Archive

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...