Archive
From “Fuck! I Can’t Cook” To “Fuck! I’m a Cook!”
Posted 3:40pm Sunday 17th July 2022 by Denzel Chung
Former Otago student Alice Taylor’s MasterChef run came to an end last week with a solid third-place finish. This isn’t the end of the culinary road for her, though, with judge Michael Dearth offering her a new job at his Italian restaurant Baduzzi. Alice sat down with Critic Te Arohi to Read more...
Leith Surges, Paddlers Rejoice
Posted 3:37pm Sunday 17th July 2022 by Denzel Chung and Keegan Wells
The nationwide storm last week saw the Leith rise to 70 times its normal flow. Local legends from the Otago University Canoe Club (OUCC) were all over it, tackling what they estimated was about a Grade 4 rapid. While the Leith normally cruises along at around 0.8-1 cubic metres of water per Read more...
Aotearoa Continues Imports of “Blood Phosphate”
Posted 3:32pm Sunday 17th July 2022 by Zak Rudin
A group of around 15 activists gathered outside Ravensdown’s fertiliser factory at Ravensbourne last Tuesday, for a “morning of mourning” over a “shipload of shame”. On a cold, dark and wet morning, the black-clad protesters were opposing the “unwelcome” Read more...
Ireland Screws All Blacks, Unscrews Lightbulbs
Posted 2:29pm Sunday 17th July 2022 by Fox Meyer
After handing the All Blacks their first-ever Dunedin defeat on Saturday 9 July, the Irish national rugby team parked up at Vault 21. And evidently, they weren’t too keen on leaving. Chris Dickie, a bartender at Vault, said that as closing time grew near that night, staff at the bar started Read more...
Everyone’s Favourite $4 Lunch Lady Begins A “New Incarnation”
Posted 2:27pm Sunday 17th July 2022 by Denzel Chung
Jane “J-Ma” Beecroft, long-known as the $4 lunch lady, is beginning a “new incarnation” on campus. She’s hoping her new “chat room,” which she calls “Life, the Universe and Everything”, will help provide a space where students can feel Read more...
Ireland Screws All Blacks, Unscrews Lightbulbs
Posted 1:14pm Wednesday 13th July 2022 by Fox Meyer
After handing the All Blacks their first-ever Dunedin defeat on Saturday 9 July, the Irish national rugby team parked up at Vault 21. And evidently, they weren’t too keen on leaving. Chris Dickie, a bartender at Vault, said that as closing time grew near that night, staff at the Read more...
SCANDAL! Man Opens Door!
Posted 1:59am Saturday 9th July 2022 by Denzel Chung
An Edinburgh Realty tenant was left feeling “infuriated” after a tradie unlocked her bedroom door to complete some repairs while she was asleep. Marie* rents in the Station Apartments complex, a set of 5 studio apartments on Anzac Avenue managed by Edinburgh Realty. At first Read more...
GARBAGE! EnviroWaste Red Bins GONEBURGER In Dunedin!
Posted 1:57am Saturday 9th July 2022 by Denzel Chung
At least one provider of Dunedin’s red bins, EnviroWaste, have pulled the plug on signing up new customers. Fears of an impending bin monopoly have been dismissed by EnviroWaste, who said the move is only temporary. A check of the EnviroWaste website using Dunedin addresses shows an Read more...
WOW! Otago Student Chef makes it BIG TIME
Posted 1:55am Saturday 9th July 2022 by Denzel Chung
While most of us were dumping two-minute pasta into a microwave bowl and serving it with a side of James Speight’s finest, an ex-Otago student has been rubbing shoulders with the likes of Nadia Lim on the latest season of MasterChef New Zealand. Critic Te Arohi caught up with Alice Taylor to Read more...
SOUTHLAND: The Next Silicon Valley???
Posted 1:54am Saturday 9th July 2022 by Fox Meyer
A massive, cutting edge carbon-neutral data centre is slated to open in – of all places – Southland. Otago Uni have already signed up to be one of the facility’s major clients. Despite what some Aucklanders may be thinking, there are actually some pretty good reasons for tech Read more...
Otago Lecturer speaks at Anti-Mandate Protest
Posted 1:35am Saturday 9th July 2022 by Elliot Weir and Denzel Chung
At a demonstration against vaccine mandates and Three Waters legislation, an Otago Uni lecturer spoke for five minutes to "educate" the opposing counter-demonstration across the road by reading the Britannica definition of fascism and sharing a stage with a prominent alt-right Read more...
Protest Standoff! Big Anti-Fash Bash TRIUMPHS Over “Freedom and Rights Coalition”
Posted 11:37pm Friday 8th July 2022 by Zak Rudin, Denzel Chung and Elliot Weir
At 12pm on Saturday 2nd July, around 150 anti-fascist counter-protestors faced off against a “Freedom and Rights Coalition” (FRC) protest, led by Destiny Church’s Derek Tait. With the anti-fascists outnumbering the FRC group five to one, Ōtepoti sent them a clear message: Read more...
Heaps of West Coast Land to be Reclassified
Posted 11:29pm Friday 8th July 2022 by Denzel Chung and Fox Meyer
The Department of Conservation (DoC) is set to reclassify 600,000 hectares of protected “stewardship” land on the West Coast – the size of over 3 Rakiura (Stewart Islands). DoC says that this will provide stronger protections for its natural and historic features, but some worry Read more...
DOCO DRAMA! Filmmakers Condemn Israeli Embassy Funding
Posted 11:27pm Friday 8th July 2022 by Denzel Chung
A group of filmmakers participating in the Doc Edge documentary film festival have written an open letter over its acceptance of sponsorship funding from the Israeli Embassy in New Zealand. The Embassy is supporting the screening of the film “Dead Sea Guardians”, an Israeli Read more...
Maths Mayhem!
Posted 11:25pm Friday 8th July 2022 by Nina Brown
Six mathematics alumni and current students have sent an open letter to the University of Otago expressing their concerns over its alleged disregard of the importance of maths education. Critic Te Arohi spoke to Elliot Marshall, a signatory of the letter, about claims that inadequate funding and the Read more...
Guard who Dispensed "Sauce Fines" Apparently Unlicenced
Posted 11:24pm Friday 8th July 2022 by Denzel Chung and Fox Meyer
The security guard who allegedly called a student “stupid” and “selfish” after issuing her a $300 fine for “stealing” a packet of tomato sauce no longer appears to be working at Night N’ Day or Pak ‘N Save, where he was also employed. This may Read more...
Fake News Tourbus Chased Out of Dunedin
Posted 1:37pm Saturday 4th June 2022 by Denzel Chung
A nationwide tour by Counterspin, a group promoting Covid-19 misinformation and often violent rhetoric, was forced out of Dunedin city after sustained public pressure caused several hosts to pull out. The nationwide tour, titled “Let’s Not Forget,” had stopped in Read more...
Uni’s Emissions Boss Responds To Govt’s Emissions Reduction Plan
Posted 4:58pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Zak Rudin
Last week, the Government released their first Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) since passing the Zero Carbon Act in 2019. Critic Te Arohi spoke with Craig Cliff, the Uni’s Net Carbon Zero Programme Manager, on the impact of the plan and whether it goes far enough to address the existential Read more...
Kind Company Rebrands To “Kindred”
Posted 4:55pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Zak Rudin
Around two weeks ago, Kind Company, a vegan cafe on George Street, became Kindred. They’re now a “mostly” vegan cafe that serves some meat and dairy. Critic Te Arohi spoke to Penelope, the owner of Kindred, about the change. Penelope, told Critic Te Arohi the rebranding was an Read more...
“Storm Hyde St” Event Page Gets the Axe
Posted 4:52pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Keegan Wells
A pisstake of a Facebook event page has been taken down after its creator received a stern talking to by the Campus Cop, who was worried it could “put the future of Hyde Street in jeopardy”. The page encouraged students to storm Hyde Street, as “they can’t stop us Read more...
Dunedin Jobs Facebook Group Invaded by Camgirls, Spammers
Posted 4:49pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Sean Gourley
A local Facebook group meant for promoting job opportunities has been swamped by spam and ads promoting WhatsApp camgirls. Dunedin Jobs, which boasts almost 18,000 members, is a “a group that facilitates posts for everyday jobs for everyday people”. More recently, they seem to Read more...
PHARMAC Simplifies Criteria To Access HIV Prevention, Treatment
Posted 4:48pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Denzel Chung
PHARMAC, Aotearoa’s national drug-funding agency, will simplify the criteria for patients wanting to access pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV (PrEP). The changes, which will take effect from 1 July, are being labelled as “a massively positive change for [the LGBTQI+] Read more...
Ōtepoti hosts Festival of Anarchy
Posted 4:34pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Zak Rudin
On Saturday 21 May, from midday to sundown, people congregated at 111 Moray Place for the Ōtepoti Festival of Anarchy (or A-Day, as the cool kids call it). Despite the cold, the festival delivered on providing food, music, workshops and free stuff. What more could you ask for? Critic Te Arohi Read more...
Otago Uni Students* Say No to Microbreweries and te ao Māori papers, Yes to Freshers at Pint Night
Posted 4:32pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Keegan Wells
The results of OUSA’s referendum have been released, with students voting on everything from mental health accessibility and compulsory recording of lectures to Pacific law school entry pathways, compulsory te ao Māori papers and two-week semester breaks. The exciting admin stuff Read more...
Two Students Shave $6k Worth of Hair
Posted 4:28pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Nina Brown
Two third-year students managed to raise almost $6,000 for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand, as part of Shave for a Cure. Critic Te Arohi spoke to the two do-gooders to find out how they pulled it off. What started as a comment about how much easier it would be to gender-bend with a Read more...
Ill Bus Drivers Cause Wave of Cancellations
Posted 4:26pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Denzel Chung
Bus commuters in Dunedin have been having it rough lately, with a wave of cancellations and delays hitting local services. These have been blamed on “high levels of illness” among bus drivers. The cancellations have been happening since at least May 17, when Orbus Read more...
Hundreds Hospitalised By Flu, Worst Yet To Come
Posted 4:23pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Denzel Chung
Hot on the heels of Omicron, a flu outbreak is now ripping its way through North D. Dunedin Hospital has already admitted nearly 200 emergency cases, with many more expected in the community. Across Aotearoa, after our immune systems enjoyed a cushy two years with zero influenza cases Read more...
Hekate Opens Doors
Posted 5:07pm Saturday 21st May 2022 by Fox Meyer
A period health clinic on Albany Street has recently rebranded. Despite the flashy new look, they’ve promised they’ll continue to offer services to menstruators from all backgrounds. Hekate presents itself as “New Zealand's leading private, nurse-led health clinic with Read more...
Uni Makes Big Economy Go Boom Boom
Posted 5:04pm Saturday 21st May 2022 by Keegan Wells
Otago Uni’s 2021 Economic Impact Report found that they contributed a whopping $1.79 billion to the New Zealand economy last year. In other news, the new Budget plan means that everyone earning under $70,000 a year is getting a free $350, which you can then give straight back to the Uni. How Read more...
Dough-No!
Posted 5:00pm Saturday 21st May 2022 by Fox Meyer
It’s been a rough few weeks for Mama’s Donuts. After struggling with staff shortages due to Covid, the icing on their donut came when their donut-slinging caravan was blown off the road en route to Milton. Rachel from Mama’s Donuts told Critic Te Arohi that her son was driving Read more...
Flu Vaccine Shortage Resolved
Posted 4:59pm Saturday 21st May 2022 by Sean Gourley
Student Health has now replenished their stocks of flu vaccines. This comes after supply shortages caused roughly thirty students to be turned away from a vaccination clinic set up in the Dental School. Head of Health Services Manager Margaret Perley said the shortage was due to a series of Read more...
Mandatory Masks Removed, Mask Usage Declines
Posted 4:56pm Saturday 21st May 2022 by Zak Rudin
Even though it doesn’t feel like it, Covid-19 is still spreading amongst the student community – now joined by an old friend of ours, the flu. In-person lectures have resumed and the Government’s mask mandate has now been dropped. Meanwhile, the official advice from the University, Read more...
Filipino Students Concerned After Marcos Jr Wins Election in the Philippines
Posted 4:53pm Saturday 21st May 2022 by Zak Rudin
*Note: the views expressed in this article do not represent the opinion of the whole Filipino community* On May 9, the Philippines elected Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, the son of previous president Ferdinand Marcos, as their new President. Sara Duterte, daughter of outgoing Read more...
Cowards Steal from Charitable Beekeeper
Posted 4:50pm Saturday 21st May 2022 by Fox Meyer
Someone has stolen an entire hive of bees – queen included – from the Peace Garden Albany street sometime in the last month. A three-box hive is worth about $500 at the moment, so it’s a significant loss to the man who voluntarily keeps the bees and gives away the honey for Read more...
New Vice-Chancellor Hanging by a Thread
Posted 4:48pm Saturday 21st May 2022 by Fox Meyer
Vice Chancellor David Murdoch strapped in for a 35m abseil down the Forsyth Barr Stadium on 17 May. The ‘Toss the Boss’ event was hosted by the Malcam Trust to fundraise for their youth development mahi in Dunedin. David was one of dozens of local bosses taking the plunge, and his Read more...
Students React to Potential Abortion Ban in the USA
Posted 4:45pm Saturday 21st May 2022 by Zak Rudin
A leaked United States Supreme Court draft majority opinion has revealed plans to overrule Roe v Wade, a 1973 Supreme Court decision which upholds the right to an abortion as a constitutional right. The decision, if followed through on, is expected to have wide-reaching implications for other human Read more...
Cowards Steal from Charitable Beekeeper
Posted 2:30pm Tuesday 17th May 2022 by Fox Meyer
Someone has stolen an entire hive of bees – queen included – from the Peace Garden Albany street sometime in the last month. A three-box hive is worth about $500 at the moment, so it’s a significant loss to the man who voluntarily keeps the bees and gives away the honey for Read more...
Edinburgh Asks Students To Re-Sign by May, Backtracks
Posted 7:50pm Sunday 15th May 2022 by Quintin Jane
Edinburgh Realty was sending letters to students telling them to decide whether they would re-sign their flats in May. They were forced to backtrack after admitting that their demands violated the Residential Tenancies Act. In the letter sent to tenants, Edinburgh Property Management asked Read more...
Human Nutrition Dept. Launches Cheap Student Meal Kits
Posted 1:41pm Sunday 15th May 2022 by Denzel Chung
The Department of Human Nutrition has launched meal packages to help flats take some stress out of meal prep. It’s one of a long list of initiatives that aim to snap students out of their perennial Indomie addiction. The Feed My Flat initiative is basically the same as My Food Bag or other Read more...
Rally Held For Palestine
Posted 9:35am Sunday 15th May 2022 by Zak Rudin
CW: genocide, ethnic cleansing On Saturday May 7, the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) held a rally from the Museum Reserve to the Octagon. Around 60 people took to the streets with placards, chanting the Palestinian independence slogan: “From the river to the sea, Palestine Read more...
Vegan Bake Sale Raises Money for Animals and Vegans in Ukraine
Posted 9:26am Sunday 15th May 2022 by Zak Rudin
On Saturday 7th May, the Dunedin Ōtepoti Vegan Society (DŌVeS) held a bake sale for Ukraine on the Museum Reserve. What link does veganism have with Ukraine and what does buying baked vegan treats achieve? Critic Te Arohi went along to find out. DŌVeS originally hatched the idea of Read more...
J Day Lights up in the Octagon
Posted 1:37pm Saturday 14th May 2022 by Zak Rudin
J Day hit the heart of the Octagon last Saturday from noon till 4:20 (blaze it, nice). J Day is an event 20 years in the running, calling for weed to be legalised and more generally a celebration of cannabis culture. Critic Te Arohi reported from amidst the smog and bravely conducted interviews over Read more...
Record-Breaking Turnout for UniQ’s Inaugural MS Paint Competition
Posted 1:34pm Saturday 14th May 2022 by Lotto Ramsay
For Art Week, UniQ teamed up with Art Club to host a painting competition. Well, a Microsoft Paint competition anyway. In a beautiful and rather wholesome twist, all four people who entered came out winners. UniQ, Otago’s resident club for members of the LGBTQ+ community, decided that 2022 Read more...
Agnew Street Party Re-Cancelled
Posted 1:18pm Saturday 14th May 2022 by Keegan Wells and Fox Meyer
Students’ attempts to run the Agnew Street party themselves this year have been abandoned. Even though sponsors had been found, security had been considered and morale was high, security concerns raised during a meeting on 9 May resulted in the plan being cancelled. The meeting was attended Read more...
Uni Spent $3 Million on Travel in 2020
Posted 2:44am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Denzel Chung
Otago Uni spent almost $3 million on travel expenses in 2020, including airfares, accommodation, taxis and car rentals. While these numbers were significantly impacted by Covid-19, the Uni is hoping to keep air travel to a minimum even as borders reopen. University data received by Critic Read more...
Clash of Clubs
Posted 2:43am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Keegan Wells
The first annual Clash of Clubs happened on April 29, with several Otago Uni clubs duking it out in a variety of sports. At stake: honour, glory, and the ability to rub sweet victory into the faces of inferior clubs for a whole year. Six clubs participated in football, volleyball and Read more...
Protest Demands Immediate End To Live Animal Export
Posted 2:42am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Zak Rudin
On Saturday April 30, around 30 people gathered in the Octagon as part of a nationwide protest to call for an immediate ban on all live animal exports. People held signs with images of animal abuse amidst a number of speeches and chanting. Despite high-profile announcements that the practice would Read more...
Vigil Held For Ukraine
Posted 2:40am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Zak Rudin
CW: War crimes, assault A candle-lit vigil was held in the lower Octagon to commemorate the innocent victims killed in Ukraine by the Russian military. Around 60 people were present at the event, with attendees expressing a mixture of sadness, anger and fatigue over the ongoing, violent Read more...
Mysterious Castle Street Shitter(s) Strike Again
Posted 2:34am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Anon
Castle Street residents have been confronted with the emergence of human shits on their cars and driveways. Little is known about the identity of the culprit(s), or their motive. The first incident occurred on Saturday 10 April, on what had been a seemingly normal night of debauchery on Read more...
Mysterious Naked Tree Not So Mysterious Now
Posted 2:33am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Keegan Wells
A little over a month ago we reported on a mysterious tree that showed up in a student’s bed on a Saturday night. Our crack detective team turned up no leads until the case was blown wide open by an anonymous online confession. Seth reported finding a large tree branch in his bed after a Read more...
University’s Art Club Overcomes Challenges, Brings Artistic Minds Together
Posted 2:31am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Anna Robertshawe
The Covid-19 pandemic, the fast pace of uni life and a lack of a Fine Arts programme at Otago Uni are all challenges for Arts students here. Despite these barriers, the Otago University Art Club continues to make space for creative expression and facilitate connection through art. The club Read more...
Outcry Forces Vape Shop to Remove TikToks
Posted 2:02pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Sean Gourley
A new vape shop has taken down all of its TikToks after a Stuff investigation found kids under 18 were interacting with their posts, potentially breaching the law as a result. The owners have said they’ll be changing their ways from now on, with a removal of most of their posts in a social Read more...
Muslim and Atheists Students’ Associations Assigned to Share a Table
Posted 2:01pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Denzel Chung
The Muslim Students’ Association (MUSA) and the Society of Atheists, Rationalists and Skeptics (SARS) were assigned to sit together during OUSA’s clubs week. Despite the potential for awkwardness, both sides seemed to brush it off easily. In issue 7, Critic Te Arohi reported on Read more...
Student Visa Backlog due to “Capacity Issues”
Posted 1:59pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Zak Rudin
Despite borders reopening and Aotearoa once again officially ‘open’ to international students, eager student travellers have hit one critical snag: Immigration New Zealand (INZ). Processing struggles have left many overseas students in limbo as a result. Since April 12, Aotearoa Read more...
Ditch the Indomie and Cook Like A Granny
Posted 1:55pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Denzel Chung
A South Dunedin charity is aiming to teach life skills using the most potent source of wisdom known to humankind: grannies.They’re hoping their cooking workshops, focusing on cheap, sustainable recipes, will be a hit with eco-conscious, cash-strapped students. The adorably-named Read more...
Toilet Prices Behind Hyde Ticket Price Increase
Posted 1:53pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Keegan Wells
Last week Critic Te Arohi reported that Hyde Street ticket prices have jumped this year by 10% ($5) for students and a whopping 35% ($7) for street residents. To get to the bottom of this, we spoke to Jason Schroeder, Events and Venues Operations Manager for OUSA. Just like any good conspiracy, Read more...
Local Councillor Apparently Editing his Own Wikipedia Page
Posted 1:43pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Fox Meyer
A Wikipedia user by the name of “Leevandervis” has been making edits to the Wikipedia page of Lee Vandervis, a Dunedin city councillor with a history of making controversial headlines. Critic received a tip about edits made to Vandervis’ Wikipedia page on April 26, listed Read more...
Study Hopes to Pave Way for Blood Donation Equity
Posted 1:41pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Denzel Chung
A new study involving the University of Otago is hoping to collect data on HIV prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM). A key aim of this study is to change policies which have, until now, prevented many MSM from donating blood. The Sex and Prevention of Treatment Study (SPOTS) is Read more...
Vape Juice has More Nicotine than You Think
Posted 1:38pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Fox Meyer
If you’ve always wondered why vapes are such a tough habit to kick, here’s a possible reason why: it contains a fuckton of nicotine. To be precise, you’d get as much nicotine from a bottle of 30mg vape juice as you would smoking almost ten pouches of rolling tobacco, or over 700 Read more...
Ukraine War Casts Spectre Over OUSA ANZAC Service
Posted 1:34pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Denzel Chung
Around 200 people of all ages, from students, to staff, to elderly servicepeople, attended OUSA’s 2022 annual ANZAC Day service. Held by the Memorial Walk outside the Staff Club building, this service was the first to be held outdoors since 2019. The weather was mostly sunny, although the Read more...
Drink Spiking Incident Correction
Posted 1:31pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Fox Meyer
Last issue, Critic published a story about an OUSA club-organised BYO in which two people suspected their drinks had been spiked. The girl who suffered the worst of the two experiences got in touch with Critic to correct some major details of the story. Jamie* did not make it home ok, as Read more...
Ayo New Hyde St Just Dropped
Posted 2:21pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Keegan Wells
OUSA has confirmed that the Hyde St party is back for another year. After some uncertainty over dates, it’s finally been locked in to happen just a week before semester one exams. OUSA confirmed on April 12 that the Hyde St Party will go ahead this year. After previously postponing Read more...
Uni Spent Almost $750k On Dairy in 2021
Posted 2:19pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Denzel Chung
Figures obtained by Critic Te Arohi show the Uni spent almost $750k on milk and dairy products in 2021. Peer into almost any fridge in Uni and you’ll see it: bottle after bottle of Meadow Fresh milk. From hall breakfasts and morning coffees to office tearooms, the white stuff seems to Read more...
Food Sci 4th Years Fight Food Waste
Posted 2:16pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Fox Meyer
A group of Food Science 4th year students have designed a food box - like Hello Fresh - based entirely around NZ’s most commonly-tossed consumables. They plan to use local foodie social media accounts to promote their sustainable selection of goodies. “One of our main messages is that Read more...
New “Pop-Up” Youth Space Pops Up
Posted 2:14pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Zak Rudin
An after-school creative space, the Ōtepoti Youth Space, is being launched in Dunedin. Focused on high-school aged rangatahi, the aim is to make this a supportive and constructive space to engage with rangatahi and “celebrate… their creative talents”. Hailey Xavier, Read more...
Ship Carrying ‘Blood Phosphate’ Arrives in Port Chalmers
Posted 2:12pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Zak Rudin
The ship Stony Stream has just landed in Port Chalmers, carrying 25,000 tonnes of phosphate from Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. This phosphate, which critics call “blood phosphate,” has been linked for decades to serious human rights abuses. Aotearoa is one of the last countries in Read more...
Suspected Drink-Spiking at BYO Leaves Club Baffled
Posted 2:10pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Fox Meyer
Two people suspect that their drinks were spiked at a BYO at the start of the year. According to Dunedin Hospital, rates of alcohol-related admissions spike around student party weekends like O-Week and St Paddy’s. The Otago University Snow Sports Club (OUSSC) hosted a public BYO at the Read more...
Stag Totals Students’ Car on West Coast
Posted 2:08pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Keegan Wells
A group of students survived a harrowing car crash with a stag on the West Coast over the mid-sem break. The crash claimed most of their car’s front end, but amazingly left it intact enough to drive a further 50km to the nearest town. On April 14, Ali was heading up the West Coast with her Read more...
Student Reports “Outrageous” Abortion Experience
Posted 12:49am Saturday 23rd April 2022 by Keegan Wells and Fox Meyer
A student trying to get an abortion has criticised Dunedin Hospital for a “disgusting” and “disrespectful” experience. She is currently undergoing her third procedure for the same pregnancy, which she believed could’ve been avoided if information was presented Read more...
University Emissions Report: Behind the Pretty Numbers
Posted 12:47am Saturday 23rd April 2022 by Zak Rudin
In our last issue, Critic Te Arohi reported that the Uni’s carbon emissions dropped 40% in 2020 compared to 2019. We spoke with Craig Cliff, the Uni’s Net Carbon Zero Programme Manager, to help us understand what is going on. The report showed that most of the 40% actually came from a Read more...
Woof! has “Busiest Week of Year” after Hit with Anti-Vax Negativity
Posted 12:37am Saturday 23rd April 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan
Local Dunedin bar Woof has faced some backlash for continuing to use vaccine passes, despite the government dropping vaccine mandates on April 4. Owner Dudley Benson spoke to Critic Te Arohi about what it’s been like, and how vital the community’s support has been in this Read more...
Greens, Student Assocs Launch Student Wellbeing Inquiry
Posted 12:35am Saturday 23rd April 2022 by Fox Meyer
A group of 33 student unions have rallied together to launch a People's Inquiry into student wellbeing, alongside the Green Party. They said that students have been “betrayed” by a government that promised to provide support, that incremental increases in student loans were Read more...
Castle Residents Pitch In To Clean Up Their Street
Posted 12:32am Saturday 23rd April 2022 by Ruby Werry
At noon on a Friday, most breathas would have still been sprawled in bed, wincing at the sunlight streaming through their ratty curtains. But on April 8, several hundred students instead had brushes and rubbish bags in hand, cleaning up the streets of North D. The group of students, mostly Read more...
Otago Uni Shifts Back to In-Person Learning, Drops Vaccine and Mask Mandates
Posted 5:34pm Wednesday 13th April 2022 by Denzel Chung
The Government’s shift to Orange has paved the way for sweeping changes to life at Otago Uni, including a transition back to “mostly on-campus teaching,” as well as dropping vaccine and mask requirements for most students. Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins Read more...
Otago Uni Shifts Back to In-Person Learning, Drops Vaccine and Mask Mandates
Posted 5:33pm Wednesday 13th April 2022 by Denzel Chung
The Government’s shift to Orange has paved the way for sweeping changes to life at Otago Uni, including a transition back to “mostly on-campus teaching,” as well as dropping vaccine and mask requirements for most students. Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins Read more...
Arise Church Responds To Critic After Ghosting Other Journalists, Begins Independent Review
Posted 10:15am Tuesday 12th April 2022 by Denzel Chung
Arise Church has sent a lengthy statement, written by a PR company, responding to allegations of abuse. The detailed statement came to us after enquiries sent by a high-profile journalist were initially ignored. Pastor John Cameron has since stated that he is “broken and devastated by these Read more...
“House DJ” Grateful that Red Settings are Still in Place
Posted 1:24pm Sunday 10th April 2022 by The Critical Tribune
Local breatha Thomas Bangerson has been using his somewhat upcoming, mostly failing career as a house DJ as his prime drawcard on Tinder. The only reason he isn’t playing the big stage, he claimed, “was because we’re in red, so I’m at the same level as Subsonic, Read more...
Parking Wardens Suspected as Cause for Pedestrianisation
Posted 1:22pm Sunday 10th April 2022 by The Critical Tribune
Sources close to the Mayor claim that the attempt to make George Street pedestrianised occurred after a run-in with DCC parking wardens. Mayor Hawkins’s close confidants reported that the recent attempts to remove cars from George Street is an attempt to put parking wardens out of a job. Read more...
Plot to Overthrow the New Zealand Government Discovered at MenuDeliverEats Offices.
Posted 1:21pm Sunday 10th April 2022 by The Critical Tribune
Agents of the Crown have recently unearthed plans for MenuDeliverEats employees to institute a coup in the highest levels of the New Zealand government. This has confirmed the suspicions of local residents, who said “They don’t fear anything. I’ve seen one park on double yellow Read more...
ABBA Awards Richardson Building Highest Architectural Honours
Posted 1:19pm Sunday 10th April 2022 by The Critical Tribune
The Richardson building has just received an award from the Appreciation of the Blind for Building and Architecture, or ABBA for short. This came as a shock to most people who have ever seen the building, but the Richardson building defended its title. “Most people don’t see me in my Read more...
Clubs Week Helps Weakened Clubs
Posted 1:40am Saturday 9th April 2022 by Hugh Askerud
Last week, OUSA Clubs and Socs held a ‘Clubs Week’ celebrating the various oddities and misfits who call Otago home. Housed on the edge of the Link, each club was given 90 minutes to win over the hearts of passers-by heading through campus. As Critic Te Arohi has reported Read more...
SHOCKER: Study Finds “Students Shivering inside Cold, Damp Homes”
Posted 1:38am Saturday 9th April 2022 by Zak Rudin
A recent study conducted by Otago Uni has found that many students live in miserably cold, damp and mouldy homes. Most students also don’t know that StudyLink can help with massive power bills. The nationwide study, led by Dr. Kimberley O’Sullivan, was conducted by He Read more...
Multi-Million Dollar Church Reportedly Tells Students to Donate their Course-Related Costs
Posted 1:36am Saturday 9th April 2022 by Elliot Weir
Journalist and documentary filmmaker David Farrier has published an exposé of Arise Church. The piece alleges exploitation of their interns and attendees, including an account from an Otago Uni student who attended their Dunedin branch. Arise Church is one of the largest churches in Read more...
Uni’s Carbon Emissions Dropped In 2020
Posted 1:35am Saturday 9th April 2022 by Denzel Chung
A new report has found the Uni’s carbon emissions dipped by 40% in 2020, to 30,661 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). Reasons for the decrease include a lockdown, fewer jet-setting employees and a coal phaseout. The Uni’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory was released in Read more...
PRANK101: Chewbacca Impressions Chew Student’s Ear Off
Posted 1:33am Saturday 9th April 2022 by Keegan Wells
Chewbacca, affectionately known as Chewie, is known for his big heart and unwavering loyalty to his friends. Critic Te Arohi hopes Tom still feels the same way about his mates, after his flatmate put his phone number all over campus advertising a Chewbacca impression contest. A box of Major Majors Read more...
Easing Covid Restrictions: What Does it Mean for Disabled Students?
Posted 1:31am Saturday 9th April 2022 by Zak Rudin
For many, the Government lifting most Covid restrictions has been a welcome relief. But for those who are disabled and immunocompromised, it represents a scary step into a world now fraught with risk. Sean Prenter, co-president of the Otago University Disabled Students Association (OUDSA), Read more...
Night ‘n Day Sauce Stories Continue to Spill
Posted 1:29am Saturday 9th April 2022 by Zak Rudin
After reading about Flynn’s misadventure at Night ‘n Day, Ruby and Angus reached out to Critic Te Arohi to share their suspiciously similar stories. Turns out, there are quite a few people who have faced a saucy fine from the 24hr store. Ruby described going to the Night ‘n Day Read more...
Muslim Students Ring in the Month of Ramadan
Posted 1:28am Saturday 9th April 2022 by Denzel Chung
This year, April 1 marked the beginning of the month of Ramadan, a sacred month for Muslims across the globe. Critic Te Arohi checked in with the Muslim Students’ Association (MUSA) to see how students are spending this time. MUSA, alongside the Otago Muslim Association, are hosting Read more...
Uni Giving out Free Shots
Posted 1:26am Saturday 9th April 2022 by Denzel Chung
Some nasty viruses are heading our way once again - and no, their names don’t start with C. As things get cold and flu season approaches, Critic Te Arohi spoke to Otago Uni expert Dr. Lucy Telfar-Barnard about why students should be ready to roll up their sleeves one more time. Dr. Read more...
Taj Mahal Gutted by Early-Morning Fire
Posted 1:24am Saturday 9th April 2022 by Denzel Chung
An early-morning fire engulfed Dunedin’s Taj Mahal, bringing a tragic (but hopefully temporary) end to a BYO institution beloved by students. No one was hurt in the incident. The fire is not believed to be suspicious. Senior Station Officer Mark Leonard, from Fire and Emergency New Read more...
The Great Exec Quarterly Report Round Up
Posted 5:59pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Keegan Wells, Denzel Chung, Zak Rudin and Fox Meyer
Thrice a year, the OUSA exec team submit reports on what they’ve been up to. We’ve summarised those here for your convenience. President: Melissa Lama Melissa has been absolutely killing it. She’s done 44 interviews with various media outlets and attended to her Read more...
Death Star once more a Fully Operational Battle Station
Posted 5:52pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Lotto Ramsay
Like its namesake, the post-mandate rager at Castle Street’s Death Star was structurally questionable but fully operational. It was also full of massive fucking weapons. With the Government lifting most Covid gathering limits last Friday, party-starved breathas jumped at their chance. Read more...
Otago Towns Come First, Last in Map of NZ’s “Sexiest Cities”
Posted 5:50pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Lotto Ramsay
Lovehoney, an online sex toy shop, recently revealed their list of New Zealand’s “sexiest cities”. Using a combination of search and sales data, they compiled an interactive ‘Sex Map’ power-ranking 42 of Aotearoa’s towns and cities on their kinks, favourite toys, Read more...
Rugby Crowd Appeared to Behave Well
Posted 5:48pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Hugh Askerud
The deafening screams of thousands signalled the start of something wonderful last Saturday. At 4:35 pm, with Covid-19 restrictions loosened just the day before, Forsyth Barr Stadium opened its various gates to the rugby-starved masses. This gave students their first taste of life in the Zoo this Read more...
Church Works With Student Groups To Host Pride Service
Posted 5:46pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Denzel Chung
Last Sunday, St. Paul’s Cathedral hosted a “queer-affirming reflective service” alongside Dunedin Pride, the Student Christian Movement and representatives from St. Hilda’s Collegiate School. This is believed to be the first service of its kind in Dunedin. Richie, from the Read more...
New Club Wants To “Make Composting Sexy Again”
Posted 5:45pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Denzel Chung
A new club at Otago Uni wants to raise awareness about how food choices can make a big difference to our planet and our pockets. Their priorities include encouraging students to forage, compost, and stop throwing out so much food. According to their blurb, Slow Food Youth Otago (SFYO) is a Read more...
$9,000 from Dead Clubs to be Reappropriated by OUSA
Posted 5:43pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Denzel Chung
$9,000 from inactive clubs has been sitting in an OUSA bank account untouched for at least six years. This money will get redistributed, with $7,200 probably going back to Clubs & Socs. At an OUSA Exec Meeting on 24 March, Clubs & Socs Rep Tulsi Raman said the original idea behind the Read more...
Busted Breatha Budgets Boosted
Posted 5:41pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Zak Rudin
With the cost of rent, fuel and food skyrocketing (looking at you, tomatoes), the Government’s plans to increase Student Allowance and Loan payments have been cautiously welcomed by cash-strapped students. From April 1, Student Allowance rates will rise by $25/week, and people receiving Read more...
Saucy Debacle: Resolved
Posted 5:39pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Zak Rudin
Two days after publishing the Night ‘n Day sauce debacle, Flynn told Critic Te Arohi that his $300 fine had been revoked. “Obviously it’s great the manager [Matt Lane] revoked the fine,” but “it’s a shame the police and media had to be involved before this could Read more...
New Fizzliss Drink is the Shit, not the Shits
Posted 5:32pm Sunday 27th March 2022 by Sean Gourley
Fizzliss, an RTD company run by Otago grads, has renewed their lineup, improving their original flavour and introducing a brand new one. They hope that this will make a fresh start for the company, after their first RTD release last year produced some rather hilarious controversy. When Fizzliss Read more...
Previous Results 
