Archive

An Indigenous Opinion on the Queen’s Death:

Posted 3:54pm Sunday 2nd October 2022 by Skyla o Ngāti Hine

As the world remembers Queen Elizabeth II, it is clear that for many, her 70-year-long reign symbolised great strength and familiarity. However, with the #RoyalFamily TikTok hashtag skyrocketing to 17.7 billion views, and Parliament’s recent declaration of September 26th as an official day of Read more...

What Houseplant Are You?

Posted 2:46pm Sunday 2nd October 2022 by Nina Brown

The frost-bitten landscape of Ōtepoti doesn’t exactly provide the ideal living environment for houseplants – or students, for that matter. But there’s nothing quite like a flat filled with withering houseplants at varying stages of mortality, and this quiz will help you Read more...

Liz Stokes of The Beths on ‘Expert In A Dying Field’:

Posted 1:55pm Saturday 24th September 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

Aotearoa indie darlings, The Beths, released their third album ‘Expert In A Dying Field’ mid-way through this month. To Critic’s surprise, the album is not actually about our humanities/marine science students and staff looking on in despair as their department is slowly snuffed Read more...

Unipol: Opioid of the masses?

Posted 1:52pm Saturday 24th September 2022 by Hugh Askerud

It’s a Saturday night. You’ve decided to do scrumpy hands and are midway through the second bottle feeling at the top of your game. Then it strikes you: that ‘what the fuck am I doing’ sort of feeling that inevitably leaves you in tears. Everyone has moments like this, where Read more...

BASK Vol. III: A Deep Dive into Ōtepoti’s Newest Creative Community

Posted 1:50pm Saturday 24th September 2022 by Kaia Kahurangi Jamieson

There’s something about this city. Something that made Chris Knox pick up a guitar, Taika Waititi envision a film set in his dingy student flat, and Steven Malkmus refer to us ‘home-baking Kiwis’ in Pavement’s recently blown-up TikTok hit Harness your Hopes. We come here and Read more...

Local Produce: Dunedin Dream Brokerage

Posted 10:16pm Sunday 18th September 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

If you’ve heard birdsong on George Street, or admired the rainbow lights adorning the street during Pride month, then you’ve experienced the mahi of Dunedin Dream Brokerage. We talked to Madison Kelly to learn more about this dynamic local organisation.  The focus of Dunedin Read more...

Quiz: How did you get arrested?

Posted 8:34pm Sunday 18th September 2022 by Critic

Oof, things are a bit blurry this morning. You’ve ended up in the paddy wagon (again!) but this time, you’re not sure how. Let’s see if we can piece things together: how did you get arrested? You’ve got a big night coming up, so the first stop is the piss shop. What are Read more...

New Zealand FurCon (Furry Convicts)

Posted 8:27pm Sunday 18th September 2022 by Arlo Hill

Max the Paddle Pop Lion: Suspect Description: Max the Lion, also known as Paddle Pop the Lion, is not only the Mascot of the flavoursome ice creams; he is also the star of his own nightmare-fuelling animated TV show/movies where his otherworldly agility and strength are demonstrated. Like, Read more...

Cone Stealing

Posted 8:17pm Sunday 18th September 2022 by Keegan Wells

Ah, the road cone. The orange trumpet, the witch’s hat, the tradie’s funnel. Whatever you want to call it, it serves an important purpose within society: allowing drunk students to commit a (mostly) victimless crime and be creative with interior decorating. Except it’s mostly Read more...

Behind Bars:

Posted 7:53pm Sunday 18th September 2022 by Annabelle Parata Vaughan (Ngāi Tahu)

We often look to the Treaty of Waitangi as the definitive turning point in New Zealand history. As the founding document and shared agreement between two peoples, many look at this early colonial era as a time of trade, survival and adapting to a new society. Pākehā immersed themselves in Read more...

Local Produce: Aidan Taira Geraghty

Posted 6:36pm Sunday 11th September 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

Ko Maukatere tōku mauka Ko Waimakarere tōku awa Ko Tākitimu tōku waka Ko Kāi Tahu tōku iwi Ko Ngāi Tūāhuriri tōku hapu Nō Ōtepoti ahau Ko Aidan tōku Ikoa Aidan (Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Kāi Tahu) is currently in his Read more...

MĀOR110 Should be Mandatory

Posted 6:27pm Sunday 11th September 2022 by Nā Skyla from Ngāti Hine

The University’s decision to bar students with recognised experience in te reo Māori from taking MĀOR110 (Conversational Māori) was regrettable to be sure. It was undone after students pushed back. The second most regrettable decision the University has made was not making the Read more...

Torn Between Two Worlds:

Posted 6:23pm Sunday 11th September 2022 by Annabelle Parata Vaughan

Navigating one’s identity at university can be a tricky task for many. You’re away from friends, family and the familiarity that comes with home. You’re finally off in the big wide world, free to experiment and figure out who you really are. But for Māori students, the Read more...

Māori, Pasifika and the N-word

Posted 6:20pm Sunday 11th September 2022 by Nā Skyla from Ngāti Hine

Black Americans have permeated Aotearoa with their culture for decades. We can hear them in our music, we can see them in our fashion. The likes of Michael Jackson, Tupac and NWA have left an indelible mark on global communities, particularly people of colour, who otherwise have been Read more...

Local Produce | TìMMY the FIRST

Posted 8:19pm Saturday 3rd September 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

TîMMY the FIRST is a rapper, songwriter and producer based here in Ōtepoti who has been creating music for years. Critic caught up with the graduated neuroscience student to chat about how he got involved in the music scene as well as his upcoming projects.  It all started when a Read more...

Opinion: Dunedin Desperately Needs a Queer Nightlife Scene

Posted 8:02pm Saturday 3rd September 2022 by Lotto Ramsay

Dunedin’s queer scene for the most part consists of one bar, UniQ, a Facebook group, and the occasional drag queen or king. These folks are doing the absolute most, don’t get me wrong, but what we desperately need is queer nightlife aimed at students.  It’s no secret that Read more...

Gone Fishin’

Posted 7:53pm Saturday 3rd September 2022 by Hugh Askerud

With food prices skyrocketing over the past couple months, and student allowances increasing only ever so slightly, it seemed suspicious to see so many students with full bellies around central campus. With many others huddling around their open ovens, the presence of pot-bellied breathas around our Read more...

No Such Thing as a Free Lunch:

Posted 7:26pm Friday 2nd September 2022 by Ruby Werry

Picture this: it's the start of the semester, and you are once again reluctantly sitting in a packed lecture theatre for a paper you’re definitely not going to pay attention to. Your lecturer then begins the class by asking for a class rep. After a long awkward silence and a few glances Read more...

Local Produce | Jazz Club

Posted 5:02pm Friday 19th August 2022 by Zak Rudin

The student-led Otago University Jazz Club formed at the start of the year to perform weekly jam sessions to a live audience. The club describes itself as “a collection of students who are interested in playing and listening to jazz.” Jazz Club founder and pianist Matthew Tait, said, Read more...

What Shitty Student Car Do You Drive?

Posted 4:54pm Friday 19th August 2022 by Ruby Werry

There’s nothing that screams ‘student’ quite like the deafening, failing exhaust of a shitty car you love with all your heart, held together by nothing but duct tape and a dream. A key part of your personality, this quiz will determine what noble steed gets you from Burns A to B. Read more...

How Many Hats Would A Hat Guy Post If A Hat Guy Could Post Hats?

Posted 4:46pm Friday 19th August 2022 by Keegan Wells

Daniel [@end_my_lyth], a local student and self described “not really a hat guy” has been putting hats on his head and taking photos of them for the past 2,000 days and posting them to Instagram. Like all bad things, it began in high school with his acquaintance posting a photo of a Read more...

Opinion: Artificial Intelligence Creating Māori Designs is Basically Cultural Appropriation

Posted 4:39pm Friday 19th August 2022 by Nā Skyla from Ngāti Hine

We were supposed to have flying cars by 2022, but instead, we have bots that don’t know how to differentiate indigenous cultures from opposite sides of the globe. The day that artificial intelligence recognises tā moko on iPhones, automatically generates captions in te reo Māori, and Read more...

Local Produce | Spicy Paint Job

Posted 3:54pm Monday 15th August 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

In my favourite Spicy Paint Job piece, a demon girl balances a wineglass in her hand. “My art comes so easily when I’m absolutely horsed,” she is saying, an exact portrait of every Critic writer ever. You may already know Spicy’s work from Critic centrefolds past. This issue, Read more...

Opinion: Rural Communities Should be at the Heart of the Mental Health Discussion

Posted 2:55pm Monday 15th August 2022 by Annabelle Parata Vaughan

It’s no secret that Aotearoa faces a crippling and harrowing mental health crisis. From a young age, you’re told to ‘harden up’ or ‘suck it up’. Did you get hurt playing rugby? Toughen up and get back out there. Upset about something? Shut up and stop complaining, Read more...

Breathology 101: A Crash Course in Breathaism

Posted 2:52pm Monday 15th August 2022 by Lotto Ramsay

Okay dudes, so hear me out: I’m in a bit of a bind over here, ‘cause I may or may not have just kidnapped a breatha, and I don’t have a lot of time until he figures out how to open the (unlocked) door and escape. From his cries of “Oi bros, watch this!” I think Read more...

Why Dunedin Boys Live in Shit Houses

Posted 2:50pm Monday 15th August 2022 by Anna Robertshawe

It’s a man’s world, and we’re all living in it. Unless, of course, you’re a Dunedin boy. Then there’s a chance you’re not living anywhere.  The flatting scene in Dunedin is one-of-a-kind. One could compare it to an episode of Survivor, where competing Read more...

Local Produce | Sunflower Scent

Posted 7:50pm Friday 5th August 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

Sunflower Scent have been on the scene for a few years now, shooting thrashing riffs right into your ear canals. Critic caught up with two of the band members, Jamie and Liam, for a catch up on their latest projects and a bonus botany lesson. Jamie and Liam started making music together in 2019. Read more...

Opinion: International Students Deserve More Scholarships

Posted 7:48pm Friday 5th August 2022 by Keegan Wells

International students pay around five times as much as domestic students and don’t receive first year fees free. Yes, the government partially subsidises university fees, including fees free, and international students or their parents have not been paying taxes to the government, so it makes Read more...

Why did your student visa get revoked?

Posted 7:42pm Friday 5th August 2022 by Critic

You’ve made it across the border, into the airport and down to Dunedin. Now that you’re in the filthiest Uni town Aotearoa has to offer, there are plenty of ways to get yourself into trouble. So, tell us, how did you lose your visa? QUESTIONS: What’s your ideal night out? a. Read more...

Sex Education: Does single-sex schooling affect us more than we realise?

Posted 7:25pm Friday 5th August 2022 by Annabelle Parata Vaughan

If you didn’t go to a single-sex school, then you probably know someone who did. Single-sex education is a socially accepted norm here compared to other countries, but over the past 30 years there has been plenty of debate about its efficacy. In Aotearoa, the argument is something like Read more...

Degenerate Delicacies:

Posted 7:23pm Friday 5th August 2022 by Lotto Ramsay

Everyone is intimately familiar with some variation of broke student food, the sort you stumble through making after a night on the piss, or eat with your hands while crying in bed. There’s a certain comfort to its simplicity (toasted sandwich, anyone?), and it always manages to taste like Read more...

Local Produce | The Edmond Brothers

Posted 4:37pm Sunday 31st July 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

By the time you’re reading this, Edmond Brothers will have released their latest track ‘Waiting For A Sunday’ and will be gearing up for their Thursday night gig at U-Bar. Critic caught up with the literal bros on their new music, and on sussing your Thursday night plans. The Read more...

Immersing Myself in Dunedin’s Hidden Poetry Scene

Posted 4:28pm Sunday 31st July 2022 by Hugh Askerud

What is possibly the most anti-Dunedin thing to ever exist in Dunedin? Poetry. While the shades of autumn may give rise to some compelling imagery, there really isn’t that much in the way of beautiful land or people to show off, or at least not in the sunless boglands of North D. Dunedin is Read more...

Which Dunedin-Filmed Movie Should You Watch?

Posted 4:26pm Sunday 31st July 2022 by Elliot Weir

Not sure what it is about broken glass and burning vistas that attract film crews, but people sometimes decide to shoot their movie here. And that’s… certainly a decision they can make. While Wellington might be the film capital of the country, Dunedin has had its fair share of moments Read more...

Aotearoa’s Politicians if They were Your Flatmates

Posted 2:14pm Sunday 31st July 2022 by Annabelle Parata Vaughan

Despite what they do now, many of Aotearoa’s politicians come from humble backgrounds, including being former Otago University students. Much like you and I, they were once flatting in cold houses, cooking shit meals, and bickering over power bills. Here, presented to you, are Aoteaora’s Read more...

How Reo Changes with Region

Posted 2:12pm Sunday 31st July 2022 by Skyla o Ngāti Hine

Te reo Māori is on the rise. Well actually, it has been for over forty years. Whether you’re from Dunedin or just here for the moment, you’re likely to have encountered the dialect of the Kāi Tahu iwi here in Ōtepoti. And while the mita is distinctly different from Read more...

Local Produce | Swooping Tūī

Posted 6:27pm Monday 25th July 2022 by Zak Rudin

Swooping Tūī is a brand new initiative designed to provide menstrual cups to people of lower socio-economic backgrounds in and outside of Aotearoa, through selling natural moisturising creams. Critic Te Arohi sat down with Mahina Walle, the second-year ecology student who started the Read more...

Vengeance Capitalist

Posted 6:25pm Monday 25th July 2022 by Lotto Ramsay

Look, we all know that relationships are a give and take. It’s just that sometimes that might mean it’s a given to take your ex’s possessions and then sell them on campus for profit.  At the start of first semester I buried my teenage romance of two years, and I thought Read more...

Opinion: I’m Glad You Came

Posted 6:24pm Monday 25th July 2022 by Annabelle Parata Vaughan

Picture this: it’s late at night, and you’re tucked up in bed with your special someone. Maybe you’ve met up with your sneaky link to do the dirty deed, or you’ve pulled at a party. Maybe you’re one of those people who’s in a relationship, and have just come back Read more...

How to Take Tinder Photos

Posted 6:21pm Monday 25th July 2022 by Keegan Wells

North Dunedin Tinder is one of the nine circles of hell. If you manage to escape the aggressive post-hunt photos to the more left-wing side of Tinder, you end up with people describing their star-sign, Myers Briggs, and twenty other tests they’ve taken just to avoid reconciling with their own Read more...

Between a Cock and a Hard Place

Posted 6:17pm Monday 25th July 2022 by Kaia Kahurangi Jamieson

When you think ‘sexual dysfunction’, you probably imagine emergency room flyers for Viagra. The words ‘low sex drive’ might conjure up a dead-end marriage, two snotty children and a fold-out couch in the garage for dad. What you probably aren’t thinking of is your peers Read more...

Local Produce | Neive Strang and Band

Posted 5:11pm Sunday 17th July 2022 by Nina Brown

From winning the 2020 OUSA Bring the Noise competition, to opening for dreamy musician Mousey at Dive earlier this year, Neive Strang and her band have been making waves in the Ōtepoti music scene. Neive is the lyrical genius behind the operation, backed up by drummer Benny, guitarist Jack, and Read more...

Opinion: Roe v Wade Isn’t Just America’s Problem

Posted 5:07pm Sunday 17th July 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

On June 24th, the conservative Catholic-dominated United States Supreme court overturned Roe v Wade, a landmark 1973 case which guaranteed the constitutional right to an abortion. The decision was met with pushback and protest, and rightfully so. Solidarity protests are being held across the globe, Read more...

Where is Castle Street’s Pet Possum?

Posted 5:05pm Sunday 17th July 2022 by Keegan Wells

The conversation with Matt, James, and Peter was held through a layer of tears. We found the boys reminiscing over their pet possum, Possmate. Yes, you read it right: this group of breathas had “adopted” and “domesticated” a pet possum in their Castle street flat. However, Read more...

Make it 16:

Posted 4:12pm Sunday 17th July 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

Young people face a plethora of existential issues, such as the housing crisis, climate change and student debt. But, if you’re under the age of 18, you can’t vote on the issues that will most impact your future. The crew of Make it 16, a non-partisan, youth-led campaign, want to lower Read more...

Local Produce | Jason Hart of Tutor4U

Posted 2:22am Saturday 9th July 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

If spending two weeks of break relaxing, along with the introspection of Matariki, has got you thinking ‘new semester, new me?’ then we have some good news for you. Whether your resolution revolves around finding stability in your grades or your finances, Tutor4U, a marketplace for Read more...

Foul Player? More like FOWL PLAYA!

Posted 2:19am Saturday 9th July 2022 by Ruby Werry

For those unaware, the last time Critic had a chat with Ōtepoti’s famous gay ducks it ended with a show of epic proportions and an unexpected pregnancy. So, another tabloid issue and another year later, Critic launched a check-in with our favourite dysfunctional queer Read more...

The Great Annual Critic Bar Review 2022

Posted 2:18am Saturday 9th July 2022 by Fox Meyer

Last year, we trusted the Dunedin populace to pick out their favourite bar. The finals ended up between Woof! and DSC, with DSC very narrowly edging out Woof! for the top spot. This year, the two behemoths went head-to-head again in the finals, for a rematch of the ages. And, in a triumphant Read more...

Local Produce | Riot Gull

Posted 6:57pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

In the early nineties, the riot grrrl scene started in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. It united feminism and punk ideologies through music, fostering a gender-inclusive DIY subculture. Riot Gull are one of Ōtepoti’s newest bands, their name a play on that movement. Critic sat down with the Read more...

Certified Freak, Seven Days a Week:

Posted 6:50pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

Being a student is great for many reasons, one of which is that every day of the week is an excuse to party. After extensive research (a few years of study), Critic Te Arohi has compiled an official ranking of the best nights of the week to go out. Grasp your fleeting youth with both hands, and make Read more...

Hold the Cone:

Posted 6:47pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Sean Gourley

The life cycle of a road cone in New Zealand is similar to our own life cycles. We are born in a place no one has heard of, we spend vast amounts of time sitting in the middle of nowhere doing next to nothing, and from time to time we get filled with alcohol and get absolutely smashed at parties. Read more...

The Best BYO Wine Pairings

Posted 6:44pm Sunday 29th May 2022 by Keegan Wells and Annabelle Parata Vaughan

The ancient Egyptians got a lot of things right. The angles of their pyramids, the fact they even built pyramids (inarguably sick), and maybe most importantly, the fact they liked to absolutely smash back wine. One painting of a New Year’s feast includes a woman saying “give me eighteen Read more...

Opinion: Going off the pill changed my life

Posted 1:48pm Sunday 22nd May 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

When I was 17 years old, I became part of the 88% of Kiwi women of eligible age who are on the oral contraceptive pill. At the time, I didn’t really question what I was putting in my body, as I understood that taking the pill was one of the next natural steps in becoming a woman. But earlier Read more...

The Great Divide:

Posted 1:45pm Sunday 22nd May 2022 by Keegan Wells

Some people feel incredibly opinionated about using only pads or only tampons and renounce the other as if it went against their family values. Two people, who swear by each of the sanitary products, sat down with Critic Te Arohi to state their case, lay their facts out, and walk away without Read more...

A Bloody Good Time

Posted 1:38pm Sunday 22nd May 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

Getting your period is a major milestone during puberty. After years of sex ed talks and seeing your friends and family get it, finally having your period can be scary, exciting and also just straight up gross. Here are a few of the weird, wonderful, messy and icky parts of periods, as told by some Read more...

A Big Ol’ Deep Dive into IUDs

Posted 1:35pm Sunday 22nd May 2022 by Keegan Wells

An IUD, or Intrauterine Device, is a physical contraceptive that sits inside the uterus – not to be confused with IEDs, which are bombs. They can be either hormonal (going by names such as Mirena or Skyla) or non-hormonal (going by the creative name Copper, which is what it is made out of). Read more...

Opinion: Please, go to gigs

Posted 8:45pm Sunday 15th May 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

Dunedin is a city that bleeds music, but in recent years, our gig culture has faltered. And I’m worried that we’re going to forget what it meant to us in the first place. Because students mostly cycle out every three years, if we lose something for three years straight, there Read more...

Behind the Sound:

Posted 8:43pm Sunday 15th May 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

Behind every live gig, song, or album is a wide range of people whose jobs are crucial to curating the final product. One of these jobs is the role of sound engineers, whose technical skills, attention to detail, and ability to feel the beat bring the music we love to life.  Chances are if Read more...

Why is Gore the Country Music Capital of New Zealand?

Posted 8:33pm Sunday 15th May 2022 by Ruby Werry

Gore is known for its big fish, suspected rates of incest, and, for some reason, country music. If we’re wondering what Gore has to do with the American South, that pretty much answers the question.  The success of country music in New Zealand, and in Gore specifically, mimics the Read more...

2022 Eurovision Song Rankings

Posted 8:24pm Sunday 15th May 2022 by Ruby Werry

If you’re wondering why you should care about Eurovision as a humble Dunedin student, simply consider that New Zealand is providing the official Prosecco of Eurovision, despite not being allowed to participate. Here are the top picks according to our staff, and a complete list of all 41 Read more...

Critic Poetry Comp

Posted 2:02pm Sunday 8th May 2022 by Vega McHaffie

Winner: taurus knows libra By Vega McHaffie i would plead that when he saw me he wouldn’t realise; my soul was an idea scrawled across real estate agent pads floating amongst reminders to get oat milk, to vacuum car seats after the beach, to water forgotten succulents. it was not a Read more...

If These Walls Could Talk

Posted 1:56pm Sunday 8th May 2022 by Lotto Ramsay

The Otago Uni Campus contains a remarkably anachronistic blend of architectural styles and movements, truly putting the “camp” in Campus. Luckily for all you plebeians, Critic’s resident team of expert architecture historians have compiled a guide to the unspoken symbolism of Read more...

Campus (s)chop suey?

Posted 3:01am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Keegan Wells

The campus shop is filled with wonders. The ratio of sweets to fizz to pies is usually fantastic. However, there are those items that really make you question what place they have in a campus shop. Fried noodles? What do they expect students to do, munch through a whole bag while studying? The Read more...

Tauraka Toi: A Landing Place

Posted 2:59am Sunday 8th May 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

Paemanu: Tauraka Toi was one of the most recent exhibitions held at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. The exhibition worked with over 40 Ngāi Tahu artists, presenting them with the opportunity to display their art and personal journeys in a collaborative way which facilitated connection with Read more...

(QUIZ) Who’s Selling your Data?

Posted 5:08pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Critic

Fill in the blanks by answering these questions and finding the corresponding conspiratorial content.   Read more...

Local Produce: Emily Alice

Posted 2:39pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

Emily Alice, the band, is Emily Kerr-Bell (vocals), Josh Botting (keys), Toby Roseman (guitar), Josh Tuiavii (drums) and Sol Wyatt (bass). Critic Te Arohi chatted with the band about their upcoming music, their studies and being inspired by the sounds surrounding them growing up. The band formed Read more...

A Mermaid, a Megalodon, and a Yeti Walk into a Bar….

Posted 2:31pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Ruby Werry

Animal Planet and Discovery Channel have always ridden the wave of scientific credibility. Their programming is advertised and perceived by the general public as educational fun, the Harold the Giraffe of TV. But just like how you’ve broken all your drinking and drug promises to Harold, Animal Read more...

OPINION: “Save the bees” is a psyop and we all fell for it.

Posted 2:30pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Fox Meyer

Psyop: “Psychological Operation”. Operations to influence the emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behaviour of governments, organisations, groups, and individuals. Big Honey, backed by international governments and agriculture lobbyists, just pulled off the Read more...

SCIENTIST SPEAKS OUT: Invisible Birds with IBS are REAL

Posted 2:28pm Sunday 1st May 2022 by Ruby Werry

Critic gets weird messages. Some of our readers have amazing tips and info we love to hear, and some of our readers are clearly coming down from a bad trip. One of the latter was someone who called themselves “J”. J was taking a walk of shame Sunday morning, with every crunch of glass Read more...

Local Produce: Ben & Karen of Hangover Helper

Posted 2:50pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

Karen and Ben are the minds behind Hangover Helper, a capsule-based hangover cure and business. Fittingly, the duo met on the rinse, one fateful night way back in their first year. Following their graduation last year, they combined their powers, Karen’s Commerce studies and Ben’s Health Read more...

The Media Bias Chart for Dunedin Shitposting Pages

Posted 2:47pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

1. Shore Girl, Shore Thing  (Near OCHB) SGST is like a public radio station. Grassroots, always relatable, and run by minorities so you know you can trust it. SGST stands as a stalwart girlboss in a sea of grease-choked mullets, so pop off queens for taking on this male dominated field. Read more...

Raxxed Flat Supplies

Posted 2:45pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Keegan Wells

Why spend money on something that someone else already has? Whether it be bin space, spoons, or even toilet paper, someone else has these things, and they could be yours with a little courage.  This way of life isn’t new. More than a century ago there was only really one type of car Read more...

Dunedin Gig Venues

Posted 2:42pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

how is it so steezy for you to be so acquainted with dunedin venues he asked pills and durries hung from my lips as i answered ‘cause dunedin venues have been steezy to me no one told me how  student bar shut-downs  translate to grief my lips search for yours  in Read more...

How to Spot a Fresher Member of the University in their First Year of Study

Posted 2:36pm Sunday 24th April 2022 by Sean Gourley

If you are in your first year, congratulations. The move to Orange meant you finally got a taste of Dunedin’s social life. This took you one step closer to integrating with the wider student community, one step further away from sticking out like a sore thumb. However, there are still some key Read more...

Local Produce: Mads Harrop

Posted 2:22pm Saturday 9th April 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

When internationally touring (Aussie) bands make it to Ōtepoti, there’s always a grisly battle (respectful recognition) amongst our local talent vying for the spot of opener. Mads Harrop is one of these successful contenders, her biggest break yet opening for the notorious The Chats last Read more...

Infringing on the Fringe Festival

Posted 2:01pm Saturday 9th April 2022 by Ruby Werry

The Dunedin Fringe Festival, as the website states, aims to “bring experimental contemporary art to a wider audience and to support the work of emerging artists”. The line-up saw big names in comedy like 7 Day’s Ben Hurley and Billy T nominee Jack Ansett come to entertain the Read more...

Your extra $25: Don’t Spend it All at Once!

Posted 1:50pm Saturday 9th April 2022 by Sean Gourley

No one likes being broke, but here we are. Brokeness is unfortunately a situation that arises all too often for students, caused by the many temptations of Dunedin, and the little income we get to spend on them. Retirees get $80 extra in the winter for heating costs and 15% off groceries with their Read more...

Dog was hit by a car today. We had to put her down. LOL.

Posted 1:41pm Saturday 9th April 2022 by Fox Meyer

This was a text my friend received when we were about 14, from his mum, and ironically, it was one of the only times that “lol” has actually resulted in a genuine peal of laughter. The mum in question had not meant to send “lol” as we’d use it today. Instead, she Read more...

Local Produce: Oscar Thomas

Posted 6:39pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Ruby Werry

Oscar Thomas is a 21-year-old wildlife photographer and author, studying Zoology and Ecology here at Otago University. Oscar is a Blake Ambassador, and a recipient of Otago’s True Young Explorers Scholarship. His book, “A Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of New Zealand'' was Read more...

Te Waipounamu:

Posted 6:36pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

Te Waipounamu is home to Ngāi Tahu, the mana whenua of the land. It’s full of a rich history and culture, with endless stories to be told, and is one of the most beautiful places in Aotearoa, perhaps even the world. Oftentimes as students, we can get sucked into the vacuum that is Read more...

Exploring the Genus Couchus: the Outdoor Couch

Posted 6:20pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Lotto Ramsay

A local treasure Outdoor couches are an endangered native species, unique to the flora, fauna and furniture of Ōtepoti Dunedin. Made of cheap, decaying foam and ugly fabric, outdoor couches can be found proudly perching on porches and backyards throughout North Dunedin, despite being better Read more...

What’s new? How fields of study have evolved over time

Posted 6:16pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Ruby Werry and Fox Meyer

Time moves fast. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that the stuff you’re being taught at Uni might not be the same stuff that was being taught 20 years ago. Plate tectonics, for example, only became a fully-fledged theory in the ’60s. That means we were on the moon before we Read more...

Local Produce: By Grace Beads

Posted 6:06pm Sunday 27th March 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

If you’re looking for some fun and fresh accessories, then By Grace Beads is your saving grace. Critic caught up with Madaleine, the creator behind this cute handmade jewellery business to find out how she came up with the idea, and what her creative process is. Madaleine is in her second Read more...

Critic Te Arohi 2022 Flat Bingo

Posted 5:55pm Sunday 27th March 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

There’s plenty to do around Dunedin, and not all of it is actually bad for you. While you go about your year, why not take the opportunity to turn having a good time into a competition? Nothing says “fun” like “bingo”, right? Give the mf a tear out of the mag and see Read more...

Isolation Fornication: 12 Socially Distanced Sex Tips

Posted 5:53pm Sunday 27th March 2022 by Lotto Ramsay

It’s the third year of the pandemic and everyone’s still horny as hell. The safest option is masturbation, but if you’re sick of ringing the devil’s doorknob or strangling your meat flute and want some partner play then boy, you’re not alone. If the previous euphemisms Read more...

Predicting Oscar Winners with my Covid Iso

Posted 5:50pm Sunday 27th March 2022 by Elliot Weir

As one of the many annoying film people working at Critic Te Arohi, I found myself obligated to pass judgement on who I think will win the upcoming Oscars. I couldn’t fit all 24 categories here, so I’ve cut out the acting awards, the short films, and a few others. I am also writing this Read more...

This World is on Fire:

Posted 5:48pm Sunday 27th March 2022 by Sean Gourley

In a world that seems to be sliding further and further into the shit every day, Critic checked in with students to see what terrified them most about their future existence on this fuck-up of a planet. Most of the questioning was conducted on St Paddy’s to ensure that participants spoke from Read more...

Local Produce: Asia Martusia King and The Ugly Club

Posted 3:01pm Sunday 20th March 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

It’s every prospective students' dream: coming to the University of Otago, flatting on Castle Street, and dating a nice bird. Not a human girl, a bird. Like a literal bird. No? Not quite your speed? Well, if it is, you can do exactly that in ‘The Ugly Club’, a video game Read more...

Insert fear-mongering anti-dope slogan here

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 20th March 2022 by Elliot Weir

Ever wanted to stage, (and then lose), a poorly-thought-out war on plants? Ever wanted to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on a publicity stunt that leads absolutely nowhere? Ever wanted to disenfranchise an entire swath of the population at the drop of a hat? Well, then this is the quiz for you. Read more...

Pass, Pass, Pass – Rare but severe reactions to weed

Posted 2:50pm Sunday 20th March 2022 by Lotto Ramsay

CW: Psychosis Weed is the most widely used illicit drug in New Zealand, and for good reason. Cannabis has wide applications for mental and physical health, has no reported cases of fatal overdose, and in many ways is significantly less dangerous than alcohol. The long-running Dunedin Study Read more...

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: Antibiotic Resistance in New Zealand

Posted 2:32pm Sunday 20th March 2022 by Fox Meyer

Imagine an STI that you can’t treat. You go from doctor to doctor, from pill to pill, but nothing can clean out your undercarriage. The infection starts to spread. Like the one-night-stand you contracted it from, the infection refuses to leave after you make it clear that “we’re Read more...

Harder than it needed to be: Obtaining Viagra

Posted 2:30pm Sunday 20th March 2022 by Ruby Werry

For those of you keen to give casual Viagra a go, be aware that – much like in daily life – if you don’t have a dick, things are gonna be hard. Allegedly, Viagra is available over the counter at pharmacies, but there's a catch. Just like most high-level positions in government, Read more...

Harder than He Needed to Be: Recreational Viagra

Posted 2:29pm Sunday 20th March 2022 by Fox Meyer

Viagra can make your penis feel like it’s throbbing. It can put unnecessary strain on your blood pressure, and it can lead to erections that, just like the infomercials claim, can last for more than four hours. Ross, a student here, didn’t seem to give a shit about any of that. Ross Read more...

Local Produce: BEONY

Posted 1:23pm Sunday 13th March 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

BEONY’s latest track ‘GREY SWEATPANTS’, an ode to the final days of summer, dropped last weekend. Critic caught up with BEONY to talk about the twinkly track, summer flings and moments of inspiration in the bathroom. BEONY is the musical project of clinical dent tech student Read more...

The Great Jandal

Posted 1:16pm Sunday 13th March 2022 by Keegan Wells

It was a peaceful Monday morning when Critic Te Arohi met up with Gus. He looked dapper as ever, with a bow tie and three-piece suit on. He was clearly prepared for an interview. Gus, AKA @thegreatjandal on Instagram, is taking on a unique and completely self-imposed challenge: to complete all ten Read more...

How two uni students achieved mild internet success from their college bedrooms

Posted 1:15pm Sunday 13th March 2022 by Annabelle Vaughan

To a passer-by, Elise Maric and Amber Harrison seem like any other Otago University students. And they are. They love hanging out with their friends, partying and going for coffee at one of Dunedin’s many cafes, and they also love their astrology (Elise is a Libra and Amber is a Cancer, for Read more...

Dunedin’s Zine Scene:

Posted 1:10pm Sunday 13th March 2022 by Ruby Werry

Zines are a popular, ever-growing trend which has recently found a place in the Dunedin scene. Short for “magazine”, Google tells us that a “zine” is “a small-circulation of self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via a copy Read more...

Local Produce: Lillian

Posted 5:03pm Sunday 6th March 2022 by Jamiema Lorimer

Over the summer, Ōtepoti singer-songwriter Lillian released her debut album ‘Cerulean’, which navigates feelings of heartache and hope. Critic caught up with Lillian to chat about her new music. Socially distanced, of course. Lillian Gibbs is in her fourth year, currently Read more...

Eugene Yeo: The Man Underground with a Camera

Posted 4:59pm Sunday 6th March 2022 by Keegan Wells

Eugene Yeo likes to spend his free time in cold, damp underground spaces. No, not Dunedin basements, but rather the intricate cave systems that lie beneath Aotearoa. He’s also a keen photographer, shining a light on places that sometimes exist in utter blackness. Eugene, who just graduated Read more...

Weird and wonderful ideas for when you’re stuck on your next hosting sesh

Posted 4:57pm Sunday 6th March 2022 by Ruby Werry

Throwing parties is hard. It requires lots of planning, and induces plenty of anxiety. You find yourself thinking: Will people come? Will they have fun? Will people think my idea is cool and original? Or will it be boring and will I be socially outcast forever?  Never fear, Critic is here! Read more...