Archive

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...

PIMS - Puzzling inaccuracy mystifies students

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

Students were further frustrated by exam woes after the University withdrew the initial exam timetable released last week. Confusion arose after the initial schedule was released last Monday, retracted on Tuesday, then released again on Thursday. A notice, which was emailed to students and Read more...

University freeloads hospital tenancy for 30 years

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Nina Harrap

The Southern District Health Board is seeking to formalise a lease agreement with the University for the Medical Faculty’s use of Dunedin Hospital buildings amidst pressure to upgrade Hospital facilities. According to the ODT, SDHB Chief Executive Carole Heatley indicated in a report to the Board Read more...

Defending the kingdom

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Christian Hardy

In what is surely a landmark decision with regards to international environmental law, on Monday 31 March 2014, after years of protests and diplomatic disputes, the International Court of Justice ruled that Japan’s whaling programme in the Southern Ocean is not for scientific purposes and requested Read more...

Laura Harris victorious as OUSA Education Officer

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

This year’s first OUSA by-election has welcomed newcomer Laura Harris to the Executive in the role of Education Officer after she took out 36.09 per cent of the total votes. Harris was a clear contender for the role after a markedly articulate performance at Tuesday’s public forum, despite the Read more...

Proctology

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

This week in Proctology has revealed that a bit of broken glass may be good for University finances, and “slurping the suds” in the Botanic Gardens is not advised. The Proctor has said there has “been an increase” in the amount of bottle breaking going on around campus. While it “might sound nice Read more...

Dickie heats up over paddling pool of fire

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

The art of student couch-burning has reached new heights, according to the complaints of frustrated Woodhaugh resident Jeff Dickie. While walking his daughter to school through the Woodhaugh Gardens, Dickie was astonished to discover the remnants of a couch fire in the Gardens’ empty toddlers’ Read more...

Moana Pool blame additional membership cost on Uni

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

This year’s Moana Pool Student Membership Special demanded students fork out an additional $20 to verify their status as a student. The deal, which boasts a price of $320 for nine months use of the gym and pool, or $190 for sole use of pool, requires students to provide proof of identification Read more...

$20 Million Upgrade Will See Wireless Across All Campuses and Significantly Improved Network Speeds

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

The University’s Internet has for some time been plagued by criticism due to its inconsistent speeds, varying performance and general unreliability. However, a key project for Information Technology Services (ITS) this year is the overhaul and significant upgrade of the University Network and Read more...

Politweets | Issue 07

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

That's the banter we love from Judith. Kim Dotcom, John Dotcodotnz, now gareth.org.nz. Still unsure if this is a fake account or not, but it's funny either way. The hunt for the perfect #cheeserolls continues. This is a fake one. No idea why anyone Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 07

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsIn the spirit of iD Fashion Week, this year’s Greatest Hit goes to David Clark, who featured on local Dunedin TV for his very own modelling experience. Strutting his stuff in a beautifully made red blazer by Tamsin Cooper, David looked well at home on the catwalk. Considering fashion Read more...

Young Politician | Issue 07

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Curwen Rolinson

A great man once said that just because you might not care about politics ... was no surefire guarantee that politics doesn’t care about you. Regrettably, if you look around our politics today, it seems *exactly* like Kiwi politics doesn’t care about us. I mean, look at the choices. Labour Read more...

Critic tackles election year| Issue 7

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

In the last week and a half, Otago has been graced with the presence of two MPs – Judith Collins and Gareth Hughes. While I didn’t attend Judith’s cocktail soirée (the $30 entry fee was out of my poor student price range and it was all the way at Luna Bar), I did have a chat to Todd Dickens, chair Read more...

A Leap of Faith Into the Group of Death

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the lightweight, 3D-printed extreme sports desk and we all know that New Zealand is a popular destination for extreme sports junkies. However, for some people, bungee jumping, skydiving, jet boating and flirting with Austrian backpackers in Queenstown for a weekend is just not extreme enough Read more...

Overly Keen Scarfie Makes App to Pull

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Emily Draper

A new social networking iPhone app made for Scarfies has been launched across Dunedin. The app, called KEEN, is the brainchild of Auckland University student Philip Chen, who was later joined by Canterbury student Nelson Shaw and Otago student Laxman Popli. KEEN is based around a simple premise: if Read more...

Research Leads to "Pleasing ... Sustained Excellence"

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Nina Harrap

The University has risen 20 places and remains top among New Zealand’s research institution rankings after coming 67th in the 2013 Nature Publishing Index Asia-Pacific. The index ranks nations and institutions on the number of research articles they put out each year and the number of which are Read more...

OUSA Hyde No More Tickets to Keg Party

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

General admission Hyde Street tickets sold out in record time last week, with the 1118 tickets available gone within two minutes of release. 3500 tickets were available with priority going to Hyde Street residents, their friends and residents on surrounding streets, and the remaining 1118 being sold Read more...

No Goodbye to By-Elections

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

The resignation of Education Officer Jordan Taylor has prompted the start to what promises to be another year of by-election folly. While the nominees include current Recreation Officer Henri Faulkner, which may see a shuffle around of the Executive, there are also a number of fresh faces. Should Read more...

Execrable | Issue 7

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

This week’s Executive meeting was more akin to a marathon, clocking in at nearly three hours long, with a disappointingly large amount of the meeting taking part in Committee of the Whole, which Critic does not have the right to report on. Despite this, Ruby competently chaired the meeting Read more...

On-License Opposed for Yet Another Dunedin Venue

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

Yet another popular Dunedin venue is risking closure after its on-licence expired and a new application was opposed by the Police and the Medical Officer of Health. Popular music venue Queens Bar at Queens Garden will face a hearing before the Dunedin District Licencing Committee on 11 April where Read more...

Fear and Loathing in Ukraine

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Mariya Semenova

One of the big things on the news in the last few months has been the protests and revolution in Ukraine, followed by the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea. Here I will bravely attempt to give you a crash course in that recent Ukrainian history. Having lived in New Zealand for the Read more...

Politweets | Issue 06

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

#cheeserolls The Internet Party might have to watch its back; the Hogwarts Party could steal a considerable chunk of the ‘nerd’ voter base Banter Novelty Hekia Parata account has really enjoyed this week’s scandal The more you know, I guess. Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 06

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsThis week has seen the rise of #nomakeupselfies across the world. Raising $3 million for cancer research, the trend has occupied Facebook, the media, and, surprisingly, Parliament. I followed Louise Upston’s no-makeup Twitter trail, with Metiria Turei and Holly Walker offering selfies Read more...

Young Politician | Issue 06

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Nyssa Payne-Harker

Do you believe that technologies such as 3D printing and solar technology have the potential to change the world and opportunities for New Zealand? Or do you want to find out more about how they could? Young Greens certainly do and this week, Tuesday 7.30pm in Moot Court, we will be welcoming Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 6

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

When it comes to election year, the Otago politics department likes to get involved. We’re only really relevant once every three years, so it’s fairly exciting to get the chance to appeal to more than eager freshers in POLS102. That’s why this week is dedicated to an Otago initiative called Vote Read more...

Bayern Munich Favourites to Make Third Final Appearance in a Row

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the shiny silver football desk and the UEFA Champions League, which, since 1992, has been the elite competition in European club football. Last year’s winners Bayern Munich pocketed a cool $100 million from the competition, so there is a big financial incentive to winning as well as the prestige Read more...

Influx of Influenza Flew In

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Mass Cralk

The Emergency Department at Dunedin Hospital has seen a number of people admitted who present symptoms of Bird Flu, which comes on the heels of a recent visit to Dunedin by a group of Chinese bioterrorists. Bird flu is caused by an influenza virus that originally occurs in animals and can Read more...

SJS - Sycamore Jovially Sympathises

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Laura Munro

Job-seeking tertiary students in Otago may be in for a weary hunt after student earnings, generated through Student Job Search, declined by six per cent in the early months of 2014, and overall earnings dropped by $700,000 in 2013. Total earnings of $7.353 million in 2013 were 8.6 per cent lower Read more...

Support Shows Cull Not UNESCOrted in Literature Bid

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Emily Draper

Dunedin has taken a major step in becoming New Zealand’s home of literature after Mayor Dave Cull last week sent through a bid to become a UNESCO City of Literature. UNESCO only permits one City of Literature per country, and Cull’s bid aims to establish Dunedin as just that. A successful bid Read more...

Proctology

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Claudia Herron

Disgruntled moteliers and neighbours – and trampolines – are the latest victims of the plague of rowdy Scarfies, making this week’s Proctology look like an episode of Neighbours at War. Known to some as “The Tavern,” a student establishment in Woodhaugh has taken remembering their Read more...

Ross Creek Zombie Apocalypse Run Forecasted

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Emily Draper

The very existence of the 126,000 men, women, children and Scarfies in Dunedin is under threat; the Zombie apocalypse is on its way. 18 May will see the Walking Dead become the Running Dead in a five-kilometre obstacle course around Ross Creek Reserve designed to raise funds for the charity ChatBus, Read more...

Dunedin Renamed Shangedin, Shanghai of the South

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Thomas Raethel

The University of Otago has secured a groundbreaking relationship with a Chinese University, which is likely to grant access to China’s lucrative medical research sector. Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University consistently ranks among the top five universities within mainland China and after signing a Read more...

Noise Complaint Met With Dignified Silence

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Claudia Herron

The filming of a carpet commercial at a View Street flat has incorrectly been associated with a number of noise complaints, despite the flat having a history of noise problems with neighbours. The ODT reported on Friday 14 March that the filming of a Godfrey Hirst Carpet Commercial at the Read more...

Females Find Faulty Floor, Fittings & Faeces In Filthy Flat

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Another story of appalling flat conditions and an inconsiderate landlord has recently faced the media spotlight, with five Dunedin students presenting the state of their flat on Campbell Live last week. The story has been strongly disputed by the flat’s landlord and ex-tenants, who say the girls’ Read more...

Letting the Monkeys Out

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

There are at least two sides to every tale … especially one spanning over several years, involving high profile business owners, a secret Facebook page and a potential police cover-up. The ODT have told one side of the story, but after Critic was given access to the private Facebook discussion group Read more...

Politweets | Issue 05

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Tau Henare goes wild with this hashtag. Clare looks towards a new dairy product for the next parliamentary drama. Green MPs target Key's memory loss. Probably not the best use of your time, Jacinda. Yes, because those two parties agree Read more...