Artists, Activists, Ambassadors: when Aramoana Declared Independence

Posted 6:03pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Sean Gourley

Over forty years ago, passionate residents of a small settlement, just 20km along the coast from North Dunedin, founded the Independent State Aramoana. While it never became anything close to an genuine independent nation, they fought tirelessly against the government to prevent an aluminium smelter Read more...

A 4-Point Methodological Approach to Shoey Perfection

Posted 6:14pm Friday 1st April 2022 by Keegan G. Wells and Will R. Murrell

Abstract: A 4-point scale was used to determine the optimal foot vessel to utilise as a booze-funnelling device in what is known colloquially as a “shoey”. This metric indicated that a sockie is the least desirable vessel, while a dress shoe is the most desirable. Further field research Read more...

Mr Whippy Relaunches in Dunedin

Posted 9:05am Sunday 10th October 2021 by Denzel Chung

The one and only Mr Whippy has hit the streets of Dunedin. They launched with a bang on Saturday, giving out 600 free soft-serves in The Octagon. The Dunedin business is owned by husband and wife team Steve and Linda Mitchell, who also operate Mr Whippy vans in Central Otago. “We’ve Read more...

Slice of Heaven? Your summer guide to the shit towns of Otago and South Canterbury

Posted 9:33am Sunday 10th October 2021 by Annabelle Vaughan

Shit towns are the pride of our nation. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the concept of a “shit town”, it’s a town where literally everything is shit. But visiting a shit town is a cultural experience to find out how the other half live, so it’s a must Read more...

Live Music In The Age of Covid-19

Posted 3:32pm Sunday 26th September 2021 by Denzel Chung

Covid restrictions have been putting Dunedin’s live musicians under pressure, needing to adjust to a new normal of small gigs, even tighter finances, and lots more time spent online. Critic Te Arohi spoke to local musicians Boaz Anema and Zi Shaw, as well as sound engineer and music scene Read more...

Local Produce: Isaac Chadwick

Posted 3:41pm Sunday 26th September 2021 by Annabelle Vaughan

Isaac Chadwick is a new creative who has recently launched onto the Dunedin scene. He is an aspiring filmmaker, session musician and surfer who is successfully moulding all of his interests into artistic projects. Critic sat down to chat with him on his new projects and what it’s like being a Read more...

Top Ten Paintings I’d Like to be Trapped Inside at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery

Posted 1:39pm Monday 16th August 2021 by Asia Martusia King

If you can’t jump into paintings, that’s embarrassing for you. I do it all the time. One day, my hubris will get the better of me and I will be trapped in one forever. If I get to choose which painting that is, it’ll be one of these. I’ve excluded any landscape paintings of Read more...

DSC Voted Best Bar

Posted 2:00am Monday 9th August 2021 by Fox Meyer

Well, here we are. DSC won Critic’s inaugural Bar Bracket. We started this bracket because we thought DSC’s third-place ranking by our staff was too high, and now it has come out on top. Democracy doesn’t always lead to the results you want. The bracket system and bar selection Read more...

Local Produce: Rezzy Crooks

Posted 5:44pm Sunday 25th July 2021 by Sean Gourley

Image credit: Rosa Nevison Rezzy Crooks are now one of the OG bands on the Dunedin scene well established by many a pint night. There are four members Sam, Jamie, Toby and Josh in a classic two guitar, bass, and drums set-up.  We checked in with them to see what it takes to make it to the Read more...

How Otago students got it on in the 19th century

Posted 5:41pm Sunday 25th July 2021 by Runze Liu

The lads and lasses of Dunedin have a few tricks up their sleeves when it comes to dating and hookups. But how did students do it back in the day, before the technological lubrication of Tinder and Snapchat? Critic did a deep dive into old school dating, circa the 1800s, and here’s what we Read more...