Ammonita Have Brought the Noise

Posted 10:00pm Saturday 4th October 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

OUSA’s annual band competition, Bring the Noise, wrapped up its seventh iteration at U-Bar last week. Presented by Radio One, the competition involved two heats and a final where Ōtepoti bands battled head-to-head, playing only original songs. Last Wednesday, Ammonita took out the title Read more...

Castle Packs out for Pizza Eating Comp

Posted 5:50pm Sunday 21st September 2025 by Zoe Eckhoff

Suburbia has extended their dominance over students’ Saturday nights into the following day by hosting a Biggies Pizza (Sub’s day-time persona) eating competition on Sunday, September 13th. Hosted at the infamous Courtyard flat, roughly 21 nominees from various Castle St flats attempted Read more...

Editorial: A Challenge to the Uni’s Monopoly on Scones

Posted 10:38am Sunday 7th September 2025 by Nina Brown

I learned why the supermarket duopoly is making butter a luxury grocery item last week. Features Editor Hanna patiently explained to me how competition is important to ensure that prices meet demand, and why there being two major supermarkets in Aotearoa means prices inflate to the point of there Read more...

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...

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...

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...