Archive

Campus Cop Believes Non-students Involved In Flat Fire

Posted 10:54am Sunday 6th March 2016 by Critic

Dunedin Police are investigating the couch fire that saw a house on Castle Street come alight in Orientation Week. Campus Cop John Woodhouse says the investigation is ongoing. However, he believes it is likely that non-students were involved. Mr Woodhouse said that while couch fires are Read more...

Four Months Enough For Proctor

Posted 10:48am Sunday 6th March 2016 by Joe Higham

The Proctor of Otago University, Dave Miller, has resigned from the position. He has accepted a job offer from the justice sector, which is where he was employed prior to becoming Proctor just four months ago.  Miller took over from Simon Thompson in late October, who had been Proctor for 15 Read more...

Minimum Wage Increases Fail To Inspire

Posted 10:44am Sunday 6th March 2016 by Joe Higham

The government has announced that the minimum wage will increase 50c from April 1, taking it from $14.75 to $15.25.  Having risen every year since 2009, when it was just $12.50 an hour, the minimum wage still remains far below what some people have been campaigning for. The Living Wage Read more...

CC ’fucking’ TV

Posted 10:36am Sunday 6th March 2016 by Henry Napier

The University of Otago has confirmed their intention to install CCTV cameras throughout a number of student populated streets in Dunedin, with the aim being to keep Otago University students safer. The specific areas intended for the CCTV surveillance are still being finalised, however proposed Read more...

Execrable | Issue 2

Posted 10:33am Sunday 6th March 2016 by Henry Napier

The OUSA executive kicked off the year funding a student political radio show on Otago Access Radio, despite students already having access to broadcast through Radio One. The executive voted last Monday to support the show hosted by Tyler West to be held on Otago Access Radio. The show would be Read more...

2016 New Zealand Teams Preview

Posted 11:39am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Critic

Blues Luckily for the Blues in 2016 the only possible way to go is up. The franchise had a 2015 to forget, winning only three of their matches, losing their first nine and dealing with a raft of off field challenges, ending with the resignation of coach Sir John Kirwan. Players to Watch: Akira Read more...

Kiwis In Australia On New Citizenship Pathway

Posted 11:30am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Hugh Baird

Talks last week between John Key and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have made it easier for Kiwis living in Australia to seek Australian citizenship.  Prime Minister Turnbull announced the changes recently in a joint press conference during John Key’s trip to Sydney to meet Read more...

Nothing John Key Says This Year Will Matter

Posted 11:28am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Joel MacManus

I'm going to start this column off with a prediction for 2016. It’s not a very bold prediction. In fact it’s pretty much as safe as you can get in the unpredictable world of politics: At some point this year, John Key is going to say something really dumb and/or offensive. It Read more...

Cyclone Winston: Government Sends $2m In Aid

Posted 11:21am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Henry Napier

The New Zealand Government has sent $2 million in aid relief to Fiji following the destruction caused by a recent tropical cyclone dubbed “Cyclone Winston”. So far Cyclone Winston has killed 42 people, according to latest reports from the BBC, with fears for remote areas and islands yet Read more...

Plans For Ceasefire In Syria

Posted 11:18am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Hugh Baird

The United States and Russia have reached a new ceasefire agreement in Syria, set to take effect on Saturday despite questions still remaining over how the truce will be enforced and the response to any violations. Under the terms of the agreement both the Syrian Army and the Syrian Armed Read more...

Trump Keeps On Winning

Posted 11:15am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Joe Higham

Donald Trump’s political juggernaut continues at full pace after claiming two emphatic victories in the winner-takes-all South Carolina primary, claiming 32.5 percent of the vote, and then in his business home of Nevada, he left the rest of the republican candidates floundering behind him, Read more...

Students Bunk, More Room For So Many Activities

Posted 11:07am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Hugh Baird

Victoria University has informed over one hundred first year students, just days out from their arrival that they will have the pleasure of sharing a bunk bed this upcoming year.  Students from Katharine Jermyn Hall, Te Puni and Weir House have all been notified that as compensation for Read more...

Christchurch Remembers Five Years On

Posted 11:04am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Joe Higham

Monday 22 February marked the fifth anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake that killed 185 people. Along with the human cost, the quake caused approximately $30 billion of damage to the city and surrounding areas, according to the New Zealand Treasury, and ended up as the second worst Read more...

Students Not All To Blame

Posted 10:59am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Joe Higham

Police have arrested 13 people during O Week in Dunedin after some parties got too wild.  Several large parties were shut down due to lighting couches on fire and bottles being thrown. Four people were arrested at a party attended by 150 people where four couches had been set Read more...

Forsyth Barr Stadium Picks Up Its Game

Posted 10:55am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Henry Napier

The parent company of Forsyth Barr Stadium has posted a $1 million profit despite forecasting significantly smaller earnings for the last financial quarter. The company, Dunedin Venues Management Limited (DVML), manages a number of Dunedin City Council owned venues including the Dunedin Centre, Read more...

OUSA Delegates Head To Capitol

Posted 10:50am Sunday 28th February 2016 by Joe Higham

OUSA Welfare Officer, Bryn Jenkins, and Campaigns Officer, Sean Gamble presented an oral submission to the Social Services Select Committee in Parliament on behalf of OUSA on February 17. The submission was in relation to amendments to the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill. The submission Bryn Read more...

Anonymous Threats at Vic and Otago

Posted 1:23pm Wednesday 7th October 2015 by Josie Cochrane

At the University of Otago, class attendance is down by at least 50 percent today, following a gun-related threat. Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) "absolutely support" the university's decision to remain open. OUSA CEO Debbie Downs says, “If you close today, Read more...

Anonymous Threat: Campus Will Remain Open

Posted 7:21pm Tuesday 6th October 2015 by Josie Cochrane

The University of Otago will remain open tomorrow as police investigate an anonymous gun threat made towards the Dunedin campus.  The original post was made on Monday 5 October 2015 via social media site 4chan, an online bulletin board where users can anonymously post comments and Read more...

Anonymous Threat: Campus Will Remain Open

Posted 7:14pm Tuesday 6th October 2015 by Josie Cochrane

The University of Otago will remain open tomorrow as police investigate an anonymous gun threat made towards the Dunedin campus.  The original post was made on the evening of Monday 5 October 2015 via social media site 4chan, an online board where users can anonymously post comments and Read more...

Otago Looking for Strong Finish to ITM Cup

Posted 1:16pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Most of the rugby-watching world is understandably fixated on the World Cup, but the real engine of New Zealand rugby, the ITM Cup, is still grinding away in front of mostly empty stadiums. The provincial competition now appears to be a second-tier competition,  but has been the backbone of the Read more...

Olympic and WC Stadium Problems Hit Tokyo

Posted 1:13pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The 2015 Rugby World Cup is well underway in England and is running smoothly (just maybe not for England on the field) with record-breaking attendance that is making the most of England’s tried and trusted network of world-class sporting venues and transport infrastructure. While World Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 26

Posted 1:05pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Dusseldorf, Germany Police say a woman who disappeared in 1984, sparking a murder hunt, has been found alive and well in Dusseldorf. Petra Pazsitka, then 24, was declared dead five years after she went missing from her student accommodation. When police investigating a robbery came Read more...

Interview: James Shaw

Posted 12:39pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by Henry Napier

Back in May, James Shaw was travelling around the country on the Green Party regional tour for the co-leaders election. Critic was able to talk to him about his bid to co-lead the party. Shaw went on to win the co-leadership. Last week, we got to sit down with him again and hear what Read more...

Year in Review

Posted 12:36pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by Henry Napier

It's come to the end of Critic's 2015 year. Therefore, it seems appropriate to look back on what has happened in politics over the last nine or so months. Party Performances The National Party: 7/10 National started the year in strides following a ground-breaking victory Read more...

Flowing Water Discovered on Mars

Posted 12:27pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

NAS has announced that new findings from their Reconnaissance Orbiter provide strong evidence that water flows intermittently on Mars. The findings come just after long dark streaks on cliffs and crater walls were spotted on the red planet. According to a NASA media release, the findings show Read more...

Hajj Crush Kills Hundreds

Posted 12:25pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by Jessica Thompson

On Thursday 24 September 769 people were crushed to death in the Muslim Holy City in Mecca. Each year, the Hajj brings millions of people to Islam’s holiest sites.  The incident occurred during the final days of the Hajj when two large groups of pilgrims converged on a narrow road. 863 Read more...

Missing Mexican Students Spur Protests

Posted 12:23pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by George Elliott

Thousands of people marched through Mexico City on 26 September to mark the one-year anniversary of 43 students disappearing in the southern state of Guerrero.  The anniversary sparked widespread outrage at government corruption and fuelled opposition to an already unpopular Read more...

2015 in Brief

Posted 12:01pm Sunday 4th October 2015 by Laura Munro

US Supreme Court Legalises Gay Marriage On 26 June, the US Supreme Court legalised the marriage of same-sex couples in all 50 states. After the decision was announced, the White House was illuminated in rainbow colours. An open supporter of gay marriage, President Obama said: “If Read more...

SDHB Injected With $7 Million

Posted 11:58am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Bridie Boyd

The government has announced it will be giving the cash-strapped Southern District Health Board $7 million to help pay its outstanding bills. However, Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman confirmed in a statement that no more money would be given to the board until it has confirmed its deficit for Read more...

Drunks Stopped with Barbed Wire

Posted 11:55am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

The University of Canterbury has been forced to use barbed razor wire to deter students attempting to climb on construction cranes on campus. A university spokesperson said students gained unauthorised access to construction sites in three incidents, two of which occurred after the barbed wire Read more...

RAs Worse Off after Pay Changes

Posted 11:52am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Joe Higham

Residential assistants (RAs) say they have been left worse off after the University of Otago changed its payment system at the beginning of 2015. Although the change has increased RAs’ initial pay, the accommodation supplement has been scrapped, meaning they have less in their pockets Read more...

Anti-TPPA Protest Draws Small Crowd

Posted 11:48am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Bridie Boyd

The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) was the subject of another student protest last week, this time taking place on the Union Lawn. The protest was the largest University of Otago activist event in 2015, attracting around 100 people. The protest, organised by leader of the Otago Read more...

Vic Students Vote to Stay in NZUSA

Posted 11:39am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Laura Munro

Victoria University students voted to stay in the New Zealand Union of Student Associations (NZUSA) in a referendum held on 24 September. Students were asked whether the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Assoication should withdraw or retain its membership of NZUSA, with 72 Read more...

Harris In The House

Posted 11:05am Sunday 4th October 2015 by Staff Reporter

Over the 10-day voting period, which ended last week, 4311 Otago students cast their votes for the 2016 OUSA Executive. Although only 21 percent of the student population voted in the election, voter turnout was up by over 1000 from 2014, after a clear increase in on-campus campaigning. The Read more...

All Blacks Shake Off Rusty Start against Pumas

Posted 12:19pm Sunday 27th September 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The All Blacks certainly looked the part in their new high-tech carbon-woven jerseys, which are the “blackest All Blacks jersey ever”, according to makers Adidas.   Ex-England captain Matt Dawson put out a parody video called the “Hakarena”, inspired by the catchy 90s Read more...

South Africa Defeated By Japan: Blame the Seagulls

Posted 12:17pm Sunday 27th September 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The Japanese team really lived up to its nickname when a gutsy performance saw them pull off a last-minute 34–32 victory over two-time World Cup winners, South Africa. Don’t think the game was just handed to Japan though; they worked their red and white socks off — especially Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 25

Posted 11:57am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Frankfurt, Germany  Construction work has unearthed the skeletons of 200 French soldiers from the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. The soldiers are believed to be from Napoleon’s Grand Army retreating from Russia in 1813. They probably died from battle wounds or typhus. More Read more...

In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 25

Posted 11:52am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Henry Napier

Last week the prime minister was asked the same question a record seven times, six times with exactly the same wording. Key was forced to masterfully deflect the long-time opposition favourite: Does he stand by all his statements? However, this time the old Trojan-horse question was accompanied by Read more...

Red Peak Climbs into the Mix

Posted 11:49am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Henry Napier

Prime Minister John Key has confirmed that the Red Peak flag design will be included in the first referendum, scheduled for November.  Last week the Green Party submitted a bill under urgency to parliament, seeking to amend the selection process to allow for five flags rather than Read more...

Greek Prime Minister Takes Out Second Elections

Posted 11:46am Sunday 27th September 2015 by George Elliott

Alexis Tsipras and his left-wing anti-austerity party Syriza have won their second election in less than nine months. The snap elections were called earlier this year after Tsipras resigned in late August amid the Greek financial crisis. Tsipras said shortly after his resignation that he felt his Read more...

13 Killed in Chile Earthquake

Posted 11:44am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Thirteen people were killed in Chile after an 8.3 earthquake struck the nation on 16 September. A tsunami followed shortly afterward. The earthquake occurred offshore from Illapel, Chile, just before 8pm. The earthquake’s epicentre was 143 kilometres north-north-west of the city of Read more...

Pentagon Programme Deemed a Failure

Posted 11:42am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

Around 75 fighters trained by American, British and Turkish military forces have entered Syria, a monitoring group has claimed. The trained fighters crossed over from Turkey on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September. They are now north of the Syrian city of Aleppo. The fighters were trained and Read more...

Cake, Coffee and Chemistry

Posted 11:38am Sunday 27th September 2015 by India Leishman

A new chemistry-themed café, The Lab, has opened in the university’s Centre for Innovation. The café replaces the Fix café, which closed last July. Kate Cooper, the manager of the Staff Club, said the Centre for Innovation approached her about the potential for a Read more...

DCC to Buy New Lightbulbs

Posted 11:36am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Emily Duncan

The DCC has announced a new draft energy plan that will showcase Dunedin’s night sky as a tourist attraction.  The initiative aims to replace all of Dunedin’s outdoor lighting with LED technology in order to reduce light pollution, giving a clearer view of the stars and the night Read more...

All the Awards at Blues and Golds

Posted 11:33am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Laura Munro

Student achievements in sports and culture were celebrated at the OUSA Blues and Golds awards last Thursday. The Blues award for Sportsman of the Year went to Fa’asiu Fuatai, who has been selected for the All Blacks’ 7s squad after playing in the University of Otago Premier team. The Read more...

OUSA Executive Forums

Posted 11:06am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Presidential Candidates Payal Ramritu Payal went for an unusual tactic during the debate, claiming she doesn’t need to run “any bullshit campaign … I’m already doing the work, making things happen right now.” The MC, and current OUSA acting president Isaac Read more...

2016 Presidential Candidates

Posted 10:57am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Laura Munro

Payal Ramritu P ayal passionately discussed her neighbourhood project. Critic asked Payal to point out the biggest weakness of each of her fellow candidates, considering she has worked on the executive with all three. She felt Laura could be “intimidating”, Nina was Read more...

Ex-Cop Announced as New Otago Proctor

Posted 10:47am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Joe Higham

Ministry of Justice official and former police officer Dave Miller has been announced as the university’s new proctor. Miller is to replace Simon Thompson, who held the position for 15 years and retired on 25 September. Miller will begin his tenure on 28 October. Miller, who is finishing Read more...

Execrable | Issue 25

Posted 10:44am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Laura Munro

An emergency executive meeting was held last Wednesday, three days after voting for the 2016 executive opened. Admin Vice President Isaac Yu ran the meeting because the current president, who is running for re-election next year, was “out campaigning”. The finance officer, who is also Read more...

Vigil for Pigs Shot at Otago

Posted 10:40am Sunday 27th September 2015 by Laura Munro

Animal rights activists held a silent vigil at Dunedin’s vivisection laboratory last week after learning live pigs were shot in the head during back-spatter experiments.  Back-spatter is the term given to blood and tissue that issues from the entry wound caused by a bullet and moves Read more...