Archive
Gareth Hughes, beer pong, and how to target students
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Carys Goodwin
On Friday 1 August, Green Party MP Gareth Hughes made his way down to Dunedin to have what was the inaugural “Flat Warming,” a youth campaign strategy designed to bring policies to the students, not confine them to stuffy lecture theatres and awkward South Dunedin forums. The idea is to break the Read more...
Sarcastically celebrating a super season of super rugby
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Daniel Lormans
This week the Super rugby desk signs off for 2014 with a lighthearted look at how our five New Zealand teams fared over the season. We have given them a grade based on the merits of their players and performances. Disclaimer - this article contains a heavy dose of irreverent southern bias while also Read more...
New regulation sees five-year learner license limit
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Laura Munro
A new law will see a limit imposed on the length of time individuals can hold learner and restricted licences in New Zealand. The new regulation, announced on Wednesday, will be enforced from 1 December this year. Individuals who do not move onto the next stage of the Graduated Driver Licensing Read more...
OUSA gets diverse with bondage and poetry
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Josie Cochrane
OUSA Diversity Week is to be held this week from 11–15 August. Queer Support and UniQ have organised the week and, according to OUSA Welfare Officer Payal Ramritu, “have worked so hard. I have no doubts the week will be amazing!” Every day there will be events held. On Monday at 12pm, Read more...
Otago staff involved in penguin protection study
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Laura Munro
Researchers from the University of Otago are co-authoring a study related to the endangerment of penguin species around the world. The study suggests that due to the degradation of their habitat, caused by humans, the fate of the birds is at severe risk. Philip Seddon and Lloyd Davis are Read more...
Poppa's promises nothing else but new things
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Bella Macdonald
The official handover of Scarfie icon Poppa’s Pizza took place on Monday 4 August. The new General Manager, Chiv Hamjra, promises, “it’s just a change of owners, nothing else,” despite plans to introduce “new things.” Considering Hamjra’s four-and-a-half-year stint at Pizza Huts around Read more...
Physio Pool asks for community help to remain open
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Anna Whyte
The Southern District Health Board has made an appeal to work with the Otago Therapeutic Pool Trust, the Dunedin City Council and the community in an effort to save the Dunedin Physiotherapy Pool. A meeting held on Thursday 7 August saw the board outline the issues with the pool, which have Read more...
Proctology | Issue 19
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Josie Cochrane
The Proctor described the streets of North Dunedin as “pretty quiet” lately but had a few stories to fill us in on with regard to campus shenanigans. Updating us on last week’s top story, the Proctor informed Critic that one of the “flashers,” reported in the last Proctology, has been caught. Read more...
Toroa's excess spending "much needed" say students
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Anna Whyte
Toroa College's upgrade and expansion has gone over budget by more than $580,000 due to an error in the estimated cost. $1.781 million was spent on Toroa's development between January and May, compared to its budget of $1.2 million. The upgrade and expansion was put towards the construction of 20 Read more...
Greens bribe student vote with free travel
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Nina Harrap
In a statement released on 5 August, the Green Party have vowed to provide free off-peak public transport to all students, through the introduction of a new “Green Card.” Under the policy, all students attending universities, polytechnics, wānanga, Private Training Establishments and those Read more...
Otago's climate researchers get deeper pockets
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Steph Taylor
The University of Otago is a key partner for the second time in one of Government’s multi-million dollar National Science Challenges. The Deep South Challenge is the second challenge to have funding confirmed, with up to $88.1 million available over the next 10 years, inclusive of Crown Research Read more...
Geography students fundraise for Sierra Leone
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Laura Munro
A group of University of Otago Geography students, currently studying GEOG102, will spend the rest of their 2014 study year fundraising for a school in Sierra Leone. The project is set in Kayima, a community in the far northeast of Sierra Leone. The overall aim of the fundraiser is to add a new Read more...
Gender-neutral bathrooms better suit queer students
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Emily Draper
The installation of gender-neutral bathrooms around campus may be on the cards for the University, after a recent study by OUSA. Of the 1,357 students who participated in OUSA’s study, 43 students reported feeling uncomfortable using the current gender segregated facilities. In a recent Read more...
Planetarium being considered for Otago Museum
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Bella Macdonald
Otago Museum is planning to introduce a planetarium as part of the $3.5 million long-term upgrade to the establishment. The Planetarium, if approved by the Museum’s board, will showcase the southern skies in a large, state of the art, indoor dome that would have the ability to project 2D and Read more...
The law proves an obstacle for liquor bans
Posted 9:16pm Sunday 10th August 2014 by Laura Munro
A revision of the 2002 Local Government Amendment Act will make it harder to introduce liquor bans in New Zealand cities. According to The Department of Internal Affairs website, the update, which was first announced in March 2012, aims to create “a more productive, competitive economy, and better Read more...
ACT candidate for Dunedin North resigns
Posted 11:03pm Tuesday 5th August 2014 by Carys Goodwin
ACT Party Board member and Dunedin North candidate Guy McCallum has officially resigned and withdrawn his candidacy as the result of “the development of a race relations policy” that “blindsided” him. This resignation, effective Tuesday 5 August, comes in the wake of ACT leader Jamie Whyte’s shock Read more...
What would it cost them now?
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Carys Goodwin
In an article by Spook Magazine, Ellena Savage figured out exactly how much an education would cost for Australian Cabinet Ministers should their degrees have been undertaken today. It was written amongst the discourse about how Tony Abbott intends to deregulate university fees, a frightening act of Read more...
Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 18
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Greatest HitAnother week brings us another hilarious parody website. This one is making fun of Colin Craig; by going to colincraig.co.nz you’re treated to a number of fake press releases, like: “Perhaps choosing the Conservative Party as a name was a bad choice, as we are constantly mistaken to be Read more...
Politweets | Issue 18
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Reporter Laura McQuillan provides evidence for the Greatest Shit. National MP inadvertently used the Greens’ hashtag #LoveNZ. More than once. Awkward. As you do. Thanks, fake Gerry. Read more...
Critic tackles election year | Issue 18
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Disability rights are not often talked about at university. Given that almost one in four New Zealanders are disabled in some way, it is definitely a topic that should make more waves at Otago. I spoke to Mojo Mathers of the Green Party, who is the first profoundly deaf New Zealand MP, and Chris Read more...
Gentlemen, start your conspiracy theory engines ...
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Daniel Lormans
This week’s report comes from the motorsports desk, with the Formula One season having just reached its halfway point allowing a well-deserved break for the drivers and their crews. Mercedes are the on-form team of the season so far, having won nine of the eleven races, and with their drivers Nico Read more...
Clean sweep for Otago rowers
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Emily Draper
The University of Otago Women’s Senior Rowing Eight have much to celebrate following the International Universities Regatta in China, winning all three regattas of the series. “The wins here in China are huge for this crew and Otago University Rowing,” says Otago University Rowing Club Read more...
Medicine and dentistry learning tool wins CALT Award
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Anna Whyte
A University of Otago medicine and dentistry online learning tool has won the Committee for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching (CALT) Award for Enhancing Teaching and Learning with Technology. Dr Steve Gallagher of psychological medicine won first prize through the establishment of an Read more...
North D. unhappy with “look and feel” Of South D.
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Anna Whyte
In the Dunedin City Council’s 2014 Residents’ Opinion Survey, 58 per cent of those who responded were satisfied or very satisfied with the DCC’s progress. Approximately 2,000 Dunedin residents completed the survey from 4,500 randomly selected individuals off the electoral roll. Increases in Read more...
Cars for the taking for everyone for anywhere
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Laura Munro
Shyft, a new carshare initiative, will soon be making its way to Dunedin. Kate Beecroft of Shyft told Critic, “We’re looking to have the Wellington operation up and running in September. We’ll concentrate on proving the concept here and then we’ll be looking for interested parties to help us expand Read more...
$45,000 prize for innovative business idea
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Laura Munro
The ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition is looking for an original business idea, and the supreme winner will be set up with $45,000 worth of prizes to get the winner’s idea off the ground. Existing small businesses are eligible to enter so long as the idea is innovative and able to sustain Read more...
Invisibility cloak: magic is still cooler than maths
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Emily Draper
Dr Robert Thompson from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics may not look like a magician, but his research on the concept of invisibility “cloaking” sounds like something straight out of Hogwarts. The postdoctoral research fellow, who began his research at the University of Otago in Read more...
OUSA opens new role – Projects Officer
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Laura Munro
After a month of planning, OUSA have advertised for the new role of Projects Officer. The role is available to students, as well as the general public. OUSA President Ruby Sycamore-Smith said, “It is a role for someone who wants to be a key logistics coordinator in the OUSA election drive.” Read more...
Dunedin Craft Beer Fest First Brewery Announcement
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Josie Cochrane
In the early stages of its second year, the Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival is already set to have more breweries signed up than last year. In its latest media release, the event promises to be “bigger and better than anything Dunedin has seen before.” “We’re absolutely stoked to have Read more...
Execrable | Issue 18
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Josie Cochrane
Former Finance Officer Nick Tenci handed over his report for the second quarter at last week’s OUSA Executive meeting. He made the report “mostly as a handover document” because, he justified, “it took a while to find my feet in the role and I’d hate Paul to go through the same thing.” The recently Read more...
Stolen design by Scarfie favourites
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 3rd August 2014 by Nina Harrap
Critic has discovered that the “original artwork” designed for the Starters Bar O-Week tee-shirts by local company Moodie Tuesday is actually the work of well-known American freelance artist Curtis Jinkins. The design, which portrays a Mexican-inspired skull motif and bears the words “Starters Bar” Read more...
World War One Centenary 2014 – 2018
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane
The 28th of July marks the beginning of the First World War Centenary, which will last until 2018. $17 million in lottery funding has been allocated by the Lottery Grants Board to commemorate next year’s centenary of ANZAC landings at Gallipoli. The University plans to mark the 100 years since WWI Read more...
Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 17
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Greatest Hit This week’s Greatest Hit is an easy one. Just hop onto labour08.co.nz, refresh a few times, and you’ll see why. Perhaps campaign-year-specific websites aren’t the best idea if you’re not going to maintain them. Greatest Shit Normally I stick to New Zealand politics Read more...
Politweets | Issue 17
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
We love you too? The novelty account of #TeamKey A few MPs got into this hashtag. It’s just common sense. Ba-dum-tish. Read more...
Critic tackles election year | Issue 17
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
This week’s interview was much more successful than Te Ururoa’s. I spoke to David Seymour, the ACT candidate for Epsom, about everything from student loans to shades of yellow. The most notable discussion topic? His fascination with NZ First MP Tracey Martin, about whom he regaled me with stories Read more...
Where did all the Newcastle supporters come from?
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Daniel Lormans
To the “it’s not soccer, it’s football” desk and there are reports of a bumper day for Dunedin black and white face paint retailers as the “Football United” tour kicked off in Dunedin last Tuesday with English Premier League side Newcastle United taking on Australian also-rans, Sydney F.C. Read more...
Otago global exchange week
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Critic
This week, 28 August – 1 September, is the University of Otago’s Global Exchange Week. Amongst other events, the week will feature seminars on exchange destinations and information on the finer details, such as funding and accommodation, and meet-and-greets with returned exchange students. A full Read more...
$12 Shuttle beats 30km hitch-hike
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Anna Whyte
OUSA and Airport Shuttles Dunedin’s student service has proven very successful this year. OUSA has seen over 4,500 students taking advantage of the cheaper fares between January and June 2014. OUSA President Ruby Sycamore-Smith said, “We’re astounded by the success of the shuttles and we’re rapt Read more...
Proctology | Issue 17
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane
After a long break since our last catch-up with the Proctor, he had plenty to fill Critic in on. He even forgot to mention that students should try to pull red cards without the alcohol. There have been reports of boys flashing their “gear” in the library “and waving it about.” The Proctor Read more...
Bank of England slams economics textbooks
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Laura Munro
A recent Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin claims that the information written in widely used economics textbooks is incorrect. The false information in question teaches the Credit Creation Model, which explains how money is created. This method is taught at the University of Otago in BSNS104, The Read more...
Physio pool patrons probably pissed
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Nina Harrap
Dunedin’s only physiotherapy pool is facing closure and dismayed pool users are vowing to fight the decision. The Southern District Health Board currently maintains the Otago Therapeutic Pool, which was built in 1946 and listed as a category-two heritage building. However, the board have recently Read more...
OUSA Art Week to happen
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Laura Munro
OUSA’s annual Art Week is set to commence on 28 July, running through until 1 August. Rachel Enright, OUSA’s Senior Events Coordinator, told Critic, “All events are open to the public, [and] we especially encourage the public to come along to the Exhibition and Sale as well as getting involved with Read more...
Apathetic student voters just don't give a fuck
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Voter enrolment statistics as at 20 July 2014 reveal that Dunedin North is one of the worst electorates in terms of 18-24-year-old voter enrolments. With just 51.35 per cent of the young population enrolled, Dunedin North is only better than the 35.47 per cent of Auckland Central. National enrolment Read more...
Government chomps dentistry school funding
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Emily Draper
The Government has refused to assist the University of Otago with its $650 million building programme. The University will now have to fund the entirety of the proposed renovations itself, including an extension of the dental school programme. Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce told the Read more...
“Official Spokesbird for Conservation” will be famous
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Nina Harrap
A documentary about New Zealand’s “Official Spokesbird for Conservation” has been selected as one of three finalists in the Newcomer section of WildScreen, one of the world’s most prestigious wildlife and environmental film festivals. The film, From Dud to Stud, was directed by Otago film graduate Read more...
Applied Sciences locks out students
Posted 10:15pm Sunday 27th July 2014 by Laura Munro
The University of Otago’s Department of Applied Sciences has received backlash from undergraduate design students because of a new rule denying student access to facilities after 5pm. The rule applies to use of the Applied Sciences stone building, which is currently shared with the Department of Read more...
Contraception: The Intra Uterine Device
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Laura Munro
Women have a lot of options when it comes to contraception. Although condoms should be used for STI prevention, women have several other options in terms of extra contraception to avoid pregnancies. The options include the pill, the injection, the implant and the Intra Uterine Device. Critic Read more...
Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 16
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Greatest HitsRecently Back Benches featured a number of youths. Hailing from Labour, National, Greens, NZ First, and ACT, these youths had a go at hashing out a few pressing issues. They also had a go at each other. This week’s Greatest Hit goes to an amazing call from ACT’s Louis Houlbrooke, who, Read more...
Politweets | Issue 16
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Fake Russel explains the new Green policy. There’s a parody account for everything these days, including POLS102. Read more...
Critic tackles election year | Issue 16
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Since taking on the job of Critic’s Official Politics Nerd, I’ve been able to chat to a number of politicians. Normally, this results in a combination of great discussion and inappropriate questions (and answers). The opportunity to interview MPs and the like is not often awarded to students, and I Read more...
Previous Results 