD student in Genetics, and Alexis Belton, an honours student in Geology, Read more...

Dunedin flats to be rated, warranted and starred

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane

“Many of the landlords are nervous about it and maybe they should be,” says Rate My Flat co-founder, Lindsey Horne. Ratemyflat.org.nz is yet another scheme putting the pressure on landlords to improve rental accommodation. The new flat rating system will launch next semester with the intention of Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 12

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsOver the past few weeks, Campbell Live has been running an “at home with the leaders” segment, where John Campbell goes to party leaders’ houses and eats the dinner they cook. While it might be a strange twist on Come Dine With Me, it’s a good way to see what the leaders are like as Read more...

Politweets | Issue 12

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Clare tells @g_townnz what parliamentary office training comprises. I look forward to the whole musical. Banks also watches Campbell Live. Whatever “floats your boat.” Considering I have my own selfie with him, I’m disappointed. What? Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 12

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

For many of you, this will be your first election; and if you’re into politics enough to be reading this, that’s very exciting. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been picking brains and studying policy in an effort to present a few of the people who you’ll have the opportunity to vote for. This Read more...

Sex scandals, sarcasm and simians? Wake me up when there is a real controversy

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Daniel Lormans

This week let’s first go to the unnecessarily apologetic rugby league desk, which has been rocked with another shocking sex scandal that was neither shocking nor was it a scandal, and should have never been news in the first place. A Snapchat video featuring Warriors hard man Konrad Hurrell was Read more...

PhD students lured by free flights and accommodation

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Nina Harrap

The University is offering free flights and accommodation to domestic PhD candidates considering studying toward a doctorate at Otago. The recruitment campaign is designed to allow doctoral students to “seriously consider Otago as an option,” Head of Marketing Services, Lindy Wilson, said in a press Read more...

Dr. Clarke writes “readable books” for 150 years

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane

University of Otago historian and archivist Dr Ali Clarke is continuing her work of researching the University’s history, an “enormous responsibility,” after being tasked to write a book based on the first 150 years of the University, spanning from 1869 to 2019. Dr Clarke was selected for Read more...

University Volunteer Centre markets lending hands

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Emily Draper

The University Volunteer Centre has established a regular stall at OUSA Market Days, according to a report by Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne at the latest University Council meeting on 13 May. The stall hopes to promote UniCrew, a staff and student volunteer organisation, alongside various other Read more...

Police "can't see the bottles coming" in the dark

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Laura Munro

Three students were arrested after a large party on North Castle Street escalated with partygoers throwing bottles at Police. The party took place during the second graduation weekend of May, and saw two students arrested for disorder and another for obstruction and escaping police custody after Read more...

Writers and Readers booked in for next year

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Anonymous Bird

Dunedin’s inaugural Writers and Readers Festival has been hailed a great success, and a follow-up event has already been booked in for next year. The six-day festival took place from 6 May to 11 May and saw more than 50 New Zealand and international writers, poets, playwrights, scriptwriters, Read more...

Execrable | Issue 12

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

The Executive meeting held on 13 May came with ample discussion on the upcoming referendum and a variation on the agenda. In an Executive round up, Hamish was looking into getting a committee together regarding TED Talks in Dunedin. Nick was “frothin’” after agreeing to a repayment plan in Read more...

Climbing house prices not reflected in 13-year capped living benefit

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Students are once again being left in the lurch as house prices continue to rise, but financial support for student rentals continues to lag. The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) has released a report showing that as the average rent for students is increasing, the student Read more...

Colin Craig | Full Interview

Posted 10:37am Wednesday 14th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Just while we’re on record, the first thing I wanted to talk about is your defamation experience, and I just want to be guaranteed that you’re not going to sue us for defamation. No, that’s fine. That’ll be a no. Not going to sue us? Correct. Great, okay, I’ll say whatever I Read more...

The history of Otago NORML

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Laura Munro

The University has seen proponents of the cannabis law reformation traverse its campus for years, but none as lasting as the Otago University branch of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, otherwise known as NORML. Otago students have been gathering as early as the 1970s in Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 11

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest ShitsI thought, for sure, that Maurice Williamson would be this week’s Greatest Shit, with his controversial phone call to Police over a friend’s domestic abuse charges leading to his resignation. That was until Judith Collins demanded the limelight back again, however, by making Read more...

Politweets | Issue 11

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Lovely poetry from Winston. Oh? Seems Clare likes mobility scooters so much she's expressed interest across multiple social media platforms. The picture is of a random dirt hill. Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 11

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Otago welcomed an unlikely guest the week before last: Colin Craig, leader of the Conservative Party. His visit was a flurry of interviews, including a much-anticipated appearance on Vote Chat, and I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time with the thoroughly intriguing man. Social conservatism Read more...

Olympic hosts Brazil and stoned students have more in common than you thought

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Daniel Lormans

This week, let’s go to the corrupt and over-budget Olympics desk, where we know that all self-respecting Otago students are self-taught experts in the art of procrastination (I, for one, consider myself a master). Small-scale procrastination is somewhat acceptable, like neglecting that 10 per cent, Read more...

Fringe Festival farewells a few fronting figures

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The Dunedin Fringe Festival is set to lose two key organisers but the change will bring “new blood and new ideas,” according to departing Director Paul Smith. Smith has been part of the Festival since its creation in 2000 but has resigned, effective from July 2014. Chairman of the Dunedin Fringe Read more...

University hosts one and a half CoREs

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Nina Harrap

The University of Otago has been selected to host one of six national Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE) and will co-host a second CoRE with the University of Auckland, following a Government announcement. Both the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies (Otago) and Brain Research Read more...

Abbey College expansion accommodates more post-grads

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Emily Draper

Accommodation for postgraduate students is set to increase after the University purchased a property neighbouring Abbey College in order to increase the College’s capacity. 55 Duke Street backs on to the College and was purchased by the University for $550,000 to be used as housing for College Head Read more...

Dunedin streets sprayed with phlegm

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Emily Draper

Dunedin is quickly becoming a concrete canvas for internationally renowned street artists. Globe-trotting English street artist Phlegm is one of the latest to embrace Dunedin streets as a canvas for his unique brand of “visually stunning, playful and transformative” art, according to DCC Community Read more...

Proctology - The extreme campus cop makeover

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

Despite Critic’s prying attempts to unveil the usual ridiculous student antics, the Proctor had little to share and reasoned that “everybody’s got their heads down and their bums up with exams coming up.” However, the Proctor said he was sad to see that Campus Cop Max Holt is leaving his post to Read more...

Summertime internship offers jobs and sex

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

The Sexy Summer Jobs internship programme has created almost 100 full and part time positions in Dunedin businesses since beginning in 2008, and according to DCC Business Developer Advisor Chanel O’Brien, that number is expected to rise to 120 jobs by June. Established in 2008 by the Read more...

Emergency Execrable | Issue 11

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

An emergency Executive meeting was called at 4pm last Thursday to finalise details and questions for the upcoming OUSA referendum, which resulted in the entire process being moved back, highlighting the unorganised nature of its planning. The meeting began with Ruby addressing the Executive, Read more...

Charitable organisation ignites community contribution

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

Student-run charitable organisation Ignite Consultants has taken out this year’s Supreme Award at the TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards, ahead of a number of competitive entries in Dunedin’s not-for-profit sector. The honour will also see Ignite Consultants represent Dunedin at the National Read more...

120th Capping Show makes people laugh, fails to offend

Posted 3:11pm Sunday 11th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The 120th annual Capping Show, A Capping Carol: The Night Before Hyde Street, kicked off last Wednesday and once again delivered a unique and entertaining show. Capping Show director, Baz Macdonald, said the show had so far gone “really, really well.” The first two opening nights were Read more...

iHunch affecting ill-postured student masses

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane

An epidemic is affecting students worldwide; the painful result of our generation being the first to grow up with an endless availability of smart phones, laptops, iPads and gaming consoles. It is the “iHunch.” The iHunch can result in permanent curvature of the spine and is the underlying problem Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 10

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsA couple of weeks ago, the Green Party released its Internet Rights and Freedoms Bill. While Labour has spoken of their intention to do the same, this marks a step in a new direction for democratic handling of policy proposals – the bill is being crowd-sourced. This means that rather Read more...

Politweets | Issue 10

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Trevor snaps. Clare retweets her 7 Days lover’s achievements. David handled the response to his ridiculously awkward campaign video with much grace. Fake Hekia working hard. Read more...

Young Politician

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

My reasons for joining MANA back in 2011, when I was a fresher, were directly related to my involvement in the International Socialist Organisation (ISO). Thus, the main reason for my support for this party at this particular time is the solid activist basis of its leadership and membership, such as Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 10

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

This week Critic would like to welcome the leader of New Zealand’s newest political party to take the stage: Kim Dotcom. I first courted him over Twitter before Easter, and have been in touch with an Internet Party representative ever since. Through a few phone calls and emails, I have been given Read more...

A journey through the codes

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Daniel Lormans

First this week, let’s go to the tattooed and violent rugby desk, and didn’t those Highlanders do everyone a solid favour by going to Durban and giving the table-topping Sharks a thrashing? Yes they did, because no one likes to see too big a gap at the top. The boys put in a huge shift on defence, Read more...

Uni assets reach the billions

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Laura Munro

A financial report released at the University Council meeting on 8 April has shown that the University of Otago held $1.66 billion in assets at the close of the 2013 financial year, an increase from the $1.63 billion in 2012. The greatest asset, recorded at $1.3 billion, was property, plant and Read more...

Execrable (Feat. Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne) | Issue 10

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

The OUSA Executive meeting held on 29 April was attended by the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne, whose presence may have rendered the Executive slightly less audible than in previous meetings. During her visit she said she didn’t “think we should be afraid to knit the Read more...

Generation Zero report call to policy makers

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin

On Thursday 1 May, environmental organisation Generation Zero released their first of three comprehensive climate change action reports. Comprising more than forty pages of research and suggestions for policy makers, the report marks the beginning of Generation Zero’s campaign for a Clean Energy Read more...

International enrolments decline

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Emily Draper

The number of international student enrolments at the University has dropped by 3.7 per cent, according to numbers released at the most recent University Council meeting. The figures reveal a drop to 1191 full-time international students enrolled in the University, down from 2011’s peak at 1664, and Read more...

1271 Students give OUSA some satisfaction

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

The 2014 OUSA Student Satisfaction Survey has revealed the general sentiment towards OUSA and the services they offer, as well as the general student impression regarding the importance and use of those services. With 1,271 student responses, the survey shows that OUSA continues to please students Read more...

Datacom(e) pay your power

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

The IT industry’s innovative ways have now extended to their recruitment process with one company offering to pay a flat’s power bill when applying for a role within their company. Datacom Systems Limited has been coming to the University’s career expos for around eight years now, but last year Read more...

Uni pays $5.5 million to "improve quality of service"

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Nina Harrap

The University of Otago has spent more than $5.5 million on staff redundancies over the past four years, but has still been ranked as the 13th best place to work in the country. Figures released under the Official Information Act by the University show that 121.88 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Read more...

Queens suffers ungraceful fall from grace

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

Popular Dunedin venue Queens Bar has had its application for an on-licence declined following a hearing before the Dunedin District Licencing Committee on 11 April. The decision concerned applicant Ian Robbins, of Dogtown Limited, who sought a licence after letting his expire at the end of the first Read more...

OUSA to beer competition

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane

OUSA’s Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival will this year be held on 4 October at Forsyth Barr Stadium and is set “to build on the success of last year’s event,” says OUSA General Manager Darel Hall. However, competing with the event is Matthew Black of Brighton Holdings Ltd, who assisted OUSA in Read more...

Winston Peters

Posted 2:48pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Critic: So the first thing I want to talk about is the fact that the youth vote is a sector that is untapped almost, because we have such little voter turnout. And I was wondering what sort of policies you would advocate for in order to increase the youth turnout and what you’d bring to the table Read more...

Continuing changes to student loan now include prison time

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

From 1 April 2014, Inland Revenue will be able to request an arrest warrant for borrowers who knowingly defaulted on their overseas-based repayment obligation and are about to leave New Zealand. This follows on from four years of extensive restrictions being imposed on the student loans and Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 09

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsThis week’s Greatest Hit goes to my favourite NZ politician/DJ hybrid. No, not Kim Dotcom (whose album ‘Good Times’ spurred an active Facebook campaign to get him to Starters Bar during O-Week), but Laneway alumna Jacinda Ardern. After realising her flight from Wellington to Auckland Read more...

Politweets | Issue 09

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Telling it how it is. The secret to her kiss (true). We're so sorry. Yeah Josh. Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 9

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Before I even began my interview with the mighty Winston Peters he was on great form, spotting the Photoshopped Critic image of Peter Dunne smoking a fat joint and determining, after a lengthy pause, “it’s a fake.” Say what you will about Winston, he’s one of the most famous politicians we’ve ever Read more...

Should they stay or should they go?

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the “did he go or was he pushed desk,” and it seems that the struggling rugby league convert Benji Marshall has thrown his toys again and is apparently looking to return to the NRL as soon as possible with his tail between his legs. After 10 years at the Tigers in West Sydney, Marshall Read more...

Freshers contribute to higher enrolments

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Laura Munro

This year has seen an overall increase in enrolment at the University, largely due to strong first year domestic growth over the past three years. It also marks the highest ever proportion of commencing students from outside of Dunedin. Over 85 per cent of students commencing at Otago are from other Read more...

Synthetic zoning causes users to lapp around

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Nina Harrap

The Dunedin City Council is currently drafting legislation that may stop some retailers from selling legal highs. The Psychoactive Substances Act, which was passed by Parliament last year, gives local government bodies the ability to pass a Locally Approved Product Policy (LAPP), meaning councils Read more...

Burst pipe streams deluge onto unsuspecting nerds

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

More than half of the Central Library’s ground floor computer lab was forced out of commission during library hours after thousands of litres of water flooded the area prior to the Easter Break. A burst water pipe in the ceiling caused water to cascade from light fittings both in the Central Library Read more...

$1 million dollar microscope first in New Zealand

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Nina Harrap

The University of Otago has recently paid one million dollars for a state-of-the-art microscope that will allow researchers to study the development of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. For the first time, Otago medical scientists will be able to view and analyse living Read more...

Kiwis traverse Europe with help of bobbies

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Laura Munro

A chaotic seven days traversing 1,000km across Europe has seen three Otago students take out a number of places among a huge group of international teams in Red Bull’s “Can You Make It” challenge. Representing the University of Otago were Tish McNicol, Finn Henry and Chessie Henry, also known as the Read more...

Execrable | Issue 9

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Zane Pocock

The Executive meeting held on 15 April was complete with guest proposals, agenda thieves, and banter on Winston Peters’ campus visit. Kicking off the meeting, guest Sue Heap spoke to her proposal for OUSA to “look into the matter of street harassment.” Proposed courses of action were to Read more...

Environmentally friendly parking tickets rolled out

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Laura Munro

The Dunedin City Council has introduced environmentally friendly receipts for 90 per cent of the 400 pay-and-display meters in the city. Replacing the previous plastic-coated tickets, the new receipts will be made from 100 per cent paper, meaning they are completely biodegradable. Community Read more...

Direct order leads to less than NORML confrontation

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

A number of confrontations between Campus Watch, the Police and Otago NORML’s 4:20 protests have left speculations rife that the University is attempting to remove the protest group from Campus. A recent incident culminated in Police almost trespassing a member of NORML after he was mistakenly Read more...

Hoyts closure corporate battle with rival Reading

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Reading Cinemas is set to open in the middle of 2014, following the unexpected closure of Hoyts last year. The ODT reported that Hoyts was forced to close because it was “unable to negotiate favourable terms” regarding the lease renewal. Further investigation, however, indicates that Hoyts’ tenancy Read more...

Floods force students to put their holidays on hold

Posted 6:48pm Friday 18th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Hundreds of Dunedin students have had to remain in the city tonight after flooding forced road closures on State Highway One, blocking the route from Maheno to Oamaru. The road is the main route from Dunedin to Christchurch. 30 kilometre-long traffic jams were reported by students returning Read more...

Students targeted by energetic beverage cult to earn millions

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

“If you could not fail, how big would you dream?” These are the words presented on Vemma’s website to entice young people to join the Vemma brand and sell Verve energy drink products. Vemma is an “ultra-premium, liquid formula that provides the vitamins, minerals and nutrients for greater health and Read more...

Young politician | Issue 08

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Na Terata Hikairo

What's good for Māori is good for Aotearoa. As a rangatahi representative for the Māori Party, I would like to express the values we have in the Māori Party and why they exist. Our MPs, the Hon. Tariana Turia, Hon. Pita Sharples and Te Ururoa Flavell, have worked tirelessly to Read more...

Politweets | Issue 08

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

#mediabias If I didn't know better, I'd question whether John was using the synthetic drugs himself. What else is on your bucket list? You and me both One of many in a series of Bridges Bashing tweets from Patrick I really want to know which Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 08

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest hitsOn Tuesday, Tau Henare, National MP, announced that he will retire at this year’s election. This is not the greatest hit; rather it’s Tau himself, who has a twenty-year political career that can be characterised by witty retorts and an “I will say whatever I want” mentality. Starting Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 8

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

As the candidate lists come rolling in from across the spectrum, the possible Government newbies are already vying for the attention of voters across the board. With that in mind, this week’s Critic looks at five candidates to watch out for as the campaign rush begins. Hailing from a variety of Read more...

Three teams, one cup...

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the impartial but sky-blue football desk, I thought I should bring you all up to speed with this year’s epic race for the English Premier League title. Liverpool leads the way with 74 points. At the start of the season, not many experts had given Liverpool much chance as genuine title Read more...

Allen Hall old as fuck

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Laura Munro

This year marks a special occasion for the University of Otago. The Allen Hall, part of our current Archway and Clock Tower buildings, is clocking up its centennial year. Exactly 100 years ago on 7 April 1914, the building, named after Chancellor James Allen, was officially opened as Otago’s first Read more...

Monarchy cook up plan to diversify crown assets

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s recent visit to Dunedin has been revealed to be part of a wider push by the Monarchy to diversify their portfolio of investments abroad. A night of travel away from Baby George provided the Duke and Duchess with a bit of rest and relaxation in Dunedin, and an Read more...

Hooper fights fake weed "makes picnic ... not bothered"

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Emily Draper

Opponents of legal highs have gathered in protest around Dunedin in the hope of banning the sale of the drugs throughout New Zealand. While protests were held in 23 centres from Whangerei to Invercargill, Dunedin has seen large gatherings in the Octagon as well as personalised acts of protest Read more...