Archive

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...