The Great Ōtepoti Flag Referendum

Posted 11:03pm Sunday 17th August 2025 by Molly Smith-Soppet

Flags are a way for communities to display their collective pride and patriotism. Currently, Dunedin does not have a cohesive identity. As the story goes with university towns, every three years there is a whole new batch of students, and therefore a whole new identity. A flag would give students Read more...

Critic’s Brush With Artistic Genius

Posted 11:51pm Sunday 17th August 2025 by Stella Weston

Art Week has made its mark again this year. The Link (turned art gallery) was even more of a hub of procrastination than usual, displaying a huge range of works of all mediums. Entries to the exhibition were showcased and sold alongside poetry, electronic art, and photography competitions. Critic 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...

Critic Bachelor: Trivial Pursuit (Of Joel)

Posted 4:47am Monday 16th September 2024 by Hanna Varrs

A hot new bombshell has entered the villa (Critic office)! Yes, you read that right – we’re stirring the pot. Keegan Wells (OUSA President) is joining the Critic Bachelor for a special guest appearance. Today, the remaining singles Micah, Brad, and Lily will be competing against Keegan Read more...

Critic Bachelor: Single Coffee Dates

Posted 4:14pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Hanna Varrs

Oh yeah, it’s coffee date season. It’s time to put away the cameras and allow the singles to have some valuable one on one time (plus me third wheeling at the end of the table). It was a bit like herding cats for this round of dates (mid-sem break, Joel’s report deleting right Read more...

Purple Dog Crowned Bring the Noise Winners

Posted 7:13pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Jordan Irvine

The Bring the Noise finals were held at U-Bar on Friday, 16 August. Six bands competed but only one came out on top. The winners were the indie rock band Purple Dog who have seen a surge in popularity this year, playing multiple Pint Nights, featuring in a Critic article (the highest praise) and Read more...

DJ Comp Shows Shift in Electronic Music Scene

Posted 7:10pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Angus Rees

Last week, OUSA hosted its annual Future DJ competition at U-Bar. The comp platformed some of Dunedin's future DJ stars, welcoming electronic music punters and every breatha who loves drum and bass. But with only one of the top three DJs playing DnB, it seems there’s been a shift in the Read more...

Critic Bachelor: XYZ Karaoke & Bull-riding

Posted 7:47pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Hanna Varrs

Finally, Joel and the singles are out of the cold and into the warm embrace of XYZ Bar. It’s 6:30pm on a Wednesday, and the bar feels liminal without the usual thrum of drunk students on a Saturday night. Music plays at an awkward volume and the light-up dance floor flickers Read more...

Critic Bachelor: Ice Skating Group Date

Posted 4:22pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Hanna Varrs

This week on the Critic Bachelor, the next batch of singles in the second round have been sentenced to another freezing group date. But will romance warm their cold little hearts? Read on to find out! It’s 12pm on a Wednesday when Micah, Charlotte, Brad, and latecomer Amelia shuffle into Read more...

Critic Bachelor: Group Date - Peace Garden

Posted 11:35pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Hanna Varrs

It’s 9am on a Friday when four of the remaining eight singles – Gabi, Lily, Olivia, and Jessica – are cruelly dragged out into the cold, ready to get their hands dirty in the Kia Ora/Peace Garden with some gardening and rock-painting.  It’s a more casual affair this Read more...