Archive
Orange Sky Ōtepoti: A Place Of Smiles, Clean Clothes and Kōrero
Posted 4:09pm Saturday 8th August 2026 by Harry Almey
Orange Sky, a charity that provides free laundry services to alleviate homelessness and hardship, opened its first location south of Ōtautahi this year — right here, in Ōtepoti. We at Critic Te Ārohi were tumbling over ourselves to see how it's been getting along since it Read more...
Critical Tribune: Dragon Causes Damage To St David’s Building
Posted 4:05pm Saturday 8th August 2026 by Claudia Rivera
Students trying to start the lock-in early last week might have had a bit of a shock when a 20-metre-long Western dragon decided to set up shop atop St Dave’s. According to a statement from University Property Services, the dragon left “minimal” damage to the building, which was a Read more...
TIB’s ‘What I Was Wearing’ Exhibit A Success
Posted 4:04pm Saturday 8th August 2026 by Maea Wikohika
Content Warning: Sexual violence, child sexual abuse, rape, intimate partner violence Thursdays in Black’s (TiB) ‘What I Was Wearing’ exhibit was held last week, and after an incredibly powerful and confronting walk through, Critic Te Ārohi sat down with a few members of Read more...
Local Produce: Sogg
Posted 4:01pm Saturday 8th August 2026 by Mack Hughes
Off the back of their second proper EP, teenage noise-rockers Sogg have confidently asserted themselves as one of the most exciting and interesting bands in the Ōtepoti music scene. Their sound is explosive, sonically tending toward the crushingly loud, heavy and dense. Ollie (vox, guitar, and Read more...
Opinion: Can The OUSA Exec Get It The Fuck Together?
Posted 3:54pm Saturday 8th August 2026 by Hanna Varrs
The OUSA Executive appears to be sick of its current structure, floating changes that would see the death of the Post Graduate Representative and Political Representative, plus the rebirth of a Disability Representative. On behalf of esteemed publication Critic Te Ārohi, I would like formally Read more...
Med Revue turns 50 in "Wounderland"
Posted 8:14pm Sunday 2nd August 2026 by Harry Almey
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Med Revue had audiences tumbling down the rabbit hole to see its latest production, Alice in Wounderland. Critic Te Ārohi dived in too, braving the risk of getting lost in a warren of medical jokes that fly over our heads. Spoilers: only 4. Someone had to Read more...
Local Produce: The Yard
Posted 11:50am Sunday 2nd August 2026 by Paige Milburn
On the 11th of July, an exciting new event made its sold-out debut in the Ōtepoti hip-hop scene: The Yard. Founded by third year Nutrition student and local hip-hop dancer Martha McAuley, along with the creators of the Dunedin pre-loved clothing store 324 Central Market, The Yard is a street Read more...
UBS To Shut Down After More Than 80 Years of Service
Posted 11:47am Sunday 2nd August 2026 by Daniel Gray
For more than eighty years, the University Bookshop has been a fixture of student life, and a staple of the wider Dunedin community. When it first opened in 1945, under the management of the Presbyterian Book Room, the first page was turned in the UUniversity’s story following the Second Read more...
St Daves Building Occupied In Student Strike For Education
Posted 11:45am Sunday 2nd August 2026 by Bella Bates
Hundreds of students marched through the University of Otago last Wednesday to protest the abolition of the Fees Free scheme. The campus-wide demonstration ended with the group occupying the St David’s building, protesting rising tertiary education costs and government funding cuts. According Read more...
OUSA Exec Quarterly Reports: Round Two
Posted 11:44am Sunday 2nd August 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
Time sure does fly when you’re having fun – how can it be quarterly report time already? In order for the OUSA Exec to get paid their honorariums (their equivalent of wages), each member must write a report of everything they’ve gotten up to in the last three months. The Exec will Read more...
Study Now, Debt… Forever?: Student Strike for Education
Posted 10:02am Sunday 26th July 2026 by Bella Bates
The countdown is on for the Student Strike for Education, set to kick off this Wednesday at 12pm on Union Lawn. The strike is being organised by Education Action Group 26 (EAG26), a student-led movement that emerged this year in the wake of last semester’s Fees Free protest. To find out what Read more...
University Review Finds “No Substantive Evidence” In Favour Of Ending Palo Alto Networks Partnership
Posted 9:58am Sunday 26th July 2026 by Stella Weston
Following controversy earlier this year around the University of Otago’s proposed partnership with Israeli-government linked Palo Alto Networks, Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson announced a review of the partnership agreement. This has now been completed, concluding that there is “no Read more...
Quickfire Sex Ed Q&A with Melody Thomas
Posted 9:55am Sunday 26th July 2026 by Stella Weston
For nearly ten years, Melody Thomas has been talking about sex and relationships. If she keeps that up for another 91 years, she’ll be a lot like Critic Te Ārohi. Melody’s the creator and host of the Good Sex Podcast, so we were pleased to have a yarn about all things intimate from Read more...
Local Produce: Natasha – Dun Records
Posted 9:52am Sunday 26th July 2026 by Hanna Varrs
A couple of weeks ago, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and Sabrina Carpenter had a bad day in Aotearoa. That’s because 4EPs, a recent release featuring four EPs by local Dunedin bands Sogg, U-No Juno, Vagina Dry and Sivle Talk, debuted at the number one spot on the Official Aotearea Music Read more...
Dunedin Thunder Women’s Hockey Team Takes On Auckland Steel
Posted 9:37am Saturday 18th July 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet
This weekend, the Dunedin Women’s Thunder take on league leaders Auckland Steel in the semi-finals of the New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League (NZWIHL) season. This will be the last chance for Dunedinites to catch the team at home this year, and if Thunder players Caitlin and Manuella are Read more...
Local Produce: Sewlutions Studio by Sanda
Posted 9:35am Saturday 18th July 2026 by Harry Almey
Startup Dunedin runs a yearly Student Pitch Competition, where students with a growing start-up or side hustle can win up to $5000 for their mahi. As we look forward to this year's Student Pitch Competition, Critic Te Ārohi decided to check in on the progress of last year's co-champion, Read more...
Critic Chit-Chats with Chippy
Posted 9:33am Saturday 18th July 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
Labour Leader Chris Hipkins (the Chris nicknamed Chippy, not the other one), braved a Dunedin winter's day to come down to campus for Re:Ori’s Clubs Day. Critic Te Ārohi managed to snag a spot in the former Prime Minister’s packed schedule to talk about some of the key issues Read more...
Critical Tribune: Landlords Advertise Mould As “Heritage Feature”
Posted 9:10am Saturday 18th July 2026 by Saraia Allais
Local property managers in North Dunedin have begun rebranding black mould as a “heritage feature”, with one manager stating that “black mould is just such an ugly term for a local treasure”. The change follows an increase in complaints from students expecting rental Read more...
The 2026 Re:Ori Lineup
Posted 4:25pm Saturday 11th July 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
Critic Te Ārohi hopes you have mentally recovered from the first semester. Godspeed if you have any special exams this week – we do not envy you. Before the lock-in starts (we know you’re planning one after those results), there’s a whole week of good stuff to get up to. Read more...
Post-It Note “Warfare” Over AI-Generated Poster
Posted 4:23pm Saturday 11th July 2026 by Stella Weston
Late last semester, a mailing list of Zoology Postgraduate students received a “not-positive email message” from their Head of Department. Critic Te Ārohi understands that the email was sent following some students putting critical post-it notes on an AI-generated poster made by Read more...
Explore Your Artistic Streak With Andrew McCulloch
Posted 4:16pm Saturday 11th July 2026 by Jesse Valpy
Local Artist Andrew McCulloch is running five Life Drawing Classes from the 29th July through to 26th August, on Wednesdays from 6 to 8pm. Taking place in the Evison Lounge at Clubs and Socs, you don’t need to trek far from your flat to pick up a new winter hobby. These sessions are entirely Read more...
EXPLAINER: University Publishes Ethical Investment Policy
Posted 4:15pm Saturday 11th July 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
On Friday July 3rd, the University published their new Ethical Investment Policy. This followed the acceptance of the findings of the Working Group on Institutional Neutrality. Those findings included a recommendation to develop and adopt an ethical investment policy. Why did the University Read more...
Critical Tribune: University Confirms Plans to Construct Campus Ice Rink
Posted 4:11pm Saturday 11th July 2026 by Grey-Finn Cockley
According to a statement from the University to Critical Tribune, the ice rink (included in fees from Semester Two onwards) will “reduce seasonal depression, boost morale and give physio students something to do other than keg stands.” Critical Tribune speculates that this foray into Read more...
The Man Behind Craig Daniels: Will Murphy
Posted 12:23pm Saturday 23rd May 2026 by Hanna Varrs
Second-year Will Murphy (@willmurphycomedy) has “always been into theatre”, which makes it no surprise that when he enrolled in Otago he chose to major in Theatre Studies. With a “soft spot” for comedians, he grew up watching the likes of Rowan Atkinson (better known as his Read more...
Government to Tweak Climate Change Law
Posted 12:20pm Saturday 23rd May 2026 by Jack Evans
Amid a flurry of news from the Government, such as the cutting of fees free, and Judith Collins leaving Parliament (tofā soifua Judith), Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith has dropped a bombshell for the future of Aotearoa’s climate change response. Here is a quick explainer from Critic Read more...
Diversify The Library: Books That Reflect Our Experience
Posted 12:18pm Saturday 23rd May 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
With over twenty thousand students, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka tauira boast a massive range of backgrounds and lived experiences. In order to reflect this range, the team behind the library has a new project: Diversify the Library (DTL). They’re working hard to have their (already Read more...
Capping Show Review: Unleashed, Hilarious and Over Too Soon
Posted 12:17pm Saturday 23rd May 2026 by Harry Almey, Bella Bates, & Jonathan McCabe
Critic Te Ārohi, risking life and limb after publishing a not-so-positive review last year, returned to this year's Capping Show. Thankfully, we didn't have to worry. We only needed to get about 10 minutes in before realising that we weren't going to regret putting them on the front Read more...
Critic Te Ārohi’s (Theatrical) Guide to Mid-Year Break
Posted 12:07pm Saturday 23rd May 2026 by Saraia Allais
If you’re stuck down in Dunners for the upcoming break, don’t fall to the temptation of a three-week long bed rot. If you fancy doing something other than drinking the cold away, or finding hot new ways to procrastinate exam study, Critic Te Ārohi’s got you. Happy end of Read more...
Local Produce: U-No Juno
Posted 12:06pm Sunday 17th May 2026 by Ethan Montañer
U-No Juno are undoubtedly one of the most enthralling bands in the current Ōtepoti music scene, pulling from a colourful array of influences to craft their own self-described brand of “post-post-post-post-post-post-post hardcore”. Since 2024, the band have been carving out a name Read more...
International Students Report Insurance Delays
Posted 11:54am Sunday 17th May 2026 by Georgia Hejduková
International exchange students are a staple of the University of Otago’s community. However, it’s easy to forget to question some of the barriers they may face in getting here. One such barrier is health and travel insurance, which is a prerequisite for international students. While the Read more...
Runway Revival a Runaway Success
Posted 11:51am Sunday 17th May 2026 by Te Awhirēinga Heperi
Runway Revival 2026 had Errick’s packed with Ōtepoti’s most fashionable residents (believe it or not, they do exist down here). The fashion show featured a wraparound runway, twinkling lights, and the skilled Dunedin quartet, all put together by Presbyterian Support to showcase Read more...
A Peep Behind The Capping Show Curtains
Posted 11:49am Sunday 17th May 2026 by Harry Almey
'Twas the week before Capping opening night, and the walls of Central were plastered with missing posters of the cast. As worried as the next guy, Critic Te Ārohi put on a brave face and big-boy pants and went undercover to investigate. Critic understands that the cast of SQUEAL: A Read more...
“Misunderstanding” Results In University Removing OSJP Posters
Posted 10:37am Sunday 10th May 2026 by Hanna Varrs
Critic Te Ārohi recently received a tip from a café worker at St David Café, who was allegedly asked to remove posters put up by Otago Students for Justice In Palestine (OSJP) on the 22nd of April. The employee told Critic that café workers were asked to remove the Read more...
Unions Rally For May Day
Posted 10:31am Sunday 10th May 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet
Union flags filled Union Hall last Friday (lol), as around 150 workers, students, and organisers gathered to mark May Day (also known as International Workers’ Day). The hui brought together a wide cross-section of unions — from nurses and firefighters to supermarket workers and Read more...
Palo Alto Partnership Under “Review”
Posted 10:28am Sunday 10th May 2026 by Hanna Varrs
What Happened? As previously reported, the University of Otago has confirmed a partnership with Palo Alto Networks (PANW), a cybersecurity company that has been accused of having “deep links to the Israeli government” by Otago Staff for Palestine (OSP). The partnership is intended to Read more...
Local Produce: Emily Esplin
Posted 10:24am Sunday 10th May 2026 by Maea Wikohika
Emily Esplin (she/they) is an emerging Ōtepoti artist carving out a sound that feels raw, honest, and distinctly their own. Her music sits somewhere between vulnerability and distortion, a space where soft introspection collides with an ever-growing rock influence. She’s also Read more...
Leary’s Theory for Better Mental Health Services
Posted 10:19am Sunday 10th May 2026 by Harry Almey
Ingrid Leary, Labour MP of Taieri since 2020, and Labour Spokesperson for Mental Health, recently sat down for her first-ever interview with Critic Te Ārohi. Young people consistently have ranked the mental health crisis and climate change as their top concerns for the future, so Ingrid wants Read more...
North D in Thirty Years: What Will Our Flats Look Like?
Posted 10:18am Sunday 10th May 2026 by Stella Weston
The North Dunedin Spatial Plan Project aims to ensure that there is enough housing for students in North D for the next thirty years. But that’s not just any housing – it’s housing that encapsulates what students want. Novel! Organised by the City Development Team of the Dunedin Read more...
“Stay Petty”: The Subs and Cats Saga
Posted 2:48pm Sunday 3rd May 2026 by Bella Bates
The drama is bubbling over between two of Dunedin’s biggest players in student nightlife in a TikTok-based standoff. Suburbia (lovingly known to the fresher population as ‘Subs’) took to TikTok with a not-so-subtle jab at rival Catacombs (‘Cats’). Feathers were Read more...
University Trials Partnership With Parking Enforcement Services
Posted 2:45pm Sunday 3rd May 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
Parking Enforcement Services (PES) have been contracted to conduct a parking enforcement trial at two car parks over the next three months, a University of Otago spokesperson has confirmed to Critic Te Ārohi. You may recognise PES from major supermarket parking lots in Dunedin, or, if Read more...
Critic Te Ārohi x The Maharajas: Charity Edition
Posted 2:43pm Sunday 3rd May 2026 by Imogen Perry
Critic Te Ārohi and Dave from The Maharajas: we’ve got a loving history. A match made in heaven, one might say. On Saturday the 9th of May, Dave and the Maharajas team will be hosting the ultimate charity night – good vibes, good flavours, good people. So we’ve taken the Read more...
Crisis Café Opens In North East Valley
Posted 2:41pm Sunday 3rd May 2026 by Harry Almey
It’s another win for wellbeing in Otago, with the South Island's second Crisis Recovery Café opening in the North East Valley. Operated by the Otago Mental Health Support Trust (OMHST), the café shares spaces with the Valley Project. Critic Te Ārohi sat down for an Read more...
Local Produce: Rheumy
Posted 1:35pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Ethan Montañer
Rheumy are a self-described “kosmiche noise group” who materialised into Ōtepoti’s music scene in early 2025. The trio create compositions that can be difficult to pin down with descriptions — the music is somehow free-form yet intentional, rhythmic yet droning — Read more...
Student Wellbeing Hub is (Officially) Open
Posted 1:26pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Harry Almey
Two years after announcing that Te Pou Whirinaki (the Wellbeing Hub) would take the place of the old Campus South stationary shop, Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson, and National Party Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey, gathered on the 15th of April for its official opening. Te Pou Whirinaki Read more...
Strait Talk: What’s Actually Going On in Hormuz?
Posted 1:24pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Bella Bates
With TikTok explainers flying around and group chats spiralling, Critic Te Ārohi went straight to Professor Robert Patman to make sense of the escalating situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Patman, a Professor in the University of Otago’s Politics Department, specialises in international Read more...
Possums? We Don’t Know Her
Posted 1:22pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Luke MacLeod
The Otago Peninsula was declared possum free in March, making it one of the first inhabited landscape-scale areas in Aotearoa to successfully eliminate the pest. Critic Te Ārohi reached out to Chris Arnison, Community Coordinator and Operations Director of the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Read more...
Execrable: Written Warning, MoU and Political Planning
Posted 1:18pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Hanna Varrs
Celebrating 4/20 likely in a different way to most students, the OUSA Exec still managed to push their fortnightly meeting up to a marathon two and a half hours on the 20th of April. Who can say they aren’t dedicated? There was a heap on the agenda to get through, and get through it they Read more...
‘Dunedin Herald’ Taking Shit Posting to the Next Level
Posted 1:17pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Stella Weston
The Dunedin Herald is a new satirical Instagram account, self-described as “our most special city’s most trusted news”. Despite being only six days old at time of writing, they’ve gained over 1400 followers. Although the student behind the account wanted to remain anonymous Read more...
Delivereasy Statistics Reveal Dunedin’s Food Delivery Diagnosis
Posted 1:15pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Imogen Perry
A fifteen minute walk in the cold versus experiencing the full offerings of Fatty Lane from bed for a $5 delivery fee – this choice is becoming shamefully easy. Kiwi-owned delivery platform, Delivereasy, has recently shed light upon customer statistics, revealing the tendency for tauira across Read more...
Q&A with Q and Dave
Posted 1:42pm Sunday 19th April 2026 by Stella Weston
Qiulae 'Q' Wong believes that the “role of government is to look at the horizon and stand for that.” She’s sick of the divisive, “pendulum politics” that we see in New Zealand today, with governments undoing policy changes with every switch in power. Founded in Read more...
OUSA Q1 Exec Reports: These guys want to get paid
Posted 1:38pm Sunday 19th April 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
After riding the high of their election wins last year, the OUSA Executive have had to put their heads down and start the mahi for 2026. The Exec gets paid through something called ‘honorariums’. In order to receive their honorarium, the Exec members must hand in a quarterly Read more...
Critical Tribune: Breatha Raises Hand in Class
Posted 1:29pm Sunday 19th April 2026 by Dildo Connor
Second year breatha, Shooda Sckipt, was sat in his Tuesday morning lecture last week. Talking to Critical Tribune reporters, Shooda recounted that he had “surprisingly mustered up the courage” to make it to a lecture for a class that had an upcoming midterm assignment – no small Read more...
The Bowling Club Needs Students
Posted 1:25pm Sunday 19th April 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet
Whether you don’t know what to cook in the flat tonight, are struggling with midterm stress, or your body is beginning to deteriorate due not seeing a vegetable in a week, Critic Te Ārohi has a solution for you. The Bowling Club delivers straight to OUSA Clubs and Socs, which is a perfect Read more...
Vice-Chancellor’s Welcome Email Returns 100% AI Prediction
Posted 4:34pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Hanna Varrs
Critic Te Ārohi recently received a news tip from an anonymous student that ran Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson’s welcome email through GPTZero (Model 4.2b). The message was sent to all students at the start of the year, and had the subject-line “Student update: 25 February Read more...
Explainer: Albany Street Connection Project
Posted 4:27pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Hanna Varrs
Since 2021, the Dunedin City Council (DCC) has done heaps of advertising, letter drops, media coverage and public consultation about the changes happening to Albany Street and surrounding areas. The $4.8 million Albany Street Connection Project (ASCP) construction and road reseal will fully take Read more...
University Defends Partnership With Palo Alto Networks
Posted 4:17pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Stella Weston
The University of Otago announced its partnership with international cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks (PANW) in May of last year to aid in the development of a new Masters in Digital Technology at the budding Queenstown campus. However, the partnership has recently come under scrutiny by Otago Read more...
Local Produce: Bunchy’s Big Score
Posted 4:12pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Ethan Montañer
Bunchy’s Big Score is an Ōtepoti art/pop/rock band who have become well-loved in the local scene over the past two years. Known for their noisy ear-worm bangers and ridiculously fun live shows, the quartet is preparing for what will be their biggest year yet. The band’s current Read more...
Critical Tribune: Hyde Street Party 2026 Flat Themes Unveiled
Posted 4:09pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Dyldo Connor
As Otago students return from mid-sem break, speculation from the shitposters of the Castle26 Facebook group has been at an all time high. Critical Tribune is here to put the rumors to bed and confirm the official Hyde Street Party flat themes. Critical Tribune investigative journalists spoke to Read more...
Thursdays in Black: More Than Just a Black T-Shirt
Posted 4:05pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Bella Bates
The concept behind Thursdays in Black (TiB) couldn’t be simpler: wear black on Thursdays. Through symbolically wearing black each week on campus, TiB Otago creates weekly visibility and raises awareness of those who have experienced or are experiencing sexual violence. Despite winning Read more...
What’s Going On With Eduroam?
Posted 12:32pm Sunday 29th March 2026 by Bella Bates
This year, Critic Te Ārohi has noticed a spike in online grumbling about the University Wi-Fi, eduroam. Students have taken to forums (such as Castle26 and UoO Confessions – our favourite unofficial channels) in droves to air their grievances, which mostly boil down to this: the internet Read more...
Get Standards and Start Complaining
Posted 12:29pm Sunday 29th March 2026 by Stella Weston
By not speaking up when something is wrong with a product or service, young people and students are losing themselves a collective estimated $16.5 million every year. Kadie Wilson, an advisor for consumer services at MBIE had some words to share with students about the benefits of making a fuss when Read more...
OUSA Reception Rescues At Least $25,000 of Lost Property
Posted 12:26pm Sunday 29th March 2026 by Harry Almey
In the days after St. Patrick's, OUSA Lost Property received 26 quality drink bottles, 14 chargers, 5 pairs of headphones, 4 Apple pens, 3 reading glasses, 2 telephones, 1 driver's license (rescued from Castle26 box negotiations), and 80 more assorted items. They don't have a partridge Read more...
Cost of Living and Unemployment Take a Hit on OUSA Student Hardship Fund
Posted 12:21pm Sunday 29th March 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
With 2026 well underway, many of Ōtepoti’s tauira are feeling the pressure from gold-plated petrol prices and the hellscape of Aotearoa’s supermarket duopoly. With seemingly the cost of everything on the rise, student hardship is taking a toll, and she’s not slowing for Read more...
Local Produce: AW / Andrew Wilson
Posted 12:17pm Sunday 29th March 2026 by Ethan Montañer
Andrew Wilson is an Ōtepoti-born musician with a hectic but impressive musical career. Many will know him as the frontman/guitarist of post-punk trio Die! Die! Die!, one of Aotearoa’s most important and consistent bands of the last 20 odd years. In that band he’s played innumerable Read more...
Local Produce: Deaf Raccoon
Posted 12:29pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Ethan Montañer
Deaf Raccoon are one of Dunedin’s most exciting new alternative punk bands, and are a testament to the importance of having all-ages gigs. Having only played their first gig in April of last year, the four-piece have already released a single, played the Rockquest National Finals, and made Read more...
Tamatha Paul Talks Housing
Posted 12:18pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Stella Weston
Tamatha Paul, Green MP for Wellington Central, and Party Spokesperson for housing (among other things), caught up with Critic Te Ārohi for a chat about the Green’s upcoming housing campaign. Housing is something that affects everyone, whether you’re “a student living in a Read more...
Dunedin Youth Orchestra Unlocks New Sound
Posted 12:15pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Stella Weston
In a grand collaboration with Dunedin Youth Orchestra, international performer and composer Daniel Verstappen (yes, a relative of the F1 driver) will be playing at Hanover Hall on the 1st of April. Belgium-born Daniel fell in love with New Zealand when he visited two years ago, and he hopes this Read more...
Second Year Law Camp Cancelled “For The Foreseeable Future”
Posted 12:14pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Hanna Varrs
Law Camp was a fixture of the second year law experience at the University of Otago. Hosted by the Society of Otago University Law Students (SOULS), they quietly cancelled for this year’s iteration of the camp. The event was traditionally a getaway to the country – featuring skits, Read more...
Semesters Dropped to 12 Weeks For 2027
Posted 12:11pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Hanna Varrs
This just in – the University of Otago is planning to change our semesters from 13 weeks to 12 starting from 2027. The saved week will be used as what they’re calling a “reading week” for students. It’s well known that Otago’s hick cousins, Lincoln and Read more...
Case of Meningococcal Disease Found In Student Community
Posted 7:53pm Saturday 14th March 2026 by Hanna Varrs
As many are well aware, the University recently confirmed a case of meningococcal disease within the student community. Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson’s reassurances regarding the situation were beamed directly to everyone with a student.otago.ac.nz address. Meningitis is not to be messed Read more...
Fringe Starts with Bang(s)
Posted 7:47pm Saturday 14th March 2026 by Stella Weston
With shows ranging from comedy to ballet and everything in between, the Dunedin Fringe Festival is in full swing. Running from the 11th of March to the 22nd, this program is stacked with 93 shows in venues across Ōtepoti. Time to text the flat gc and do a wholesome outing for a Read more...
Politicians vs Professors
Posted 7:44pm Saturday 14th March 2026 by Te Awhirēinga Heperi
With an eager crowd watching and the sun shining overhead, a football game kicked off on Logan Park last Sunday, March 8th. Usually, that’d be nothing out of the ordinary. But if passersby cared to look a little closer, they’d see that gangly adolescent limbs had been traded with the Read more...
Local Produce: Monkey Do
Posted 7:42pm Saturday 14th March 2026 by Ethan Montañer
Monkey Do are a new pack of primates/alternative rock band who love the Ōtepoti music scene, and have spent the past year refining their sound at Pint Nights and flat gigs. Critic Te Ārohi caught up with Rowan (guitar, he/him), Mack (bass, he/she), Pato (guitar, he/him) and Kam (drums, Read more...
Foo Fighters Seeking Help
Posted 12:26pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Dylan O'Connor
Local Ōtepoti feminist punk band, SEEK HELP!, has been announced as one of the openers for the upcoming concert of American rock band Foo Fighters. SEEK HELP! made history last year by being one of two bands representing Otago at Smokefreerockquest 2025, and they finished in third place. Now, Read more...
E-Waste Department Saves Uni $40,000 in 2025
Posted 12:24pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Harry Almey
Te Oraka, a gem in the centre of campus, is full of student-run businesses and second-hand goods. Lesser known is that it also houses a selection of rescued e-waste. Critic Te Ārohi dusted themselves off one dreary day, and went to explore. Tucked in behind the second-hand clothes (nothing Read more...
Plug Pulled on Electric Hyde
Posted 12:22pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Imogen Perry
Electric Hyde, a proposed event advertised in popular Castle26 Facebook group as an alternative to Elective Avenue, was quickly cancelled following discussions with the University and the Otago University Students’ Association. Critic Te Ārohi understands that Hyde Street residents were Read more...
Students, Lecturers and Tutors React to New LMS Aoroa
Posted 12:18pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Bella Bates
In a move that has been met with both confusion and celebration, the University of Otago has officially started the roll out of Aoroa, its shiny new learning management system (LMS), powered by Brightspace. Despite being touted as a modern upgrade, Aoroa has already been critically received by Read more...
Local Produce: Cue-Go
Posted 12:08pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Harry Almey
One day, in a rush to class, you'll pass Startup Dunedin on Leithbank. If you take a moment to really look, you'll spy a poster in the window of a student business they have proudly nurtured. Ready, set, Cue-Go. The audio-visual event tech company, Cue-Go, is a star in the sky, Read more...
New Cheap Lunch Spot Opens Next to Campus
Posted 5:30pm Sunday 1st March 2026 by Hanna Varrs
Students may have noticed a new food truck operating out of the Museum Llawn, staffed with broad smiles and piling $5 Love Feasts onto plates. Jane Beecroft caught up with Critic Te Ārohi to discuss the mahi behind Krisha Kai, as well as the menu. “Samosas, smoothies, hot chips, apple Read more...
Otago Alumni Creates Flatchat: A Site That Lets You Read and Write Flat Reviews
Posted 4:56pm Sunday 1st March 2026 by Hanna Varrs
Ryan Cole is a 2022 University of Otago software engineering graduate, and the creator of Flatchat. He “really enjoyed” his time at Otago, and had some “fun and interesting” flatting experiences – including some more gnarly ones. “That’s where the idea for Read more...
Local Produce: The Plan Gig Guide
Posted 1:57pm Sunday 1st March 2026 by Ethan Montañer
No matter how long you’ve been in Dunedin’s music scene, it can still feel impossible to keep track of every gig that’s happening throughout the week. Luckily for you, a small team of local musos and fans have put together The Plan Gig Guide, a printed guide featuring a Read more...
Spilling The Green Tea With Chlöe and Francisco
Posted 1:43pm Sunday 1st March 2026 by Bella Bates
Before making their case for the upcoming election, Green Party Co-Leader Chlöe Swarbrick and Dunedin electoral candidate Francisco Hernandez joined Critic Te Ārohi for a more intimate Q&A over at Pearl Diver. Chlöe didn’t eat the crusts of her potato pizza, but we’ll Read more...
OUSA $4 Lunch SURGES to $5 Lunch
Posted 10:20am Monday 23rd February 2026 by Hanna Varrs
Cheap lunch over in OUSA’s Clubs & Socs building has been a mainstay of campus life for decades now. Brought to you by St Kilda’s Tandoree Garden, $4 Lunch has looked the same since 2022. However, four years later, 2026 brings a change in price as well as menu: a $1 price increase, Read more...
Local Produce: WarPossumTV
Posted 4:13pm Sunday 22nd February 2026 by Ethan Montañer
Ōtepoti’s music scene has a knack for producing incredible young bands, across any and all styles. Committed to preserving and capturing this talent, while adding in his own DIY flair, is Tane Cotton. “I think every local scene is special and needs to be preserved, but I think ours Read more...
Inflation Hits Rob Roy
Posted 4:05pm Sunday 22nd February 2026 by Jonathan McCabe
The price of Rob Roy’s learner cone has climbed to $3.50, a whopping thirty cent increase from last year. This is the second wave of price surges to face ice cream enjoyers since the Ma family took over the reins in July of 2024. Third year student Nico reckons that the iconic spot has gotten Read more...
Castle26 Admins Tell All about Shitposting Crackdown
Posted 4:02pm Sunday 22nd February 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
Castle26: arguably the cornerstone of the North D community. The sixteen thousand strong membership (allegedly free of freshers) have provided an important space to find a random Facebook flatmate, sell your Electric Ave ticket for exorbitant prices and laugh at your mates license being held ransom Read more...
By-Election brings Old Worms out of the Woodwork
Posted 3:58pm Sunday 22nd February 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet
Dunedin is heading back to the ballot box… Again. A by-election is being held to fill the vacant seat left by the tragic passing of Councillor and former Mayor Jules Radich. Nominations are currently open and will close on March 2nd, with voting beginning April 10th. This Read more...
Fundraising for Mental Health: A Marathon, not a Sprint (Literally)
Posted 3:53pm Sunday 22nd February 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet
On March 7th at 5am, while the rest of Ōtepoti is fast asleep or stumbling home after a big Friday night, Philip Yeardley will be up running in circles. For 100 kilometres. Having already completed a marathon, a 50km run, and the Three Peaks challenge, men's mental health advocate Read more...
Critic Te Ārohi Wins Best Publication at Aotearoa Student Press Awards
Posted 12:25pm Thursday 13th November 2025 by Critic
In its 100th year, Critic Te Ārohi won Best Publication at the Aotearoa Student Press Association Awards (ASPAs) held in Ōtepoti on November 8th. Known for its irreverence and bold approach to student life at the University of Otago, the magazine placed in all but four categories at the Read more...
Skilled Students Snag Blues and Golds
Posted 4:05pm Monday 13th October 2025 by Gryffin Blockley
The annual Blues and Golds awards were held last Thursday to celebrate cultural and sporting achievements of Otago tauira. The yearly ceremony is a collaboration between the University and OUSA, proving just how well some students are able to lock in. In total, 56 individuals or clubs got an award. Read more...
Job-Seeking Students Say “Bullshit” to Luxon’s Employment Claims
Posted 3:10pm Monday 13th October 2025 by Nina Brown
Prime Minister Chris Luxon and Minister for Social Development Louise Upston announced last week that the Government will be imposing further restrictions for Jobseeker applicants. The news sparked an influx of national headlines speculating whether Luxon’s “tough love” approach Read more...
OUSA Quarter 3 Wrapped: Part II
Posted 3:04pm Monday 13th October 2025 by Gryffin Blockley
At last week’s Exec meeting, the last half of the quarter three reports were approved. Here’s what those Exec members got up to to get paid for their honorarium (i.e., top-up their StudyLink). It was a drama-filled quarter for many, but here’s what the Exec were doing when Critic Read more...
A Letter from Grant Robertson
Posted 2:32pm Monday 13th October 2025 by Grant Robertson
As we head to the end of the year, I wanted to wish you all good luck with exams, and hopefully a restful summer before as many as possible of you return in 2026. It has been a difficult year for universities in Aotearoa. The year began with us still reeling from the government’s Read more...
Promposals Sweep North D
Posted 2:26pm Monday 13th October 2025 by Liberty Murray
A group of exchange students swapped their jorts and scuffs for black tie attire on Saturday, October 4th to bring American-style proms to Ōtepoti. Complete with elaborate promposals, the classic awkward photos, and highly sought after awards, organisers Buck and Murray described the Read more...
Critical Tribune: STI Rates Plummet in North D as Castle Clears Out for Exams
Posted 2:24pm Monday 13th October 2025 by Mary Fartin Benz
Reports from frightened freshers have highlighted the concerning increase in Butter hats and Birks across Central Library’s floors. “I didn’t know they knew where campus was!” said Tim, a first-year and future breatha from Studholme, telling Critical Tribune he’s Read more...
Critical Tribune: Fresher Gets Quick Lesson In Tenancy Law After Falling Out With Friend Group They Signed With In January
Posted 10:59pm Saturday 4th October 2025 by Anna Marrs
Critical Tribune has received several news tips over the past couple of weeks complaining about the “absolute state” of tenancy law. Turns out, signing a contract with your mates halfway through first sem isn’t a committed display of the fact you’ll love each other forever, Read more...
Polytech Proposes Switch To Telehealth Student Health Services
Posted 10:20pm Saturday 4th October 2025 by Hanna Varrs
On the 26th of September, the Otago Polytech advised kaimahi, ākonga, the Otago Polytech Students Association, stakeholders, and the media (except for Critic – we found out through a student) of a proposal to move to a telehealth set up for their student health provision for the 2026 Read more...
OUSA Quarter 3 Wrapped: Part I
Posted 10:16pm Saturday 4th October 2025 by Gryffin Blockley
In the blink of an eye, quarter three wrapped up at OUSA at the end of August. With everything from scandals to elections dominating headlines, the Exec has still been hard at work serving students’ interests. While its impossible to cover everything, here’s a taster of what the Exec has Read more...
“Business As Usual” OUSA Budget Dropped
Posted 10:10pm Saturday 4th October 2025 by Nina Brown
OUSA’s budget for 2026 has dropped. You might read “budget” and feel your eyes glaze over. But just as your budget is crucial to stretching StudyLink payments across keeping a roof over your head, avoiding scurvy, and storing away a little extra for barista-made treats or a box on Read more...
Fitzy’s DJ Decks and a Dream
Posted 10:08pm Saturday 4th October 2025 by Stella Weston
As exam season looms, OUSA hosted their Future DJ Competition to refocus on what's really important to students: loud sounds in a club. Hosted in collaboration with George FM and Catacombs, the event boasted an impressive array of prizes intended to help kickstart DJ careers, from festival sets Read more...
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