AN OPEN LETTER ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CRITIC TE ĀROHI
Last year, I had the honour of judging the Aotearoa Student Press Awards, where Critic Te Ārohi capped off its 100th birthday by winning Best Publication for the 13th time in the last 20 years.
Critic Te Ārohi is not only New Zealand’s oldest and most award winning student magazine, it’s also by far the most popular. The print run of 4000 copies runs out every week and annual surveys show that 87% of Otago University students read Critic Te Arohi. In other words, Critic is an extraordinary success.
And yet, this summer, instead of celebrating Critic’s achievements, owner and publisher OUSA cut its budget so severely that the future of the magazine is at risk. Issue 2 was only 16 pages long, a third of the traditional 48 pages. That’s a leaflet, not a magazine.
A smaller Critic means less content. Fewer investigations, features, and entertaining columns. Readership will decline. It will have less appeal for new writers. Its quality, influence and impact will gradually wane until it falls into irrelevancy.
I fully appreciate that student associations have constrained budgets and many competing priorities. But in this case I believe that OUSA has misjudged the level of value Critic Te Ārohi provides to Otago University students and hasn’t properly considered the long term impacts this decision will have.
Because the ads don’t cover the full cost of printing the magazine, OUSA tends to look at Critic magazine as a business that loses money. I would encourage OUSA members to reframe their thinking. Critic was never meant to make money. It was meant to make culture.
Critic Te Ārohi is a public service. Surveys consistently show it is one of the most engaged-with and valued services OUSA provides. It helps freshers navigate the strange ecosystem of North Dunedin. It engages people in student politics, investigates campus controversies and celebrates the idiosyncrasies that give Otago its identity. One of the reasons Otago University developed such a strong student culture is because Critic fostered it.
I’m sure every reader has qualms with something Critic has published at one point or another, but I urge you, please, don’t take this publication for granted. There are very few student media outlets in the world that come close to Critic’s sustained level of audience connection and journalistic rigour. That success didn’t happen overnight and it didn’t happen by accident. It stands on a culture that has been built over the course of decades.
Critic Te Ārohi is an institution, and great institutions only continue to stand because people fight for them. And that’s what we must do now.
To Otago University students: If you value Critic Te Ārohi, tell your OUSA representatives. Comment “SAVE CRITIC” on all of OUSA’s social media content. Write an email to these addresses: president@ousa.org.nz, adminvp@ousa.org.nz and debbie.downs@ousa.org.nz. Let them know that you are unhappy with the cuts and want Critic to go back to its old size.
To the members of the OUSA executive: Please keep an open mind, listen to your constituents, and consider restoring Critic to its full strength.
Yours sincerely,
Joel MacManus
Senior Writer at The Spinoff
2018 Critic Te Ārohi editor.
To the Editors,
I am writing in response to the article in Issue 1 (2026) encouraging students to “do drugs (safely, of course).”
While harm reduction and open conversations about substance use are important, the article presents drug use in a casual and encouraging way without adequately acknowledging the risks.
There is no discussion of addiction, health consequences, or that some students may have underlying medical or mental health conditions that could be worsened by substance use. The section also does not address the dangers of mixing recreational drugs with prescription medications—something particularly relevant for students taking medications for conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, or depression.
Most concerning is the lack of information directing readers to support services for substance misuse or addiction.
Encouraging experimentation without acknowledging these realities presents an incomplete picture. I’d be interested in an article about different drugs, how they affect the body and what people should be mindful of when taking them.
[Student] publications should aim to promote informed decision-making and prioritise student wellbeing.
Sincerely,
Zoe
Editor’s response: We agree – every drug has its risks. Next time we will be sure to include links to resources to better educate over the negative effects drugs can have. In the article, we made sure to mention Tripsit, which does an excellent job of explaining in expert detail how drugs affect the body and their interactions with other medications, but that was not adequate. Thank you for pointing this out as we settle into our editorial positions.
Dear Critic,
As I was perusing the Critic I happened to notice the centerfold of Issue 1, 2026. Where do I even begin? Did you run out of time? Was the o/flo hangover too deadly? However, my flat's centerfold wall display will remain empty. I respect that a stickman is funny and the lack of effort is reflective of how some students are coming into 2026 but please, I just want my sexy Garfield back :(
Sincerely,
Not a hater just a ho for the centerfold.
Editor’s/Artist’s response: idk we thought it was pretty funny
Dear Critic,
Hello.
Regards,
Me.
Editor’s response: no need to get political.
Kia Ora Critic friends,
I am just wondering who is going to begin the interviews and appropriate literature review on effective ways to change library culture at a university (i.e., to get second years to shut the fuck up)?
In my three years of being at this university, I have noticed a significant increase in the volume of the library. In first year, I was texting my friends who were sitting at the table next to me, in fear of disturbing nearby colleagues with my whispering. So why can’t I focus without wearing noise cancelling headphones anymore?
I would be interested to read a discussion or debate about ways to effectively direct chatter to certain areas of the library, while keeping the majority of the space to be for people who are actually completing assignments. I think this could greatly benefit our community here at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka on academic, social, cultural, and probably economic levels.
Please grace this matter with your hard-eyed attention before we actually get some more serious assignments and work to keep up with.
I beg of you.
With worry,
Annie
Editor’s response: idk some of these freshers are getting pretty bold. Just wait until the first health sci tests roll around and then they’ll shut up real fast.
Hello Critic,
Although it is sad that the critic is shortened, I wanted to say that I am so grateful that there is still a Critic Lite rather than only fortnightly. I understand it is tough with cost pressures but The Critic is truly the highlight of my week and I love collecting the art inside it. This week in particular is more scrumptious than usual so for me that kind of made the news a little less sad :,) I really love the horoscope design and poster page in particular!!!
Kind regards,
An avid reader of The Critic
Editor’s response: thank you, that means a lot.
