Archive

Campus’ Summer Glow-Up

Posted 8:05pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Jonathan McCabe

The University campus is like your one friend who actually hit the gym this summer and achieved their long-promised summer glow-up. Auahi Ora, Burns lecture theatres, Arana College, and OUSA’s Clubs and Socs are some of the spaces to receive a much-needed cash injection and a fresh lick of Read more...

The Ghosts of Cumby Past

Posted 8:01pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Harry Almey

It all started one fateful O-Week day. At 4:08 am, Cumberland resident Alex sent a message to the college-wide Snapchat which shook the college to its core: “There was a fucking ghost in my room.” Cue Critic. Alex lives on the Classical floor of Cumby. According to him, he woke up Read more...

A Baptism by Spaghetti

Posted 7:52pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Stella Weston

Selwyn College’s latest event does nothing to ease their culty reputation, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. One of their most cherished traditions – the Leith Run – took place on the Saturday morning of O-week, bringing together nervous freshers and hungover exies in Read more...

OUSA Exec: Academic Accessibility

Posted 7:27pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Stella Lynch

Listen up, academic weapons. Whether you’re part of the furniture here at Otago or brand-spanking new to our beautiful university, you should care about the accessibility of your education. That’s right, we’re talking lecture recordings and paid placements. Let’s start Read more...

Knox Panda-Dove Wins ‘Inflatey 180: The Sequel’

Posted 7:24pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Nina Brown

The Zoo was heaving on Saturday, February 22nd, for the famous Inflatey180. The Inflatey180, which is to the Highlanders game what Kendrick Lamar was to the Superbowl, is the half-time entertainment that everyone really went to see. Each hall (except 192 Castle and Carrington) put forward a tribute Read more...

Bouncer by Night, Fake ID Dealer by Day

Posted 7:19pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Molly Smith-Soppet

With the new batch of underage freshers, comes a new batch of fake IDs… supplied by a Dunedin security guard who we’ll call McLovin. Multiple sources have told Critic Te Ārohi that McLovin has been charging first-years fiending for a night out upwards of $150 for IDs that had been Read more...

Amnesty Youth Otago Verbally Attacked for Pro-Palestinian Stance at Otago Clubs Day

Posted 6:59pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Ella Grayson

Content warning: Mentions of sexual and verbal assault  Members of Amnesty Youth Otago (AYO) were verbally attacked at OUSA’s Clubs Day on Thursday, February 20th. The group’s ‘Stop Israel’s Genocide’ banner attracted hateful and threatening comments by members Read more...

Vaping Students Used in Lieu of Smoke Machine for Ori’

Posted 4:24pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Tina Frowns

In lieu of an available smoke machine for Ori’ 2025, OUSA roped in a group of 100 or so students to continually blow vape clouds from either side of the Union Lawn stage. Volunteers (who the Critical Tribune has been assured were fully consenting) were recruited at OUSA’s annual Tent Read more...

Con-Tree-Versy on Union Lawn

Posted 6:38pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Jordan Irvine

The con-tree-versial decision to cut down a Japanese cherry blossom tree on Union Lawn to clear the way for Ori’ 2025 was made in December by OUSA management. But it wasn’t without a fight.  OUSA Secretary Donna Jones ran a tree-saving quest in the lead up to its ultimate demise Read more...

Freshers Say Sport was the Real Winner On the Day

Posted 6:20pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Adam Stitely

The Inter-College Sports Competition kicked off last Tuesday, February 18th, with  thousands of freshers flocking to Logan Park in what might be the University’s only wholesome O-Week event.  With word that Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson (more affectionately known as Daddy Grant) Read more...

Cozzie Livs on the Brain, Says Exec Poll

Posted 6:17pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Nina Brown

The cost of living crisis is at the forefront of the student brain if the OUSA Exec’s Tent City poll is anything to go by. The informal poll asked students what issues were highest on their priority list, with options including housing, a student bar, fresher life, drinking culture, lecture Read more...

Ōtepoti Band ‘IVY’ and Dunedin Youth Orchestra Collab for Epic Gig

Posted 6:15pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Hanna Varrs

Pint Night regulars IVY and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra (DYO) are set to hit the stage at Errick’s venue on Friday, March 28 in a first-of-its-kind collab for the groups. Ticket prices are specifically catered to the student budget – a crisp $10 bucks to peep the classically boosted IVY Read more...

Chlöe Hosts Community-Building Panel to “Save Dunedin”

Posted 6:11pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Nina Brown

Kicking off the year of local body elections, on the evening of Monday 17th the Greens hit the quarter-full St Dave’s lecture theatre with a motivational community-building hammer for their hui to “Save Dunedin”. The event included a panel of four local leaders and emphatic Read more...

Breaking: Someone’s Dad Spotted at ‘Haunted’ Host

Posted 6:10pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Stella Weston

A dad was on Castle Street, and his name is Greg. The self-described “advocate for student life” tagged along with his son Logan to the Gothic-themed ‘Haunted’ night on the Thursday of Flo Week. Critic Te Ārohi got the scoop from the nostalgic construction supervisor in Read more...

BDS-Banned Domino’s Gate Crashes Tent City

Posted 6:06pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Hanna Varrs

Domino’s were relegated to the outskirts of Tent City last week as a consequence of OUSA’s internal pro-Palestine Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) commitment. Denied a tent site, the pizza joint handed out free keychains on the Cumberland Street sidewalk instead. Behind the scenes, Read more...

Uni Council To Raise Fees By 6%

Posted 3:37pm Monday 18th November 2024 by Nina Brown

In a bid to stay financially afloat and prevent further job cuts, the Otago University Council (the bigwigs) have agreed to raise tertiary fees by the maximum amount of 6% for 2025. The motion passed almost unanimously, with one abstention from Madame Prez Keegan Wells, the student rep at the Read more...

Council Proposes Stricter North D Booze Rules

Posted 9:32pm Wednesday 13th November 2024 by Nina Brown

The rules and regulations of drinking in North Dunedin could be set to change under a Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) mandatory review. Proposed changes to the policy could mean earlier closing times for liquor stores, a freeze on more off-licences in North D, and a “yeah, nah” to the iconic Read more...

Inaugural Combined Science Ball a Hit

Posted 7:24pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Phoebe Lea

The Sciences Ball, expected to be a quiet affair, has left pundits gawking after exploding into something so wild that even Law students were taking notes (but when aren’t they?) Around 300 students rocked up to the Otago University Combined Sciences Ball, with students from OMISA, APSA, Read more...

Protestor Arrested in Campus Palestine Protest

Posted 7:16pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Nina Brown

The University of Otago’s stance of “institutional neutrality” on Israel’s actions in Palestine has continued to be fiercely criticised by its staff and students. Last Wednesday, October 9th, the Otago Students for Justice in Palestine (OSJP) held a peaceful campus protest Read more...

Outdoor Clubs Unite Against Orgy Accusations

Posted 7:12pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Following allegations that they’re fronts for orgies, three outdoor Otago clubs have come together to set the record straight. Critic Te Ārohi met with the accused and their chosen champions: OUSSC Prez Peter Barclay, OUTC former treasurer Joel Tebbs, and OUCC Prez Hunter Davidson – Read more...

Dundas Fence Collapse Sparks Feud

Posted 7:09pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Hanna Varrs

In an incident leaving four flats and their landlords at each other’s throats (or at least slightly more passive aggressive than usual), a large fence in a Dundas Street flatting complex of four has collapsed over their driveway. Or perhaps been pulled down? Given some of the flats are owned Read more...

Kayakers Soar Through Campus Amidst Red-Level Rain Warnings

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Staff Writer

Photo Credit: Bryn Dingemans Two weekends ago, East Otago received more than double October's typical rainfall in just 40 hours, making the Water of Leith a kayaker's playground.  A state of emergency was called on Friday, October 4th. Low lying areas were flooded and all main Read more...

Hatchet-Wielding “Council Worker” Trespassed from Flat

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Sam Smith-Soppet

A man has been trespassed by police from a student flat after masquerading as a DCC employee conducting “welfare checks” on Maitland and Stafford Street on Friday, October 4th. The hatchet (axe) he carried made tenants a bit suspect.  Adorned in his Hi-Vis and a lanyard, the man Read more...

Forth St Flat Flames

Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud

A Forth Street flat complex of six went up in flames on Sunday, October 6th. The fire began in a downstairs flat before smoke made its way through the complex. A total of 18 students were affected by the blaze. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the fire has meant six students have been relocated to Read more...

OUSA Peddles Ethel Property to Fund Clubs & Socs’ EQ Strengthening

Posted 6:49pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Nina Brown

OUSA Clubs and Socs, home of the humble $4 lunch and sauna, is booked for earthquake strengthening this summer. Clubs and Socs will be closed during summer, with construction starting after exams finish, hoping to wrap up by O-Week next year. Currently, the building isn’t seismically up to Read more...

Student Arrested in Campus Palestine Protest

Posted 11:46am Thursday 10th October 2024 by Nina Brown

The University of Otago’s stance of “institutional neutrality” on Israel’s actions in Palestine has continued to be fiercely criticised by its staff and students. On Wednesday, October 9th, the Otago Students for Justice in Palestine (OSJP) held a peaceful campus protest that Read more...

Yes, Someone Did Take Their Cat to Central

Posted 7:09pm Sunday 6th October 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

Three million views and 700,000 likes later, Serafina the cat has achieved stardom after rocking up to Central Library (if only it were that easy). A TikTok of the cat hiding in a handbag in Central Library was posted online, and has blown up with numbers Dunedin’s microinfluencer community Read more...

‘What I Was Wearing’ Exhibit Shatters Stigma & Empowers Survivors

Posted 8:11am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Jodie Evans

Student-led sexual harm prevention society, Thursdays in Black, broke down some damaging stereotypes in their powerful ‘What I Was Wearing’ exhibit on Thursday, September 26th. From 10am to 5pm in Union Hall, visitors were invited to read the stories of survivors of sexual harm, Read more...

Selwyn Gastro “Miraculously” Cured 72 Hours Before Ball

Posted 8:07am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Selwyn College has found itself on the other side of a gastro epidemic after approximately 10-40 students contracted the virus over a two week period.  The gastro outbreak got so bad that, according to residents, “you would hear people in the bathroom just chunnying their guts Read more...

Critic Trawls Through Exec’s Third Quarter Reports

Posted 8:05am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Think the OUSA Exec is boring? By the time you read their quarterly reports you’ll probably be thinking, “Yep, it is.” Thankfully, you don’t have to! Instead, read these summaries for all you need to know about the great political machine that keeps the uni experience ticking Read more...

Landlords Sign Flats Under Current Tenants’ Noses

Posted 7:56am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Monica Holopainen

As flat-hunting season draws to a close, multiple reports have emerged of landlords signing their flats to new groups of students without the consent of current tenants. Continuing a sad trend of illegality, the repeated events have forced students who relied on keeping their flats for the new year Read more...

Golf Breathas Raise $5k for Men’s Mental Health

Posted 7:45am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Staff Writer

Six breathas have done some good in the world, raising $5,200 for charity by playing golf. The boys played 72 holes in one day (four full rounds of golf) for ‘Lads Without Labels’, a not-for-profit charity group aimed at improving the state of men’s mental health in New Zealand. Read more...

OUSA Exec Election Results Are In

Posted 7:43am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Democracy has triumphed after a gruelling OUSA Exec election period which saw many candidates lose and many candidates win. Voting closed at 4pm last Thursday. To the usual crowd of current OUSA Exec, nominees, and a handful of Critic staff, returning officer Abby Bowman read out the results – Read more...

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...