Archive
Market Day Moolah-Making
Posted 6:16pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Harry Almey
Radio One Market Days are soon to make a return*, the collection of random stalls you see crop up every so often by Union Lawn or the Link if it’s grotty weather. Calm yourself and slow that naughty racing heart of yours – the upcoming Market Day on Wednesday, March 26 Read more...
Fringe Festival’s 25th Opening Night: Cake, Comedy and Pass the Parcel
Posted 6:05pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Isabella Simoni
The time has finally come for Dunedin Fringe 2025, and what an exciting time it is! Last Wednesday marked the opening night when lovers of the arts, old and new, gathered to celebrate the festival’s 25th birthday – and it came with the to-be-expected bells and whistles that would make Read more...
Otago University Introduces New Disability Action Plan
Posted 6:02pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Stella Weston
As of 2023, 1 in 10 students at Otago University declared that they had a disability impacting their ability to study. This number has only increased over time, but Te Kokeka Whakamua – the University’s new disability action plan for 2024-2027 – aims to make things easier for these Read more...
UniPol’s New Rearrangement
Posted 5:37pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Nina Brown
The latest era of UniPol’s constant mode of self-improvement copped the gym some flack on students’ favourite complaint hub: UoO Meaningful Confessions Facebook page. “Wtf have unipol done” read the title of a post on March 3rd. The anonymous poster reckoned UniPol has ruined Read more...
Otago Academic Experts Say ‘Gaza – Yes it is genocide’
Posted 5:32pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Nina Brown
‘Gaza – Yes it is genocide, and yes, it really matters’. That was the title of a seminar held in Archway 1 at midday last Wednesday, hosted by Professors Robert Patman and Richard Jackson, and Dr Rula Talahma. Each spoke to their personal expertise and experiences to unpick the Read more...
Execrable: Fishy Constitutions and Fish of the Year
Posted 5:14pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Nina Brown
The Exec meeting last week didn’t bring the same level of drama as the week prior. They managed to stay out of confidential committee for the duration of the meeting, which unfortunately meant Critic Te Ārohi had to take notes the whole time – admittedly zoning out during the 20 Read more...
Breatha Exiled from Castle St Flat After Admitting, “I don’t fuck with DnB that much bro.”
Posted 4:44pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Anderson Coomer
Alex, a second-year student, formerly known by his peers as ‘Fridge’ has been reduced to being known as ‘Champ’ in a turn of events that resulted in his tenancy being informally terminated at his Castle St flat. This follows a shocking admission, whereby Alex firmly stood Read more...
Barnyard Boogie in the Botans
Posted 11:43pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Stella Weston
The combination of flowing skirts and local band Frivolry made for an “afternoon of dancing, fun, and queer joy” to kick off Pride Month the first weekend of March. Organised by Dunedin Pride, the traditional Scottish and Irish folk band played a Ceilidh (a Celtic barn dance, pronounced Read more...
Te Rōpū Māori SGM: $100k from VC, Āpiha Hauora and Ahurea roles filled
Posted 11:32pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Hanna Varrs
Te Rōpū Maori (TRM) have successfully filled their Āpiha Hauora (Wellbeing and Recreation Officer) and Āpiha Ahurea (Cultural Officer) at their most recent special general meeting (SGM). The VC has also committed to a $100k grant, allowing the Te Rito exec to be Read more...
Exec Submit Against Treaty Principles Bill
Posted 11:30pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Hanna Varrs
The OUSA Exec has submitted in opposition to the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. On Thursday, February 27th, President Liam and Politics Rep Jett presented an oral submission to the Justice Committee based on the written submission Liam hastily penned in January on behalf of the wider Read more...
Student Job Search: “Students in Otago Are More Likely To Secure Work”
Posted 11:27pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Zoe Eckhoff
There’s a small part in all of us that wishes we could afford a Netflix and a Disney+ subscription. But, as university students, managing a job and our studies (especially full-time) can be a difficult feat. With the total applications through Student Job Search (SJS) increasing by 23% over Read more...
Mr Prez ‘Bribes the Media’ with $1k Centenary Book Pledge
Posted 11:23pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Nina Brown
Disclaimer: This article was written by said media. In a generous publicity stunt, OUSA President Liam White matched donations towards Critic Te Ārohi’s Centenary book up to $1k last Tuesday, March 4th (payday). The 100-year-old magazine has until March 16th to raise $70k to fund a Read more...
Pint-flation at U-Bar: An Economic Analysis
Posted 11:19pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by peter barclay
Students could once walk into U-Bar’s Wednesday Pint Night with a crisp $20 note, leaving four pints happier and with a shirt as soaked as your poor liver during Flo and O-Week. News of ‘pint-flation’ has spread across campus following the discovery that students’ most Read more...
Wanted: Serial Central Lib Red Wine Slugger
Posted 11:16pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Cailin Williams
Planning on a bender but don’t know where? Consider the Central Library. A mysterious male individual has been caught not once, not twice, but allegedly on weekly occasions of drinking six to seven bottles of wine in the Central Library over the summer break. However, the University is Read more...
Execrable: The First OUSA Exec Meeting (that Critic attended)
Posted 11:06pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Nina Brown
The OUSA Exec had their meatiest meeting yet last Wednesday, March 5th – coincidentally the first Critic Te Ārohi was in attendance for. Critic parked up in the corner couches and locked into an hour and a half of aggressive note-taking (first-year-lecture style) and aggressive listening Read more...
BDS Complaint Prompts 30-Minute “Robust” Exec Discussion
Posted 10:52pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Nina Brown
The OUSA Exec are in the hot seat over OUSA’s Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) “posture” against businesses associated with the state of Israel – including Domino’s, who was excluded from Tent City. Two formal student complaints (and one informal complaint from Read more...
Toroa Has Outgrown Its Fresher Pants
Posted 8:08pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Jonathan McCabe
Toroa College is putting on its Big Boy Pants this year, transitioning from your typical first-year hall to a self-catered accommodation option for international and domestic postgrads and mature students. There’s only so long a hall can cope with watching 17-year-olds slam two for $40 Read more...
Campus’ Summer Glow-Up
Posted 8:05pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Jonathan McCabe
The University campus is like your one friend who actually hit the gym this summer and achieved their long-promised summer glow-up. Auahi Ora, Burns lecture theatres, Arana College, and OUSA’s Clubs and Socs are some of the spaces to receive a much-needed cash injection and a fresh lick of Read more...
The Ghosts of Cumby Past
Posted 8:01pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Harry Almey
It all started one fateful O-Week day. At 4:08 am, Cumberland resident Alex sent a message to the college-wide Snapchat which shook the college to its core: “There was a fucking ghost in my room.” Cue Critic. Alex lives on the Classical floor of Cumby. According to him, he woke up Read more...
A Baptism by Spaghetti
Posted 7:52pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Stella Weston
Selwyn College’s latest event does nothing to ease their culty reputation, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. One of their most cherished traditions – the Leith Run – took place on the Saturday morning of O-week, bringing together nervous freshers and hungover exies in Read more...
OUSA Exec: Academic Accessibility
Posted 7:27pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Stella Lynch
Listen up, academic weapons. Whether you’re part of the furniture here at Otago or brand-spanking new to our beautiful university, you should care about the accessibility of your education. That’s right, we’re talking lecture recordings and paid placements. Let’s start Read more...
Knox Panda-Dove Wins ‘Inflatey 180: The Sequel’
Posted 7:24pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Nina Brown
The Zoo was heaving on Saturday, February 22nd, for the famous Inflatey180. The Inflatey180, which is to the Highlanders game what Kendrick Lamar was to the Superbowl, is the half-time entertainment that everyone really went to see. Each hall (except 192 Castle and Carrington) put forward a tribute Read more...
Bouncer by Night, Fake ID Dealer by Day
Posted 7:19pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Molly Smith-Soppet
With the new batch of underage freshers, comes a new batch of fake IDs… supplied by a Dunedin security guard who we’ll call McLovin. Multiple sources have told Critic Te Ārohi that McLovin has been charging first-years fiending for a night out upwards of $150 for IDs that had been Read more...
Amnesty Youth Otago Verbally Attacked for Pro-Palestinian Stance at Otago Clubs Day
Posted 6:59pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Ella Grayson
Content warning: Mentions of sexual and verbal assault Members of Amnesty Youth Otago (AYO) were verbally attacked at OUSA’s Clubs Day on Thursday, February 20th. The group’s ‘Stop Israel’s Genocide’ banner attracted hateful and threatening comments by members Read more...
Vaping Students Used in Lieu of Smoke Machine for Ori’
Posted 4:24pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Tina Frowns
In lieu of an available smoke machine for Ori’ 2025, OUSA roped in a group of 100 or so students to continually blow vape clouds from either side of the Union Lawn stage. Volunteers (who the Critical Tribune has been assured were fully consenting) were recruited at OUSA’s annual Tent Read more...
Con-Tree-Versy on Union Lawn
Posted 6:38pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Jordan Irvine
The con-tree-versial decision to cut down a Japanese cherry blossom tree on Union Lawn to clear the way for Ori’ 2025 was made in December by OUSA management. But it wasn’t without a fight. OUSA Secretary Donna Jones ran a tree-saving quest in the lead up to its ultimate demise Read more...
Freshers Say Sport was the Real Winner On the Day
Posted 6:20pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Adam Stitely
The Inter-College Sports Competition kicked off last Tuesday, February 18th, with thousands of freshers flocking to Logan Park in what might be the University’s only wholesome O-Week event. With word that Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson (more affectionately known as Daddy Grant) Read more...
Cozzie Livs on the Brain, Says Exec Poll
Posted 6:17pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Nina Brown
The cost of living crisis is at the forefront of the student brain if the OUSA Exec’s Tent City poll is anything to go by. The informal poll asked students what issues were highest on their priority list, with options including housing, a student bar, fresher life, drinking culture, lecture Read more...
Ōtepoti Band ‘IVY’ and Dunedin Youth Orchestra Collab for Epic Gig
Posted 6:15pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Hanna Varrs
Pint Night regulars IVY and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra (DYO) are set to hit the stage at Errick’s venue on Friday, March 28 in a first-of-its-kind collab for the groups. Ticket prices are specifically catered to the student budget – a crisp $10 bucks to peep the classically boosted IVY Read more...
Chlöe Hosts Community-Building Panel to “Save Dunedin”
Posted 6:11pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Nina Brown
Kicking off the year of local body elections, on the evening of Monday 17th the Greens hit the quarter-full St Dave’s lecture theatre with a motivational community-building hammer for their hui to “Save Dunedin”. The event included a panel of four local leaders and emphatic Read more...
Breaking: Someone’s Dad Spotted at ‘Haunted’ Host
Posted 6:10pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Stella Weston
A dad was on Castle Street, and his name is Greg. The self-described “advocate for student life” tagged along with his son Logan to the Gothic-themed ‘Haunted’ night on the Thursday of Flo Week. Critic Te Ārohi got the scoop from the nostalgic construction supervisor in Read more...
BDS-Banned Domino’s Gate Crashes Tent City
Posted 6:06pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Hanna Varrs
Domino’s were relegated to the outskirts of Tent City last week as a consequence of OUSA’s internal pro-Palestine Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) commitment. Denied a tent site, the pizza joint handed out free keychains on the Cumberland Street sidewalk instead. Behind the scenes, Read more...
Uni Council To Raise Fees By 6%
Posted 3:37pm Monday 18th November 2024 by Nina Brown
In a bid to stay financially afloat and prevent further job cuts, the Otago University Council (the bigwigs) have agreed to raise tertiary fees by the maximum amount of 6% for 2025. The motion passed almost unanimously, with one abstention from Madame Prez Keegan Wells, the student rep at the Read more...
Council Proposes Stricter North D Booze Rules
Posted 9:32pm Wednesday 13th November 2024 by Nina Brown
The rules and regulations of drinking in North Dunedin could be set to change under a Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) mandatory review. Proposed changes to the policy could mean earlier closing times for liquor stores, a freeze on more off-licences in North D, and a “yeah, nah” to the iconic Read more...
Inaugural Combined Science Ball a Hit
Posted 7:24pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Phoebe Lea
The Sciences Ball, expected to be a quiet affair, has left pundits gawking after exploding into something so wild that even Law students were taking notes (but when aren’t they?) Around 300 students rocked up to the Otago University Combined Sciences Ball, with students from OMISA, APSA, Read more...
Protestor Arrested in Campus Palestine Protest
Posted 7:16pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Nina Brown
The University of Otago’s stance of “institutional neutrality” on Israel’s actions in Palestine has continued to be fiercely criticised by its staff and students. Last Wednesday, October 9th, the Otago Students for Justice in Palestine (OSJP) held a peaceful campus protest Read more...
Outdoor Clubs Unite Against Orgy Accusations
Posted 7:12pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud
Following allegations that they’re fronts for orgies, three outdoor Otago clubs have come together to set the record straight. Critic Te Ārohi met with the accused and their chosen champions: OUSSC Prez Peter Barclay, OUTC former treasurer Joel Tebbs, and OUCC Prez Hunter Davidson – Read more...
Dundas Fence Collapse Sparks Feud
Posted 7:09pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Hanna Varrs
In an incident leaving four flats and their landlords at each other’s throats (or at least slightly more passive aggressive than usual), a large fence in a Dundas Street flatting complex of four has collapsed over their driveway. Or perhaps been pulled down? Given some of the flats are owned Read more...
Kayakers Soar Through Campus Amidst Red-Level Rain Warnings
Posted 7:07pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Staff Writer
Photo Credit: Bryn Dingemans Two weekends ago, East Otago received more than double October's typical rainfall in just 40 hours, making the Water of Leith a kayaker's playground. A state of emergency was called on Friday, October 4th. Low lying areas were flooded and all main Read more...
Hatchet-Wielding “Council Worker” Trespassed from Flat
Posted 7:01pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Sam Smith-Soppet
A man has been trespassed by police from a student flat after masquerading as a DCC employee conducting “welfare checks” on Maitland and Stafford Street on Friday, October 4th. The hatchet (axe) he carried made tenants a bit suspect. Adorned in his Hi-Vis and a lanyard, the man Read more...
Forth St Flat Flames
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud
A Forth Street flat complex of six went up in flames on Sunday, October 6th. The fire began in a downstairs flat before smoke made its way through the complex. A total of 18 students were affected by the blaze. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the fire has meant six students have been relocated to Read more...
OUSA Peddles Ethel Property to Fund Clubs & Socs’ EQ Strengthening
Posted 6:49pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Nina Brown
OUSA Clubs and Socs, home of the humble $4 lunch and sauna, is booked for earthquake strengthening this summer. Clubs and Socs will be closed during summer, with construction starting after exams finish, hoping to wrap up by O-Week next year. Currently, the building isn’t seismically up to Read more...
Student Arrested in Campus Palestine Protest
Posted 11:46am Thursday 10th October 2024 by Nina Brown
The University of Otago’s stance of “institutional neutrality” on Israel’s actions in Palestine has continued to be fiercely criticised by its staff and students. On Wednesday, October 9th, the Otago Students for Justice in Palestine (OSJP) held a peaceful campus protest that Read more...
Yes, Someone Did Take Their Cat to Central
Posted 7:09pm Sunday 6th October 2024 by Gryffin Blockley
Three million views and 700,000 likes later, Serafina the cat has achieved stardom after rocking up to Central Library (if only it were that easy). A TikTok of the cat hiding in a handbag in Central Library was posted online, and has blown up with numbers Dunedin’s microinfluencer community Read more...
‘What I Was Wearing’ Exhibit Shatters Stigma & Empowers Survivors
Posted 8:11am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Jodie Evans
Student-led sexual harm prevention society, Thursdays in Black, broke down some damaging stereotypes in their powerful ‘What I Was Wearing’ exhibit on Thursday, September 26th. From 10am to 5pm in Union Hall, visitors were invited to read the stories of survivors of sexual harm, Read more...
Selwyn Gastro “Miraculously” Cured 72 Hours Before Ball
Posted 8:07am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud
Selwyn College has found itself on the other side of a gastro epidemic after approximately 10-40 students contracted the virus over a two week period. The gastro outbreak got so bad that, according to residents, “you would hear people in the bathroom just chunnying their guts Read more...
Critic Trawls Through Exec’s Third Quarter Reports
Posted 8:05am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud
Think the OUSA Exec is boring? By the time you read their quarterly reports you’ll probably be thinking, “Yep, it is.” Thankfully, you don’t have to! Instead, read these summaries for all you need to know about the great political machine that keeps the uni experience ticking Read more...
Landlords Sign Flats Under Current Tenants’ Noses
Posted 7:56am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Monica Holopainen
As flat-hunting season draws to a close, multiple reports have emerged of landlords signing their flats to new groups of students without the consent of current tenants. Continuing a sad trend of illegality, the repeated events have forced students who relied on keeping their flats for the new year Read more...
Golf Breathas Raise $5k for Men’s Mental Health
Posted 7:45am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Staff Writer
Six breathas have done some good in the world, raising $5,200 for charity by playing golf. The boys played 72 holes in one day (four full rounds of golf) for ‘Lads Without Labels’, a not-for-profit charity group aimed at improving the state of men’s mental health in New Zealand. Read more...
OUSA Exec Election Results Are In
Posted 7:43am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Hugh Askerud
Democracy has triumphed after a gruelling OUSA Exec election period which saw many candidates lose and many candidates win. Voting closed at 4pm last Thursday. To the usual crowd of current OUSA Exec, nominees, and a handful of Critic staff, returning officer Abby Bowman read out the results – Read more...
Previous Results 