Archive
A Chat With (And Celebration Of) Otago’s Y25 Changemakers
Posted 10:36am Monday 14th September 2026 by Hanna Varrs
Now in its seventh year, twenty-five changemakers gathered at a launch gala in Tāmaki Makaurau on the 21st of August. And, because Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka is the best of the best, five of those changemakers hailed from Otago. Critic Te Ārohi was lucky enough to reflect on the Read more...
The Green Party's Pitch to Māori Students
Posted 6:44am Monday 14th September 2026 by Te Awhirēinga Heperi
Otago students registered on the Māori roll will elect the MP for Te Tai Tonga at the November 7th election. This MP will represent the whole South Island, plus the city of Wellington, in Parliament. After a six-year hiatus, the Green Party is back in the rohe, and are running a candidate in Te Read more...
EXPLAINER: University Proposes Changes to Senior Leadership Team
Posted 12:38pm Sunday 13th September 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
An anonymous source sent Critic Te Ārohi the proposed changes to the University’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT). Sparing students through trawling through pages of bureaucracy, here’s a summary of these changes, and what it means for your University experience. These changes were Read more...
Couldn’t Get It Up: SGM For Changes to Exec Roles Fails To Meet Quorum
Posted 12:36pm Sunday 13th September 2026 by Harry Almey
Last Wednesday at 12pm, a Student General Meeting was held to consider a new roster of OUSA Executive roles. Except it technically wasn't held. To change the constitution, the meeting needed 112 (around 0.5% of the student body) to show up. A solid 80 did. Imagine having to watch your friend Read more...
TLDR: Issue 22 2026
Posted 12:35pm Sunday 13th September 2026 by Critic
We're excited to announce that the 2026 Geology Ball will be held on Friday the 18th of September in the Moa Room at the Dunedin Railway Station! Mark your calendars and get ready for a fantastic night of great food, music, and celebrating with fellow geology students and staff. Tickets are on Read more...
Local Produce: What’s Hot? Moewai Rauputi Marsh
Posted 11:25am Sunday 13th September 2026 by Maea Wikohika
Some flowers bloom loudly; others take their time, unfurling petal by petal. Moewai Rauputi Marsh feels like the latter. An artist and arts facilitator based in Ōtepoti, Moewai is rooted in whakapapa, community and creativity. Of Kāi Tahu, Kāti Huirapa, Ngāti Kahungunu Read more...
Benedict Ong To Be Trespassed From All OUSA Premises
Posted 11:59am Sunday 6th September 2026 by Hanna Varrs
According to a statement provided to Critic Te Ārohi from President Daniel Leamy, the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) plans to trespass Dunedin Councillor Benedict Ong from “all OUSA premises” following reports from students alleging “inappropriate and Read more...
Critical Tribune: University Cracks Down On 21st Season
Posted 11:57am Sunday 6th September 2026 by Grey-Finn Cockley
In response to slipping academic performance in semester two, the University has recently announced plans to “crack down on 21st season” that is currently dominating the student social calendar. Plans to limit the number of 21st events were passed by the University Senate last week, and Read more...
Investigation: What Was That Nursing UoO Confession Post About?
Posted 11:54am Sunday 6th September 2026 by Harry Almey
An anonymous post, titled "Dear Otago Poly Nursing… are we okay?" appeared on the University of Otago (UoO) Meaningful Confessions page on the 22nd of July. The post complained that nursing students were being "emotionally humbled" by marking, bad lecturers and Read more...
Monkey See, Monkey Do, Monkey Win
Posted 11:52am Sunday 6th September 2026 by Saraia Allais
Bring the Noise wrapped up with a splash as seven musicians and bands went head to head for a prize pack that was essentially the wet dream for any up and coming musician. This consisted of a promo pact with Radio One, a Sublime Studios recording package valued at $2500, a Lil Sister/NicNak PR Read more...
OUSA Confirms University Bookshop Under New Ownership
Posted 10:29am Friday 4th September 2026 by Hanna Varrs
The Otago University Students’ Association has announced that the University Bookshop (UBS) has been sold to John Brenssell, with plans for the bookshop to continue operating as an independent bookstore, under the University Bookshop brand, preserving its long-standing heritage in Read more...
Benedict Ong To Be Trespassed From All OUSA Premises
Posted 2:44pm Wednesday 2nd September 2026 by Hanna Varrs
According to a statement provided to Critic Te Ārohi from President Daniel Leamy, the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) plans to trespass Dunedin Councillor Benedict Ong from “all OUSA premises” following reports from students alleging “inappropriate and Read more...
Take Notice: Student General Meeting To Be Held September 9th
Posted 12:47pm Sunday 23rd August 2026 by Hanna Varrs
A Student General Meeting (SGM) will be held in a couple of weeks, discussing major role changes to your OUSA student executive. SGMs invite students to vote on constitutional changes passed by the OUSA Exec – the constitution cannot be altered without student backing. As previously reported, Read more...
Law Revue Pisses in Rowling's Goblet of Fire
Posted 12:43pm Sunday 23rd August 2026 by Harry Almey
Law Revue shat satire all over J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter: The Goblet of Fire and called it art. It was. Law Revue 2026 follows Harry Notter, a wimpish boy forced to do chores by his evil flatmates, who receives a letter one fateful day from Albus Dumbledean. Huzzah! He has been Read more...
The Opportunity Party Lays Out Their Pitch To Students
Posted 12:41pm Sunday 23rd August 2026 by Daniel Gray
For a party with no sitting MPs, The Opportunity Party has been subject to extensive coverage coming up to this year’s election, and their polling is steadily creeping toward the five percent threshold they’ll need to enter Parliament in November. However, one criticism has been thrown Read more...
There's Too Much Talent In Dunedin
Posted 12:38pm Sunday 23rd August 2026 by Saraia Allais
OUSA’s eighth annual band competition, Bring The Noise, presented by Radio One, is well underway with seven finalists selected from two heats that took place a couple weeks ago. The up-and-coming musos will go head-to-head on the 28th of August, 8pm, at U-Bar, where they will be competing for Read more...
Law Students Rally for Mammoth Fundraising Effort
Posted 10:33am Sunday 16th August 2026 by Gryffin Blockley
A yearly effort by a group of law tauira to fundraise for Dunedin-Ōtepoti Whānau Refuge has reached new heights, with over fifty volunteers, five events, and plans to match last year’s $35,000 raised. Critic Te Ārohi sat down with Meg, the woman in charge of helping to Read more...
Subconscious Studios To Visit For Student Flash Day
Posted 10:30am Sunday 16th August 2026 by Hanna Varrs
This Thursday, students will have the absolute pleasure of getting tatted up by Martha, Kesi and Liv – all of whom hail from one of Ōtepoti’s most iconic tattoo parlours, Subconscious Studios. As a part of OUSA’s Art Week, the Subconscious artists will be camped out in the Read more...
Pint Night Fall Off?
Posted 10:27am Sunday 16th August 2026 by Luca Jamieson
Wednesday nights for many students are not spent in Central, but rather underground at the aptly named University Bar, U-Bar. Pint Night serves as the student community’s weekly chance for cheap pints, and typically offers a constant rotation of student bands. But recently, allegations have Read more...
Politicians Make Their Pitch to Students at OUSA Leaders Debate
Posted 10:25am Sunday 16th August 2026 by Bella Bates
The OUSA Leaders Debate took place in Union Hall last Tuesday, and boy, was it a wild one. With twice as many audience members than seats, the student community showed up (some quite loudly), to watch the debate. OUSA sent invitations to eight party leaders on the 3rd of February, giving them seven Read more...
Opinion: If You Want Young People To Vote, Then You Should Probably Talk To Them
Posted 10:22am Sunday 16th August 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet
It has been a big year for tertiary education in politics. Fees-free was cut, student support has been chipped away at, and somehow we are still expected to believe that young people feel politically represented. That’s why it’s a little rich when students actually ask our political Read more...
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 Montańer
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...
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