Archive

Initiative Encourages Students to Look on the Brightside

Posted 7:37am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Madeline O’Leary

An Otago-based research initiative called Brightside Aotearoa is looking to improve access to mental health resources for uni students across the motu. With the research confirming that, yes, Gen Z is pretty glum, they’re hoping to turn that frown upside down. Headed by Dr Charlene Rapsey, Read more...

Ōtepoti Cannabis Party “Shut Down” by Police

Posted 7:28am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Hanna Varrs

Eye witnesses have claimed that the Ōtepoti Cannabis Party were strong-armed into leaving the Link on Wednesday, September 25th, after conversations with the police. The Ōtepoti Cannabis Party had invited students with a flyer promising to “elevate [their] voting” and Read more...

Town & Gown Unite in Fight for Dunedin Hospital

Posted 11:10am Saturday 5th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud

35,000 Dunedinites marched from the Dental School to the Octagon on Saturday, September 28th in a protest to end all protests. The DCC campaign ‘They Save, We Pay’ promised to be a “rally cry” against critical cuts to the new Dunedin Hospital.  The protest came just a Read more...

Te Rito Nominations Are Open

Posted 5:10pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Nina Brown

The annual Te Rōpū Māori elections have just opened up for tauira to fill the positions of Te Rito for 2025. Te Rōpū Māori is the Māori Students' Association at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. Similarly to OUSA, the association is governed by the student Read more...

Student Volunteer Army Rounds Off Stellar Year

Posted 5:07pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

A couple weeks ago marked the last event for the Student Volunteer Army’s (SVA) Otago University branch. Now in its fourth year, the Canterbury Uni-born initiative has taken off quicker than your Christchurch mates can ask each other what school they went to. A 50-strong cohort of students Read more...

‘The Rock’ Rocks Campus

Posted 5:03pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Adam Stitely

Why the hell is there a life-sized cardboard cutout of ‘The Rock’ in Central Library? Donning our Sherlock Holmes hats (apparently they’re called deerstalkers), Critic Te Ārohi  investigated. The cardboard cutout of everyone’s favourite ‘cousin’ and Read more...

Veteran Liaison Officer Bids Otago Farewell

Posted 5:01pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Molly Smith-Soppet

After thirteen years of welcoming students through the gates of Otago University, student liaison officer Prajesh Chhanabhai is leaving campus (sobs). Critic Te Ārohi linked up with Prajesh via Zoom to reminisce about his time at Otago and find out what the future holds for the man who has Read more...

OSJP Interrupt Grant’s Peace Speech

Posted 4:57pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Monica Holopainen

New Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson had his patience tested during his ‘Making Peace with Our Past and Our Future’ lecture on September 19th. The speech, given to a half-full Castle 1 Lecture Theatre, was continuously interrupted by the Otago Students for Justice in Palestine (OSJP), Read more...

Finance & Strategy Officer Falls for $1k Scam

Posted 4:54pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Daniel Leamy, the OUSA Finance and Strategy Officer, has given away $1,000 worth of iTunes vouchers after falling for a scam designed by president77091@gmail.com.  In a series of emails constructed on a dusty Friday morning, Daniel sent hundreds of dollars of his own money to someone Read more...

Hockey Dominates OUSA Blues and Golds Awards

Posted 4:50pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud

The annual Blues and Golds Awards were held at the Business School last Wednesday, September 25th. The event, jointly hosted by Otago Uni and OUSA, has been going since 1908 and celebrates sporting and cultural successes at the Uni. Grant Robertson spoke and presented nine awards, five Silver Read more...

Bin Wars Strike Studentville

Posted 4:46pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Staff Writer

Bins are going walkabouts in North D. Turf wars have broken out over bins following the new Dunedin City Council (DCC) bins being thrown into the rotation. What goes around comes around, and it seems that as bins disappear from back porches, it’s triggered a domino-effect of Read more...

“Rallying Cry” March for New Hospital

Posted 10:19am Wednesday 25th September 2024 by Hanna Varrs

A protest march against clinical cuts to the new Dunedin Hospital will be held this Saturday, October 28th, from the Dental School at 12pm. The march is spearheaded by the Dunedin City Council (DCC) who are calling it “one of the largest public protest movements in recent Read more...

‘Undervalued’ Uni Staff Await Living Wage

Posted 9:16pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

It’s near impossible to escape mention of the cost of living crisis these days. For many Otago University staff not paid a living wage, it rings even more true. Critic Te Ārohi was approached by hall staff to voice their frustration at not being paid a living wage. The current living Read more...

DCC Hearing for Harbour Terrace Parking Proves Fruitful

Posted 9:02pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Hunter Jolly

On Friday, September 13th, the Dunedin City Council held a hearing to discuss the recently-revised proposal for parking on Harbour Terrace. While the situation remains unresolved, a new idea, pitched by Sport Otago, gained widespread support at the hearing. This new pitch reportedly involves keeping Read more...

Unopposed Exec Positions a Cause for Concern?

Posted 8:43pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Hugh Askerud

For the second year running, the role of OUSA President is uncontested. Not only that, but three of the other roles – Finance and Strategy Officer, Welfare and Equity Rep, and International Rep – also have only one candidate. It’s a bit difficult to call it a democratic election Read more...

Strippers Protest Stilettos “Heartbreak”

Posted 8:41pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Jordan Irvine

Protesters gathered in the Octagon on Friday 13th to rally behind strippers and sex workers who claimed unfair treatment by Dunedin strip club Stilettos. All claims made against Stilettos and its manager Tabitha have been unconfirmed by the club, who have refused to comment on the matter. The Read more...

The Link’s Mysterious Portrait Man

Posted 8:39pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Monica Holopainen

The Link’s been home to some creative entrepreneurship in recent weeks with the appearance of a live portrait artist – Critic Te Ārohi dubs him the Portrait Man. Sat at a stall outside the never-open ‘Frankly Sandwiches’ (please come back), you can’t miss Read more...

Unexpected UniFlats Maintenance Visits “An Accident Waiting to Happen”

Posted 4:40am Monday 16th September 2024 by Jodie Evans

UniFlats residents caught off-guard by unanticipated visits from staff and maintenance crew have been left feeling “a bit weird”, to say the least. One Clyde Street resident told Critic Te Ārohi that she was suffering from a severe bout of food poisoning when maintenance staff Read more...

Te Huinga Tauira, Debriefed

Posted 4:38am Monday 16th September 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

Te Rōpū Māori sent a delegation of tauira to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in the last week of August – not only to escape the Dunedin winter, but also for Te Huinga Tauira, the annual national Māori students’ conference. Māori tertiary students’ Read more...

Toast Time Introduced At Subs

Posted 3:46am Monday 16th September 2024 by Molly Smith-Soppet

Dunedin's iconic nightclub, Suburbia (Subs if you’re a real one), has introduced a new initiative aimed at keeping patrons' puku’s full and vomit off the floors. Taking a leaf out of residential colleges’ book, Subs has launched ‘Toast Time’, a weekly event held Read more...

Stumbled Down the Rabbit Hole

Posted 3:44am Monday 16th September 2024 by Jordan Irvine

Tūhura Otago Museum hosted Alice in Wonderland after dark on Friday, September 13th, a fun (18+) event based on the Lewis Carroll book and that one Tim Burton film everyone chooses to ignore. Sporting free tickets and a craving for cotton candy, Critic Te Ārohi stumbled down the rabbit Read more...

40% of Current Exec Plan To Rerun for 2025

Posted 3:42am Monday 16th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Nominations were open last week for the 2025 OUSA Student Exec. Critic Te Ārohi can reveal that four out of ten of the current OUSA Student Exec (40% for you maths nerds out there) are planning on sticking around next year – either rerunning for their own positions or branching into other Read more...

Castle St Courtyard Set to Split

Posted 3:37am Monday 16th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud

‘Courtyard’, the infamous intersection of breathadom between three Castle St flats, will allegedly soon be split with a fence. Breathas and sheathas alike are biting their nails at the impact the change may have on their beloved stomping ground for all manner of occasions: parties and Read more...

Crestani Parents Object to DropKicks

Posted 7:24pm Thursday 12th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud

The opening of new venue DropKicks has been a sticky subject after two community groups opposed Loboski Venues Ltd.’s liquor licence application. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) are one. Critic Te Ārohi can now reveal that the other group are Bede and Elspeth Crestani, the Read more...

Study: Drinking While Pinging Can Spoil Your High

Posted 5:12pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Monica Holopainen

​​A new study published by researchers at the University of Otago on New Zealand’s MDMA usage has sparked a wider conversation about the problematic outcomes of the drug when used with alcohol. Turns out, slurping a can after snorting a line (MDMA, ‘molly’) may actually Read more...

Immersive Moriori Exhibition Opening at Tūhura

Posted 4:36pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Jodie Evans

A ‘first-of-its-kind’ exhibition showcasing Moriori culture is coming to Tūhura Otago Museum. Hou Rongo – Moriori, Music, Manawa, the result of a partnership between the Hokotehi Moriori Trust and a team of Otago researchers and students, aims to take a multimedia approach to Read more...

DCC Revises Proposed Harbour Terrace Parking Changes

Posted 3:46pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Hanna Varrs

In a welcome turn of events, the Dunedin City Council has revised their proposal for parking changes along Harbour Terrace. The original proposal was to convert 60 unrestricted parking spaces on Harbour Terrace into P240, imposing a time limit on parking. Naturally, local residents (mainly students) Read more...

Bruce Aitken’s Knox Portrait Removed

Posted 3:43pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Nina Brown

A decade after quietly stepping down from his role as Knox College Master, former University of Otago Pro-Chancellor Bruce Aitken is facing sexual offence charges.  The Otago Daily Times broke the news on August 29th after Aitken’s name suppression lapsed nine months after first Read more...

The Link’s New Look

Posted 3:37pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud

If you’ve walked through the Link recently and seen the fresh lick of paint and carpeted floors, you may have wondered what's going on. The artist silently plodding away and the stacked chairs in the corner are all tell-tale signs of a tremendous glow-up which is slowly hitting the floors Read more...

Lawrat: Law Revue Reviewed

Posted 3:33pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Jonathan McCabe

Two shows and 496 tickets later, Law Revue has wrapped for 2024. A high spirited audience kept the humour afloat over the two shows of the annual law student production on August 29-30th. This year’s theme was ‘Lawrat’ – a parody of Sacha Baron Cohen's ‘Borat’ Read more...

Nominations Are Open For 2025 OUSA Exec

Posted 3:27pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud

OUSA is opening its gates on Monday, September 9th (today for diligent readers) calling for nominations for all Exec positions. What does this mean? Basically, anyone who wants to can nominate themselves or a mate to be on the OUSA Exec, the student government around these parts. There are 12 Read more...

Objectors Stall Opening of ‘DropKicks’ Venue

Posted 3:11pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Plans for a new venue, ‘DropKicks,’ above Sal’s (where Dive Bar was) have been hit with a curveball. Two community groups objected to the building’s liquor licence application, meaning their grand opening will have to wait until after a hearing. The hearing has caused a rift Read more...

Free Brekkie Times Extended and Menu Improved

Posted 3:08pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud

For the Free Brekkie diehards out there, today is a blessed day. It has been announced by OUSA Clubs and Societies that, starting from the 9th of September, free brekkie will run from 8am to 10am, collectively adding an extra hour to the service – as well as some cheeky wee additions to the Read more...

Purple Dog Crowned Bring the Noise Winners

Posted 7:13pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Jordan Irvine

The Bring the Noise finals were held at U-Bar on Friday, 16 August. Six bands competed but only one came out on top. The winners were the indie rock band Purple Dog who have seen a surge in popularity this year, playing multiple Pint Nights, featuring in a Critic article (the highest praise) and Read more...

NZ Energy Crisis May Affect Power Bills

Posted 7:12pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

If you’ve been having a nosey at the news (outside Critic, how dare you) in the last few weeks, phrases like “energy crisis” or “tight supply conditions” have been chucked around. The main gist of the issue is that wholesale power prices have risen above retail prices. Read more...

DJ Comp Shows Shift in Electronic Music Scene

Posted 7:10pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Angus Rees

Last week, OUSA hosted its annual Future DJ competition at U-Bar. The comp platformed some of Dunedin's future DJ stars, welcoming electronic music punters and every breatha who loves drum and bass. But with only one of the top three DJs playing DnB, it seems there’s been a shift in the Read more...

Uni “Open to Discussions” for Band Practice Spaces

Posted 6:53pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Jonathan McCabe

The lack of suitable spaces for bands to practise in is an issue that’s garnered increasing attention this year (check out the feature in this year’s Music Issue). In the interest of supporting the local music scene, musos have turned to the Stephens of the University for on-campus Read more...

Uni Accidentally Tells Students to Leave the Lib

Posted 6:45pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Hugh Askerud

The automated “voice of God” in Central Library, normally reserved for kicking out late night studiers at closing time, spoke up at midday on Friday, August 16th. Despite being told to leave by the tinny voice, stubborn students remained steadfast in their seats. Critic respects the Read more...

Glass ‘Spike Trap’ Laid on Dundas

Posted 6:41pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Hanna Varrs

Police are investigating an incident where a ‘spike trap’ of glass was allegedly laid out on Dundas Street close to Studholme at midnight on Saturday, August 17th. Residents living close to the mess said that it appeared like an entire blue bin had been emptied onto the road. Four police Read more...

Summer Festival Lineups Released

Posted 6:38pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Both Rhythm & Vines and Rhythm & Alps released their first lineups to the deflated applause of students last week. In a tough moment for students who bought early-bird tickets, the RnV line up has been critiqued by pretty much every student Critic talked to as being “shit.” For Read more...

Women’s Ice Hockey on the Rise

Posted 4:44pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Adam Stitely

The Dunedin Thunder Women’s Hockey team is taking to the ice in a home game at the Dunedin Ice Stadium against the Auckland Steel this weekend, August 24th and 25th. The team, including five Otago students and coached by SPEX lecturer Michael Sam, currently sit at third on the table. Critic Te Read more...

Queer Rep Quietly Removed From Exec

Posted 4:42pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Nina Brown

There is no longer a Queer Rep on the OUSA Student Executive. The position was added to the 2024 Exec as an ex-officio member from UniQ after a Student General Meeting (SGM) in September last year voted it in. However, following contention over whether this followed “due process”, the Read more...

Student Presidents Unite at National Conference

Posted 4:38pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Hugh Askerud

In the wake of a crumbling New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA), student association presidents have united to create a national president’s council. The decision was made at a national conference between the student leaders on the weekend of July 26th, held at Lincoln Read more...

POLSA Students Beat Lecturers in Debate

Posted 4:33pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Hanna Varrs

In the first iteration of a students versus lecturers POLSA debate, last Monday August 12th a team of “white male law students” (their words) pipped their professors at the post. A keen crowd of peers gathered in the Richardson Building Moot Court to witness the battle over whether or Read more...

Young Writers Fest Coming to Town

Posted 4:30pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Nina Brown

Back for its 10th year, Ōtepoti will be hosting the New Zealand Young Writers Festival on September 13-15th, a (free) three-day festival produced by Dunedin Fringe. This year’s program, which dropped last Wednesday, is packed with a diverse range of panel discussions, workshops and Read more...

New Venue ‘Dropkicks’ Announced

Posted 4:27pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Captain Cook and Dive Bar’s grave is soon to welcome new occupants. The building, which has been up for lease since 2022, will soon be occupied by a venue called ‘Dropkicks’, set to be open this September. Musos and students rejoice, something fucking great just happened. The Read more...

New Venue ‘Dropkicks’ Announced

Posted 7:20pm Monday 12th August 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Captain Cook and Dive Bar’s grave is soon to welcome new occupants. The building, which has been up for lease since 2022, will soon be occupied by a venue called ‘Dropkicks’, set to be open this September. Musos and students rejoice, something fucking great just happened. The Read more...

Problems Reported at Award-Winning Te Rangihīroa College

Posted 11:47pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

Te Rangihīroa College had a rocky start at the beginning of the year, flooding mere 24 hours into its first full-time residents moving in. It has now been alleged to Critic Te Ārohi by multiple sources that the flooding was the first of other issues. The hall, which is the Read more...

Uni Flats Unplugged

Posted 10:58pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Jodie Evans

A number of Uni Flat residents are feeling left in the dark after a series of evening power outages occurred without explanation in the peak of Dunner's winter. In an effort to stay warm, residents went to bed early and “piled on blankets” all the while feeling miffed. However, an Read more...

Med Revue Review

Posted 10:57pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Jonathan McCabe

Medagascar: Med Revue 2024 went off without a hitch. The three night show sold incredibly well and, beating the insular claims, not just to Med students! From August 1st until the 3rd, med students took a few hours break from their rigorous 16-hour-day study schedules to put on one hell of a Read more...