Archive
Opinion: The OUSA Referendum Has Been Very Poorly Advertised
Posted 10:32pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Hanna Varrs
Hear ye, hear ye! OUSA referendum question submissions are open and will close on the 2nd of May. That’s really fucking soon – so whip out your thinking caps and email Vice-Pres Amy Martin (adminvp@ousa.org.nz) with all the questions you can think of! Want a student bar? Shall Read more...
OSJP Rally For Palestine (Again)
Posted 10:30pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Hanna Varrs
Otago Students for Justice in Palestine (OSJP) held another rally for Palestine on Otago University campus on April 16th*. Speeches were given by Neave, an organiser for OSJP, and Brandon Johnstone, a member of Staff for Palestine. The group proceeded to march around the Uni, chanting for their Read more...
Return Of The Weka
Posted 9:54pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Zoe Eckhoff
Flightless, small, curious, and feisty. You may think we’re describing your most recent Tinder date, but Critic is actually describing an endemic bird: the weka. While weka are likely not fond of a candlelit steak dinner (they prefer the most critical piece of metal you bring along camping, Read more...
Opinion: The Mid-semester Conspiracy That The Clocktower Doesn’t Want You To Know About
Posted 9:50pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Gryffin Blockley
It’s a tale as old as time (or 1869 at least): slumped in a chair in your first lecture post mid-semester break, you see your UC mate’s story. There he is, week two into his three-week break, cracking a beer or doing whatever tragic standard ‘fun’ is for an engineer. Our Read more...
A Marathon Effort for Mental Health
Posted 9:47pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Stella Weston
Content warning: Mention of suicide Scott Casey-Woolridge (“Scoot” as he’s known by friends) is a fifth-year Otago student who’s planning an utterly insane physical feat for Matariki weekend to raise money for the I Am Hope Foundation. I Am Hope focuses on mental health, Read more...
Voyagers Roll Red Carpet for Critic Alumni
Posted 9:43pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Nina Brown
Two former Critic Te Ārohi editors have been named as finalists for the 2025 Voyager Media Awards: Joel MacManus (2018) and Fox Meyer (2022-2023). Both now based in the Beehive’s Press Gallery and working for The Spinoff and Newsroom respectively, the pair credit Critic Te Ārohi for Read more...
Yep, Someone Actually Read Them: OUSA Exec’s First Quarterly Reports
Posted 12:15am Monday 14th April 2025 by Gryffin Blockley
It’s that time of year when Critic gets its hands on the coveted quarterly reports of our OUSA overlords. Rumour has it these are just as sought-after as a copy of Sunrise on the Reaping. Our Exec members get paid by honorarium, meaning they have to provide proof they’ve done stuff to Read more...
Sustainability Office: Tetra Pak Recycling and Prizes for Sticking Around for the Mid-Sem
Posted 11:56pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Hanna Varrs
The nature-loving students at the helm of the University of Otago’s Sustainability Office have announced a range of projects to keep campus clean and green. Critic Te Ārohi sat down with tētēkura (student leads) for a fantastic yap about waste management (subverting the rubbish Read more...
Stopping Starters
Posted 11:52pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Connor Moffat
‘Twas a sad day for the OGs of Dunedin on April 2nd when iconic student watering hole Starters Bar was demolished. An excavator took to the walls of the pre-loved pub, tearing it limb from limb. Many past Starters enthusiasts looked on, commiserating over shared memories from the former, and Read more...
Facebook Marketplace Reselling on the Rise
Posted 11:49pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Ben Hay-Smith
Among Dunedin's students, there is a common interest: the desire to acquire stuff, or to get rid of stuff. The primary tool used in this pursuit is the Wild West of TradeMe: Facebook Marketplace. With fewer barriers in making a listing, no fees, and an overall freer second-hand market, Read more...
ACT Drafts Bill to Axe Race-Based Uni Support Services
Posted 11:04pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Jodie Evans
An ACT Party member’s bill has been drafted to “ensure universities do not allocate resources, benefits, or opportunities based on race.” ACT claims the “race-neutral” bill advocates for “fair access to opportunities” through proposed amendments to the Read more...
Abuser’s Art Ousted from Campus
Posted 11:01pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Adam Stitely
Content Warning: Contains details of child sexual abuse. The artwork of historic abuser John Middleditch was removed from Otago University campus on Friday, April 4th. The decision was made by Registrar Dr David Clark, advised by a six-person panel – including University staff, Read more...
Southern Events in for a Hyding
Posted 10:58pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Hanna Varrs
Disclaimer: Staff writer Zoe Eckhoff is a band member of Ammonita, who were interviewed for this news article. OUSA’s annual Hyde Street Party on April 5th left its typical trail of Look Sharp costumes, crumpled cans, smiley face baggies, and students happily tired from six hours of boogie Read more...
ISSUES! 100 years of Critic Opens in Central Library
Posted 10:19pm Sunday 6th April 2025 by Stella Weston
Not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet, but Critic Te Ārohi is 100 years old as of this April! To celebrate, the Otago University’s Special Collections and the Hocken Library have opened a new exhibit paying tribute to the centenary. ISSUES! 100 years of Critic is open now in the deBeer Read more...
Opinion: The Government Hates Critic
Posted 9:28pm Sunday 6th April 2025 by Nina Brown
The Crown has spat on Critic’s 100th birthday by rejecting our application for a letter from the King and refusing to wish the geriatric magazine a happy birthday. This time, crying on our birthday had a legit reason. The first blow came from the King himself. Well, by proxy through the Read more...
‘Anti-Social’ Zoo In The Spotlight
Posted 10:32pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Hanna Varrs
The Highlanders’ second home game of the season on March 14th against the Hurricanes was soured by reports of anti-social behaviour from the Zoo and a distastefully misogynistic ‘Zoo Uncaged’ social media post. A Highlanders’ spokesperson said it’s not on, Read more...
Chippy Talks Politics Over a Guiness
Posted 10:28pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Ella Grayson
Teasing the chance to have a yarn with big ticket item Chris Hipkins, the Labour Party and Young Labour Party hosted an open to all, town-hall-esque kōrero at The Bog. “Ngā Reo Rangatahi, The Voice of the Young People” was organised on Wednesday 19th of March, shortly after The Read more...
Academic Rep in Firm Opposition to 15-Point Paper Proposal
Posted 10:24pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Hanna Varrs
A working group is set to discuss the possibility of changing undergraduate papers from 18 to 15 points (as well as semester weeks). The group includes senior University staff, several academics from different divisions, and Academic Rep Stella Lynch. They’re set to meet on March 31st and Read more...
The Critic Centenary Book Is a Go
Posted 9:53pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Nina Brown
Disclaimer: Critic’s reporting on themselves again. Critic Te Ārohi’s very own Iris Hehir hung up her Features Editor and Law student boots last week, signing a contract to commit to a full-time position as the Editor-in-Chief of Critic’s centenary book. The elevator pitch: Read more...
StudyLink Lag Leaves Students In Limbo
Posted 9:11pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Molly Smith-Soppet
Students all around Aotearoa have been facing some extra financial hardship over the last few weeks, with many failing to receive their expected StudyLink payments or living costs payments. With day-to-day costs already a pressing concern for students, delays in financial assistance have left many Read more...
Critic’s ‘Cigarette Butt’ Cover’s LJ Hooker Feature
Posted 9:02pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Gryffin Blockley
A former Frederick Street flattie has let Critic Te Ārohi in on an inside secret. The scoop? LJ Hooker’s ad for their former flat is giving Critic free advertising. It began as the historic student tradition of plastering Critic covers on their flat wall. Jessie described the collaging Read more...
Daddy Grant Debuts Annual Arts Lecture
Posted 6:18pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Gryffin Blockley
The Uni debuted its (slightly tongue-twisting) inaugural annual School of Arts lecture last week, themed around ‘What did the arts student say to the future?’ Hosted by Otago’s most well-known BA graduate, the Vice Chancellor Honorable Grant Robertson himself, the lecture included Read more...
Market Day Moolah-Making
Posted 6:16pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Harry Almey
Radio One Market Days are soon to make a return*, the collection of random stalls you see crop up every so often by Union Lawn or the Link if it’s grotty weather. Calm yourself and slow that naughty racing heart of yours – the upcoming Market Day on Wednesday, March 26 Read more...
Fringe Festival’s 25th Opening Night: Cake, Comedy and Pass the Parcel
Posted 6:05pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Isabella Simoni
The time has finally come for Dunedin Fringe 2025, and what an exciting time it is! Last Wednesday marked the opening night when lovers of the arts, old and new, gathered to celebrate the festival’s 25th birthday – and it came with the to-be-expected bells and whistles that would make Read more...
Otago University Introduces New Disability Action Plan
Posted 6:02pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Stella Weston
As of 2023, 1 in 10 students at Otago University declared that they had a disability impacting their ability to study. This number has only increased over time, but Te Kokeka Whakamua – the University’s new disability action plan for 2024-2027 – aims to make things easier for these Read more...
UniPol’s New Rearrangement
Posted 5:37pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Nina Brown
The latest era of UniPol’s constant mode of self-improvement copped the gym some flack on students’ favourite complaint hub: UoO Meaningful Confessions Facebook page. “Wtf have unipol done” read the title of a post on March 3rd. The anonymous poster reckoned UniPol has ruined Read more...
Otago Academic Experts Say ‘Gaza – Yes it is genocide’
Posted 5:32pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Nina Brown
‘Gaza – Yes it is genocide, and yes, it really matters’. That was the title of a seminar held in Archway 1 at midday last Wednesday, hosted by Professors Robert Patman and Richard Jackson, and Dr Rula Talahma. Each spoke to their personal expertise and experiences to unpick the Read more...
Execrable: Fishy Constitutions and Fish of the Year
Posted 5:14pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Nina Brown
The Exec meeting last week didn’t bring the same level of drama as the week prior. They managed to stay out of confidential committee for the duration of the meeting, which unfortunately meant Critic Te Ārohi had to take notes the whole time – admittedly zoning out during the 20 Read more...
Breatha Exiled from Castle St Flat After Admitting, “I don’t fuck with DnB that much bro.”
Posted 4:44pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Anderson Coomer
Alex, a second-year student, formerly known by his peers as ‘Fridge’ has been reduced to being known as ‘Champ’ in a turn of events that resulted in his tenancy being informally terminated at his Castle St flat. This follows a shocking admission, whereby Alex firmly stood Read more...
Barnyard Boogie in the Botans
Posted 11:43pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Stella Weston
The combination of flowing skirts and local band Frivolry made for an “afternoon of dancing, fun, and queer joy” to kick off Pride Month the first weekend of March. Organised by Dunedin Pride, the traditional Scottish and Irish folk band played a Ceilidh (a Celtic barn dance, pronounced Read more...
Te Rōpū Māori SGM: $100k from VC, Āpiha Hauora and Ahurea roles filled
Posted 11:32pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Hanna Varrs
Te Rōpū Maori (TRM) have successfully filled their Āpiha Hauora (Wellbeing and Recreation Officer) and Āpiha Ahurea (Cultural Officer) at their most recent special general meeting (SGM). The VC has also committed to a $100k grant, allowing the Te Rito exec to be Read more...
Exec Submit Against Treaty Principles Bill
Posted 11:30pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Hanna Varrs
The OUSA Exec has submitted in opposition to the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. On Thursday, February 27th, President Liam and Politics Rep Jett presented an oral submission to the Justice Committee based on the written submission Liam hastily penned in January on behalf of the wider Read more...
Student Job Search: “Students in Otago Are More Likely To Secure Work”
Posted 11:27pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Zoe Eckhoff
There’s a small part in all of us that wishes we could afford a Netflix and a Disney+ subscription. But, as university students, managing a job and our studies (especially full-time) can be a difficult feat. With the total applications through Student Job Search (SJS) increasing by 23% over Read more...
Mr Prez ‘Bribes the Media’ with $1k Centenary Book Pledge
Posted 11:23pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Nina Brown
Disclaimer: This article was written by said media. In a generous publicity stunt, OUSA President Liam White matched donations towards Critic Te Ārohi’s Centenary book up to $1k last Tuesday, March 4th (payday). The 100-year-old magazine has until March 16th to raise $70k to fund a Read more...
Pint-flation at U-Bar: An Economic Analysis
Posted 11:19pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by peter barclay
Students could once walk into U-Bar’s Wednesday Pint Night with a crisp $20 note, leaving four pints happier and with a shirt as soaked as your poor liver during Flo and O-Week. News of ‘pint-flation’ has spread across campus following the discovery that students’ most Read more...
Wanted: Serial Central Lib Red Wine Slugger
Posted 11:16pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Cailin Williams
Planning on a bender but don’t know where? Consider the Central Library. A mysterious male individual has been caught not once, not twice, but allegedly on weekly occasions of drinking six to seven bottles of wine in the Central Library over the summer break. However, the University is Read more...
Execrable: The First OUSA Exec Meeting (that Critic attended)
Posted 11:06pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Nina Brown
The OUSA Exec had their meatiest meeting yet last Wednesday, March 5th – coincidentally the first Critic Te Ārohi was in attendance for. Critic parked up in the corner couches and locked into an hour and a half of aggressive note-taking (first-year-lecture style) and aggressive listening Read more...
BDS Complaint Prompts 30-Minute “Robust” Exec Discussion
Posted 10:52pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Nina Brown
The OUSA Exec are in the hot seat over OUSA’s Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) “posture” against businesses associated with the state of Israel – including Domino’s, who was excluded from Tent City. Two formal student complaints (and one informal complaint from Read more...
Toroa Has Outgrown Its Fresher Pants
Posted 8:08pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Jonathan McCabe
Toroa College is putting on its Big Boy Pants this year, transitioning from your typical first-year hall to a self-catered accommodation option for international and domestic postgrads and mature students. There’s only so long a hall can cope with watching 17-year-olds slam two for $40 Read more...
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...
Unexpected UniFlats Maintenance Visits “An Accident Waiting to Happen”
Posted 4:40am Monday 16th September 2024 by Jodie Evans
UniFlats residents caught off-guard by unanticipated visits from staff and maintenance crew have been left feeling “a bit weird”, to say the least. One Clyde Street resident told Critic Te Ārohi that she was suffering from a severe bout of food poisoning when maintenance staff Read more...
Te Huinga Tauira, Debriefed
Posted 4:38am Monday 16th September 2024 by Gryffin Blockley
Te Rōpū Māori sent a delegation of tauira to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in the last week of August – not only to escape the Dunedin winter, but also for Te Huinga Tauira, the annual national Māori students’ conference. Māori tertiary students’ Read more...
Toast Time Introduced At Subs
Posted 3:46am Monday 16th September 2024 by Molly Smith-Soppet
Dunedin's iconic nightclub, Suburbia (Subs if you’re a real one), has introduced a new initiative aimed at keeping patrons' puku’s full and vomit off the floors. Taking a leaf out of residential colleges’ book, Subs has launched ‘Toast Time’, a weekly event held Read more...
Stumbled Down the Rabbit Hole
Posted 3:44am Monday 16th September 2024 by Jordan Irvine
Tūhura Otago Museum hosted Alice in Wonderland after dark on Friday, September 13th, a fun (18+) event based on the Lewis Carroll book and that one Tim Burton film everyone chooses to ignore. Sporting free tickets and a craving for cotton candy, Critic Te Ārohi stumbled down the rabbit Read more...
40% of Current Exec Plan To Rerun for 2025
Posted 3:42am Monday 16th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud
Nominations were open last week for the 2025 OUSA Student Exec. Critic Te Ārohi can reveal that four out of ten of the current OUSA Student Exec (40% for you maths nerds out there) are planning on sticking around next year – either rerunning for their own positions or branching into other Read more...
Castle St Courtyard Set to Split
Posted 3:37am Monday 16th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud
‘Courtyard’, the infamous intersection of breathadom between three Castle St flats, will allegedly soon be split with a fence. Breathas and sheathas alike are biting their nails at the impact the change may have on their beloved stomping ground for all manner of occasions: parties and Read more...
Crestani Parents Object to DropKicks
Posted 7:24pm Thursday 12th September 2024 by Hugh Askerud
The opening of new venue DropKicks has been a sticky subject after two community groups opposed Loboski Venues Ltd.’s liquor licence application. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) are one. Critic Te Ārohi can now reveal that the other group are Bede and Elspeth Crestani, the Read more...
Study: Drinking While Pinging Can Spoil Your High
Posted 5:12pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Monica Holopainen
A new study published by researchers at the University of Otago on New Zealand’s MDMA usage has sparked a wider conversation about the problematic outcomes of the drug when used with alcohol. Turns out, slurping a can after snorting a line (MDMA, ‘molly’) may actually Read more...
Immersive Moriori Exhibition Opening at Tūhura
Posted 4:36pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Jodie Evans
A ‘first-of-its-kind’ exhibition showcasing Moriori culture is coming to Tūhura Otago Museum. Hou Rongo – Moriori, Music, Manawa, the result of a partnership between the Hokotehi Moriori Trust and a team of Otago researchers and students, aims to take a multimedia approach to Read more...
DCC Revises Proposed Harbour Terrace Parking Changes
Posted 3:46pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Hanna Varrs
In a welcome turn of events, the Dunedin City Council has revised their proposal for parking changes along Harbour Terrace. The original proposal was to convert 60 unrestricted parking spaces on Harbour Terrace into P240, imposing a time limit on parking. Naturally, local residents (mainly students) Read more...
Bruce Aitken’s Knox Portrait Removed
Posted 3:43pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Nina Brown
A decade after quietly stepping down from his role as Knox College Master, former University of Otago Pro-Chancellor Bruce Aitken is facing sexual offence charges. The Otago Daily Times broke the news on August 29th after Aitken’s name suppression lapsed nine months after first Read more...
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