Palo Alto Partnership Under “Review”

Posted 10:28am Sunday 10th May 2026 by Hanna Varrs

What Happened? As previously reported, the University of Otago has confirmed a partnership with Palo Alto Networks (PANW), a cybersecurity company that has been accused of having “deep links to the Israeli government” by Otago Staff for Palestine (OSP). The partnership is intended to Read more...

“Misunderstanding” Results In University Removing OSJP Posters

Posted 10:37am Sunday 10th May 2026 by Hanna Varrs

Critic Te Ārohi recently received a tip from a café worker at St David Café, who was allegedly asked to remove posters put up by Otago Students for Justice In Palestine (OSJP) on the 22nd of April. The employee told Critic that café workers were asked to remove the Read more...

University Trials Partnership With Parking Enforcement Services

Posted 2:45pm Sunday 3rd May 2026 by Gryffin Blockley

Parking Enforcement Services (PES) have been contracted to conduct a parking enforcement trial at two car parks over the next three months, a University of Otago spokesperson has confirmed to Critic Te Ārohi.  You may recognise PES from major supermarket parking lots in Dunedin, or, if Read more...

Execrable: Written Warning, MoU and Political Planning

Posted 1:18pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Hanna Varrs

Celebrating 4/20 likely in a different way to most students, the OUSA Exec still managed to push their fortnightly meeting up to a marathon two and a half hours on the 20th of April. Who can say they aren’t dedicated? There was a heap on the agenda to get through, and get through it they Read more...

Student Wellbeing Hub is (Officially) Open

Posted 1:26pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Harry Almey

Two years after announcing that Te Pou Whirinaki (the Wellbeing Hub) would take the place of the old Campus South stationary shop, Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson, and National Party Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey, gathered on the 15th of April for its official opening. Te Pou Whirinaki Read more...

Where Does All My Data Go?

Posted 1:45pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Matilda Rumball-Smith

Whether you care where your data goes or not, it’s safe to say our world has become increasingly digitalised. When Critic Te Arōhi asked 623 students if they felt they had a good understanding of how their data is used online, 52% admitted that they had “no idea”. Only 11% Read more...

University Defends Partnership With Palo Alto Networks

Posted 4:17pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Stella Weston

The University of Otago announced its partnership with international cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks (PANW) in May of last year to aid in the development of a new Masters in Digital Technology at the budding Queenstown campus. However, the partnership has recently come under scrutiny by Otago Read more...

Vice-Chancellor’s Welcome Email Returns 100% AI Prediction

Posted 4:34pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Hanna Varrs

Critic Te Ārohi recently received a news tip from an anonymous student that ran Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson’s welcome email through GPTZero (Model 4.2b). The message was sent to all students at the start of the year, and had the subject-line “Student update: 25 February Read more...

Explainer: Albany Street Connection Project

Posted 4:27pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Hanna Varrs

Since 2021, the Dunedin City Council (DCC) has done heaps of advertising, letter drops, media coverage and public consultation about the changes happening to Albany Street and surrounding areas. The $4.8 million Albany Street Connection Project (ASCP) construction and road reseal will fully take Read more...

What’s Going On With Eduroam?

Posted 12:32pm Sunday 29th March 2026 by Bella Bates

This year, Critic Te Ārohi has noticed a spike in online grumbling about the University Wi-Fi, eduroam. Students have taken to forums (such as Castle26 and UoO Confessions – our favourite unofficial channels) in droves to air their grievances, which mostly boil down to this: the internet Read more...