Archive

Booze Review: Monster

Posted 8:44pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Critic Te Ārohi originally set out to review every energy drink available in the campus vending machines. But upon parking up at the library (Robertson, because it's obviously the best one), it became evident that the only energy drinks you can really get are Monsters. Thus, while Read more...

Debatable: Should you drop out and marry rich?

Posted 8:31pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Ollie Thorns

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For:  There are endless reasons why you should drop out, marry rich, and start a failing pottery business. First and Read more...

Local Produce: The hypoCRITICals

Posted 7:53pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Jordan Irvine

The hypoCRITICals are the finest band in all of Ōtepoti – coincidentally consisting of Critic’s own staff. The band is news editor Hugh on rhythm guitar, design intern Connor on lead guitar, video editor Hunter on drums, horoscope columnist Molly on bass and Bachelor columnist Hanna Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Dumplings

Posted 7:49pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Makes: 30 - 40 dumplings Time: 2 hours (less if you have some mates willing to help) Price: $$ The time has come for the final recipe of the year! We all love a good dumpling so for a final end of the year treat have a go at making your own. This recipe is delicious, and makes a huge bunch Read more...

The TL;DR: Your Weekly Bullshitin Roundup | Week 26

Posted 7:32pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Critic

The DCC is due to update its Local Alcohol Policy, and is seeking feedback on its draft replacement which proposed a ban on new liquor stores “in an area between the Octagon and Gardens shopping centre” Coroner Heather McKenzie released new findings from the May inquest into Sophia Read more...

Takeaways: Week 26

Posted 7:28pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Critic

SOMETHING TO WATCH The Critic Bachelor Finale Video Critic slipped and produced a reality TV series this semester: Critic Bachelor. It wasn’t until the ten singles who’d signed up showed up to the office for the first group date that we realised what we’d signed everyone up Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 26

Posted 6:32pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Critic

Aquarius Group assignments are making you want to run away to Cuba and start a new life, but if you take the reins you can turn around the vibes and steer your group to at least a B+. Don't be fooled by that person who created the doc on the first day, they never do anything. Inedible Read more...

Editorial: Critic Takes a Village

Posted 6:30pm Sunday 13th October 2024 by Nina Brown

In honour of this being the last issue of 2024, here’s a supercut of Critic’s year. As you’ll see, Critic Te Ārohi is many things.  Critic is the magazine. It’s every Monday being like Christmas Day, rushing to the stands and holding tangible proof of your hard Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: French Toast

Posted 9:21am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Serves: 4  Time: 45 mins  Price: $ Difficulty: 1/5 Make your friends, family, or special someone say “ooo la la” with a plate of lovingly prepared french toast. This recipe is easy peasy to make and provides a fab vessel for everyone's preferred topping taste. Read more...

Local Produce: emmie

Posted 9:17am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Jordan Irvine

emmie (she/her) is very new to the DJ scene but has already made a considerable impact. After being inspired by Nörty Club and its members, emmie decided to get on the decks – to great success. In the recent OUSA Future DJ competition, she placed second. While the competition was full of Read more...

OUSA Exec: Tēnā Koutou My Subjects!

Posted 9:15am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Liam White

Tēnā koutou my subjects! Congratulations on electing your second dictator in two years. Here’s to a hundred years of Liam’s rule – well, maybe not, but you get the idea! Long live the President! Elections don’t happen in isolation and the success of this election Read more...

Debatable: Would you still love me if I was a worm?

Posted 9:11am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Izzi Anderson

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For Yes, of course I would. Is that even a question? I’d even build you a little worm house with lots of dirt and food Read more...

Booze Review: Battle of the Brewers Tasting Tray

Posted 8:45am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Oktoberfest is truly a beautiful thing. Like all pagan holidays, it’s about getting fucked up. The British have Guy Fawkes, Kiwis have Crate Day, and Germans have a month-long combination of the two in Oktoberfest. In honour of global hermitage to your local, Emerson’s has launched the Read more...

Critic Bachelor Finale

Posted 8:40am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Hanna Varrs

The final night of the Bachelor is upon us. Critic Te Ārohi has arranged for the final ceremony to take place right where it all began: the Critic office (honestly, we never leave). We’ve sent out invites to basically everyone we know, including the singles who are welcome to bring along Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 25

Posted 7:24am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Critic

Aquarius It's time for a new hairstyle. Try a reverse mohawk or going smurf blue. A change of appearance will bring a new lust for life that you have truly been lacking lately. Your friends have been comparing you to sadness from Inside Out and that is just not good enough. Chance of finding Read more...

Editorial: Thank U, Next

Posted 7:21am Sunday 6th October 2024 by Nina Brown

Ellie and I have both taken great inspiration from Dolly Alderton for the love issue. For those who don’t know, Dolly is an award-winning author best known (at least to us) for her memoir Everything I Know About Love, a book written so honestly about a young woman’s experience of love Read more...

OUSA Exec: Vote in the OUSA election!

Posted 5:52pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Emily Williams

“What’s that?” I hear you say. Well folks, this is the time of year again where you get to elect students who give a shit about making sure your life doesn’t suck and that you’re properly represented. Sure, you might not care about student politics, but the student Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Thai Meatball Curry

Posted 5:49pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Time: 1 hr  Serves: 4  Difficulty: 2.5/5 Alternate Option: Use dumplings instead of meatballs for an equally banging meal Recipes like this have been popping up all over my Instagram recently, so I thought it was time to satisfy the craving and make a homemade version. This Read more...

Local Produce: SickBoy

Posted 5:35pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Jordan Irvine

In Dunedin, being a rapper is left of centre in a music scene dominated by Indie Rock. SickBoy, joined by his producers Will and Cameron, is one of the most promising voices in Ōtepoti hip hop with the release of his new EP ‘The Tale of Tim Branson’. Critic Te Ārohi sat down Read more...

Debatable: Should Beer Pong be an Olympic Sport?

Posted 5:32pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Otago University Debating Society

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For  At a point in time where the Olympics have strayed from the traditional track and field, any argument about what it Read more...

Booze Review: Gordon’s Gin & Tonic

Posted 5:14pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Just as the University of Otago is a place of many firsts, Gordon’s Gin & Tonics 7% are the drink of many firsts: your first time going from zero to a hundred on the so-called “mum” spirit, getting blackout in your high school mate’s garage at the age of 16 and vomiting Read more...

Critic Bachelor: Meet Brad’s ‘Flatmates’

Posted 5:12pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Hanna Varrs

Brad is one of the lucky few to escape the North D student rental market and crack into the real deal: living out at Saint Clair with your tidiest mates. His crib is stunning, sporting tasteful lighting and white walls with no weird patch-ups from drunken punch-ups. Sublime. It has the same sense of Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 24

Posted 4:43pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Critic

Aquarius You need to take a break from energy drinks for a week. If you could afford to go to the doctor they would tell you the same. Your resting heart rate is higher than a rabbit’s during sex, which is saying a lot because they fuck fast. Lucky charm: The little rat tail at the nape of Read more...

Editorial: The One Where Critic Does Sport

Posted 4:42pm Saturday 28th September 2024 by Nina Brown

If you were to play a word association game with Critic Te Ārohi, “sports” wouldn’t be the first word to come to mind. That’s besides the point, though. Our job is to represent the entire student population rather than reflecting the bits we personally relate to. Read more...

Letter of the Week: Te Huinga Tauira: A Kāihāpai Perspective

Posted 9:22pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Gemella Reynolds-Hatem

Churr my familia, Just writing into the critic to make sure you all are being recognized for all the amazing mahi that you have all done! TREE TREE TREE x Te Rōpū Māori had 30 of their tauira go up to Tāmaki for Te Huinga Tauira, the National Tertiary Māori Students Read more...

Editorial: Call Me Colm

Posted 9:18pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Nina Brown

I’m feeling a little burned out and I'm sure you are, too. Rather than loading a hot take on your plate for you to chew on, I’ve got something else on the menu. This week, it’s time to serve up the potato story cooked up from my undergrad lore. Best enjoyed with a generously Read more...

Critic Bachelor: Meet Lily’s Flatmates

Posted 9:12pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Hanna Varrs

After six weeks of Joel calling the shots, whittling our group of ten singles down to our two finalists Lily and Brad, Critic Bachelor is turning the tables. It’s time for Joel to seek the flatties’ approval. Read on as Lily’s flatmates discover our bachelor’s true intentions Read more...

Local Produce: Frivolry

Posted 9:11pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Jordan Irvine

Frivolry is the newest and hottest and one of the few celtic bands in Ōtepoti. Alex is on accordion, Tom is on mandolin, Juliet and Rosie are on violin, Brody is on bass (but can also play accordion, because “the revolution is coming”), Johnny is on drums, and Maia is the caller. Read more...

Debatable: Flat Pests: Trap and Release or Kill?

Posted 9:01pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Otago University Debating Society

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. Trap and Release Remy was spared his life by Linguini and the two went on to form an unrivalled partnership culminating in Read more...

Booze Review: Clean Collective

Posted 8:54pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Clean Collective is the go-to fitspo drink. It’s a staple for those with social anxiety, who hate drinking but hate looking like a loser more. Coming in plenty of flavours, Clean Collective is bound to cleanse your palette while also getting you a little rinsed. For those who don’t drink Read more...

OUSA Column Half-Page Takeover

Posted 8:52pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Amelia Harris

Winning the half page in the critic was revolutionary for me, a fresher. So in true first-year fashion, I am outing mine and other’s embarrassing fresher moments for any second-years and above who didn’t stop reading after the word ‘fresher’.  Residential Halls The Read more...

Takeaways: Week 23

Posted 8:47pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Critic

SOMETHING TO WATCH Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime Hop on your parent’s Amazon Prime account and binge watch the most wholesome show to hit screens in a hot minute: Clarkson’s Farm. The show follows Jeremy Clarkson’s attempts to help with the operations of his farm in Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 23

Posted 8:31pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Critic Staff

Aquarius Uranus is in retrograde, so throw all your material possessions into the nearest body of water and sit in the corner of your room like Gollum. This is the best way for an Aquarius to connect with their inner child to heal the trauma of losing your MP3 player on Boxing Day 2006. Book Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Spiced Beef Bowl

Posted 8:09pm Sunday 22nd September 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Time: 1 hr  Serves: 4 Difficulty: 2.5/5 This week’ recipe is inspired by a Thai seven spice blend. There are a lot of different seven spice blends. My spiced beef bowl is influenced by a bunch of different recipes and dictated by what I had on hand in the cupboard. Feel free to 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...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Rēwena Paraoa

Posted 4:45am Monday 16th September 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Makes: 1 large loaf Time: 10 mins prep, 2 days ferment time; 2 hrs knead and prove, 45 mins bake Difficulty: 5/5 (until you have tried a few times! Then it is super easy) Rēwena paraoa aka rēwena bread is an indigenous potato-based sourdough. In the face of aggressive Read more...

Horoscopes: Maramataka

Posted 4:35am Monday 16th September 2024 by Critic

For Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori from September 16th-22nd, Critic Te Ārohi’s orb reads the maramataka – a calendar highlighting the connection between the moon and our well-being. The energy levels are caused by the gravitational forces of Te Ra, Marama, and Whenua. Rāhina Read more...

Guest Editorial: Get in Loser, it’s Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori

Posted 4:08am Monday 16th September 2024 by Heeni Koero Te Rerenoa (Sky)

Ka pāpā te whatitiri Hikohiko te uira Kahukura ki te rangi He aitu ka riri rongo mai ka hē Ko ngunguru Ko ngangana Ko apārangi Ko te titi o te rua ko te tao whakawahine Ko te motumotu o te riri Te awa o ngā rangatira Taumārere herehere i te riri Te puna i Read more...

OUSA Exec: Churr e te whānuk

Posted 4:02am Monday 16th September 2024 by Gemella Reynolds-Hatem

For non-Māori, some may ask why is Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori a thing? Why is there no English language week? Why do these Māori get a week to themselves?  Well, e te whānau, let me enlighten you my bro.  Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori is our birthright. It is the reo Read more...

Booze Review: Vote Hoiho NZ Pale Ale

Posted 3:58am Monday 16th September 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

There are many pleasures in life. In Dunedin, it’s the Peninsula wildlife and alcohol. Put ‘em together and what do you get? Penguin piss. In honour of this year’s Bird of the Year election, the master brewers at Emerson’s have made a limited edition ‘Vote Hoiho’ Read more...

Debatable: Should Aotearoa have bilingual road signs?

Posted 3:56am Monday 16th September 2024 by Otago University Debating Society

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. Against  It’s clear that the New Zealand government isn’t living up to its obligation to promote te reo Read more...

Local Produce: Achtung!

Posted 3:48am Monday 16th September 2024 by Jordan Irvine

Bring The Noise final losers Achtung! are the newest post-punk band in Ōtepoti. Members include Jacob (he/him) on guitar, Niki (she/they/he) on drums, Henry on bass (he/him) and George (he/him) on guitar. According to Niki, “The genesis of Achtung! is using old Critic’s as cum Read more...

Local Produce: Underbirds

Posted 5:06pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Jordan Irvine

As part of the 2023 Bird of the Year campaign, Science Communication graduates and wildlife photographers Abi Liddell, Brady Clarke, and Isabella Lewis released a ten-minute short film Underbirds: The Fight to Save the Southern New Zealand Dotterel. Pukunui are New Zealand’s most endangered Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Potato Leek Soup

Posted 5:01pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Serves: 5 Time: 1 hr  Price: $ Difficult: 2/5 Attention all of you penny-pinching, budget conscious students! Winter vegetables are cheap as chips at the moment so we may as well make the most of it. Potato leek soup is a real winter warmer, making a delicious recipe for dinners or Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 21

Posted 4:26pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Critic

Aquarius All your shoes are feeling tight this week. Go sockless to allow for extra space in there, but don’t let anyone know – it’s kinda musty. Just say you’re wearing no-show socks, still weird but a little more socially accepted. Daydream Prompt: Losing your shoe while Read more...

Editorial: Pukunui for Bird of the Year

Posted 4:21pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Nina Brown

Critic Te Ārohi is officially backing the Pukunui (Southern NZ dotterel) for Bird of the Year, an annual Forest & Bird election that pits 75 birds against each other in a battle for awareness and conservation resources. Before you ask: no, while Salient Mag’s Editor has gotten a Read more...

Booze Review: Parrotdog Birdseye

Posted 4:19pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Parrotdog is patriotic. It’s New Zealand owned and made, and nothing screams New Zealand more than nationwide pride in birds and an economy so dire you’ll have to sell a kidney to afford a box. There wasn’t a price listed on these bad boys, and with there only being three boxes on 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...

Takeaways: Week 21

Posted 3:56pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Critic

SOMETHING TO WATCH Nicolas Cage’s Filmography One Critic staff member has taken it upon themselves to watch every single Nic Cage film ever – down to a ten second appearance as an extra. The challenge of being locked in ‘The Cage’ involves over 130 films with his name Read more...

OUSA Exec: How Rising Visa Fees Will Affect You

Posted 3:53pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Ibuki Nishida

Konnichiwa besties, International Rep Buki here. If you haven’t heard, there was a shocking announcement from the government last month that visa fees will skyrocket from the 1st of October. Student visas are doubling from $375 to $750. Post-Study Work visas are more than doubling, rising Read more...

Debatable: Battle of the $4 lunch sides: Onion Bhaji vs Samosa

Posted 2:52pm Saturday 7th September 2024 by Connor Moffat

Onion Bhaji: Connor Moffat Though Nina claims to have to bite her lip from moaning over the samosa, when it comes to choosing a hot side piece for your $4 lunch munch, the onion bhaji stands out as the superior choice. If sexual relationships with a samosa are your thing then go for it (take what 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...

Local Produce: RISK

Posted 7:32pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Jordan Irvine

RISK (he/him) is one of the hottest techno/hardgrove DJs to pop out of Dunedin this year. Already, RISK (real name Angus) has been stacking up on an impressive resume, regularly playing at Carousel, U-Bar and snagging a Radio 1 Live to Air boiler room style set. Critic Te Ārohi caught up with Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Macaroni Cheese

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Serves: 6  Time: 1 hr  Price: $$ Difficulty: 2/5 With snow having made its first appearance this year, we’re all in need of a cosy meal! Macaroni cheese is the perfect dinner for this time of year. Carby, cheesy and saucy, it is a must make. This recipe should cook enough Read more...

Should TVNZ Have a Queer Bachelor/Bachelorette?

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Hannah Mitchell

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For: Hannah Mitchell In almost 50 seasons combined, The Bachelor/Bachelorette USA has yet to produce what Critic Te Read more...

Booze Reviews: Lemon Ice Grog!

Posted 6:57pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Grog! is the Australian version of Prime, and that means two things: one, like anything truly Australian, an obscene amount of alcohol is needed; and two, this drink has reached Hyoketsu levels of shameless breatha-targeted marketing. The pretty colours are perfect for an audience who hasn’t Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 20

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Critic

Aquarius Taking a break from reality can sometimes do more good than harm, so absolutely check out this week. Be the personification of lights on, no one home. You may regret it next month, but you can claw yourself out of that pit when you come to it. Late-night side quest: Eat gummy vitamins and Read more...

Editorial: The Queer Issue Goes Hard

Posted 6:23pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Nina Brown

Dunedin isn’t exactly known for its queer scene. A close friend of mine once told me that they felt unsafe walking the streets here wearing the clothes they felt most themselves in. They’ve since moved to Wellington to find a more inclusive community. At the writer’s meeting where Read more...

OUSA Exec: Presidential Address

Posted 6:11pm Sunday 25th August 2024 by Keegan Wells

I hear comments consistently about how “disengaged” students are. But I disagree. I think students have been made cripplingly poor, but not just in terms of wealth – also in terms of time. It’s led to student culture being drained without people even Read more...

Local Produce: The Daze

Posted 5:38pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Jordan Irvine

The Daze have been making music for over two years and are continuing to make noise in Dunedin’s music scene. Formed in their hall in first-year, the band’s made up of Sam (he/him) on guitar and vocals, Ollie (he/him) on drums, Vere (he/him) on bass and vocals, and Alex (he/him) on Read more...

OUSA Exec: What Do You Care About?

Posted 5:35pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Liam White

There’s honestly not enough space in this column to talk about this Government’s war on the environment. Conservation jobs cuts, Fast Track powers to build American superhighways, and the removal of half-price bus fares just scrape the surface. Also, surprise! Your fees are probably Read more...

Do It Your Fucking Self: Electricity 101

Posted 5:31pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Sam Smith-Soppet

Electricity is cool as fuck. But alongside all the awesome shit it does, it can also act as a source of a whole lotta hurt – be it your hairdryer shocking you in the bathroom, your whole flat going up in flames (there’s a reason they check that shit is up to par in first-year halls), or Read more...

Debatable: Should Small Businesses Use AI Art in Advertising?

Posted 5:17pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Hannah Twigg

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For: Liam Gould  AI art can be tacky and cheap but it can also be effective if used correctly. There's a reason why Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Chicken Katsu

Posted 4:55pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Serves: 5 Time: 40 mins (max!) Price: $$ Difficulty: 1/5 (so easy yet so delicious!) Chicken katsu is such a simple and delicious meal that I guarantee will become a fan favourite. In my house we love any excuse to slather dinner in kewpie mayo, so this really is a winner all round. Read more...

Booze Review: Kingfisher Strong

Posted 4:46pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Kingfisher Strong, unlike the kōtare, is an allegedly exotic and foreign beer. Yes, it may be foreign, but this beverage tends to be about as exciting as that one wounder at a party showing you his Year 12 1st XV highlights on Hudl whilst unironically calling them his ‘glory Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 19

Posted 4:25pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Critic

Aquarius The moon is screaming at you to avoid toxic friends. Now is the perfect time of the year to cut your circle down to those you actually want to be around. No point in feeding a plant you think is ugly and smells funny. Art to make: A new collaged laptop screensaver Pisces Summer Read more...

Editorial: Neoliberalism Hates Art, and I Hate Neoliberalism

Posted 4:24pm Saturday 17th August 2024 by Nina Brown

Neoliberalism is the root of all evil, and the arts have borne the brunt of it. You take any issue in the world and neoliberalism will always be sitting at the end. It’s like following a trail of wrappers to find a smug, chubby lil kid with chocolate smeared on its face. It’s why we 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...

Local Produce: DJ Bax

Posted 11:38pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Jordan Irvine

DJ Bax is one of the most exciting and revolutionary DJs in Dunedin’s electronic scene. Known for the signature DONK sound and having a great ear for remixes (as well as being the guitarist for Leo Lilley), over the past year his influence has been unprecedented. He’s been involved with 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...

Debatable: Should You Date Your Flatmate?

Posted 11:29pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Abby Bowmar

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For: Abby Bowmar You enjoyed being single in first-year, when you were freshly eighteen and heating was free. But now Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Banana Loaf

Posted 11:18pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Time: 1 hr Price: $ Difficulty: 1/5 Banana loaf is an absolute classic! This recipe serves you with the perfect way to use up those neglected bananas you never got round to eating, and only takes a few minutes to whip up a tasty treat. Best served warm with a slice of butter, share with Read more...

OUSA Exec: Dunedin Needs Its Students

Posted 11:11pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Daniel Leamy

The thought of Dunedin without its students is like imagining Wednesday nights without Pint Night or Southern Sounds without finger dips in the mosh – of fairy dust, of course. It’s just wrong on so many levels.  While Dunedin may have started as a bustling, gold-rich city, what Read more...

Surveyors on the Recruitment Rark

Posted 11:08pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Surveying students have had one hell of a fortnight, managing to get on the piss with surveying companies’ dime. Over twenty companies  (from both NZ and Aus) were in town on a recruitment spree, offering both summer internships for third-years, and graduate positions for fourth-years Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 18

Posted 10:45pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Nina Brown

Aquarius Mending your turbulent friendships will bring you a lot of peace this week. You may have just stocked up on your anti-anxiety meds but your dependency will go down. Market your SSRIs to your friends as Percocets. Lucky (Lotto) Numbers: 3, 11, 12, 17, 19, 20 Pisces Before going grocery Read more...

Editorial: Your Initiation “Tradition” Is Barely Consenting Age, Actually

Posted 10:42pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Nina Brown

As students are beginning to turn their attention to where they’ll live next year and listings for Castle Street flats are cropping up, the subject of flat initiations is once again on people’s minds. Personally, it’s been in the back of my mind since last year, when I witnessed a Read more...

Booze Review: Cleanskin Sauvignon Blanc

Posted 10:36pm Saturday 10th August 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

To the best of our knowledge, good wine does exist out there. Maybe you can find it at the Central Otago, Martinborough, or Canterbury wineries where middle-aged mums flock in the summer months. But Cleanskin Sauvignon Blanc makes this hard to believe. With each reluctant sip it extinguishes all Read more...

Debatable: Castle Street Hosts: Live Bands vs DJs?

Posted 3:20pm Sunday 4th August 2024 by Otago University Debating Society

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. DJs Live bands are great, but let's be honest here: for flat hosts on Castle they're just too much effort for too Read more...

Local Produce: DeadBeat Blondes

Posted 3:16pm Sunday 4th August 2024 by Jordan Irvine

DeadBeat Blondes are a brand new rock band often seen down in U-Bar. The band is made up of members AJ Keable (she/her), who is the lead singer and guitarist, Salani Shaw (she/her) on bass, Sam Flanagan (he/him) on guitar and Alfie Buxton (he/him) on drums. They brought Sam’s dog (also called Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Burrito Bowls

Posted 3:12pm Sunday 4th August 2024 by Ruby Hudson

Serves: 6 Time: 45 mins Price: $ Difficulty: 1/5 This burrito bowl recipe is inspired by Connors “banging” Nachos from the other week! As students, we all love a good Mexican meal. I recommend you branch out this week and get creative with a burrito bowl! The toppings on a Read more...

Booze Reviews: Brookvale Union Alcoholic Ginger Beer

Posted 3:08pm Sunday 4th August 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Since the dawn of time, students have been looking for the ideal alcoholic beverage that actually tastes good while also getting you ruined. Our wait is finally over, thank fuck,  with the introduction of Brookvale Union to Dunedin shores. The Australians have pulled off a mighty fine beverage Read more...

OUSA Exec: Guide to Escaping Studentville

Posted 3:04pm Sunday 4th August 2024 by Telekalafi Likiliki

Mālō e lelei everyone and happy Sem Two! I don’t know about you, but Semester Two has always been my busiest semester. Sometimes it ends up feeling like I'm trapped in Studentville since the only places I end up are uni and my flat. So here’s a list of a few places (in no Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 17

Posted 2:37pm Sunday 4th August 2024 by Critic

Aquarius Stop trying to get your friends to use the shitty slang you’ve been trying to make happen. It’s your dave’s, your bosch’s and most certainly your skux’s that’ll make everyone lose respect for you. Your Bachelor Placing: You win but assert dominance by Read more...

Editorial: A Love Letter to Radio One

Posted 2:30pm Sunday 4th August 2024 by Nina Brown

This is a love letter to Radio One. I couldn’t possibly write an editorial for the music issue without mentioning our musos across the hall, who Dunedin’s music scene owes everything to. Celebrating their 40th this year, Radio One (91FM) gives a platform to the up-and-coming artists of Read more...

Critic Bachelor: First Group Date

Posted 2:17pm Sunday 4th August 2024 by Hanna Varrs

Initial Impressions It’s 6pm on the 26th of July when Joel approaches the Critic Te Ārohi office for the first group date. His eyes flick around nervously, adjusting his tie and shifting his weight from foot to foot. Navy blazer, pristine white shirt, coordinated trousers. He’s Read more...

Critic Bachelor: Meet the Singles

Posted 9:00pm Sunday 28th July 2024 by Hanna Varrs

Meet the ten sexy singles who will be vying for Joel’s affections in the upcoming series of the Critic Bachelor! We tasked the finalists with a cheeky Insta stalk for a first impression of the man of the hour (which they probably had already).  Next week, tune in for details of the Read more...

Local Produce: Leo Lilley

Posted 8:38pm Sunday 28th July 2024 by Jordan Irvine

As the poncho-wearing frontman of his own band, Leo Lilley is one of the most beloved artists in the Ōtepoti music scene. Playing at parties since his first year of uni, his solo material and classic covers of The Clash and Car Seat Headrest gets the crowd jumping. Critic Te Ārohi had a Read more...

Debatable: Should you buy fast fashion?

Posted 8:21pm Sunday 28th July 2024 by Otago University Debating Society

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For As someone who occasionally indulges in retail therapy, I may be a bit delusional and hypocritical in thinking my Read more...

OUSA Exec: Postgrad is Cooler Than You Think

Posted 8:17pm Sunday 28th July 2024 by Hanna Friedlander

Hope the year has been treating y’all well! Super late introduction but I’m Hanna, your Postgraduate Representative! For those who don’t know me, I’m a first year PhD neuroscience girlie looking at how the brain processes rewards and how our day-to-day social interactions Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Braised Lentils

Posted 8:08pm Sunday 28th July 2024 by Ruby Hudson

This week's dish is a staple in my house! Made from pantry ingredients, this braised lentil and sausage recipe is hearty and delicious. An extra bonus is that there is wine involved in the cooking – enjoy a cheeky glass while you chef it up. The recipe below is a hefty one. It serves the Read more...

Booze Review: Mac’s Apparition

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 28th July 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

The Mac’s line of beers can aptly be described as fake craft beer. Like weed, Mac’s beers are a gateway to the expensive, harder shit. Before you know it, this drop will have any soon-to-be graduate breatha loudly expressing their political views over a pint and reflecting on their glory Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 16

Posted 7:38pm Sunday 28th July 2024 by Critic

Aquarius You can’t always be the boss of everyone. Use this week to relax and let things play out naturally. Letting go can cause even more stress but once you push through it's nice to not have to be a team carrier all the time.  OOTD’s finishing touch: A tote Read more...

Editorial: Kmart Gives Me the Ick

Posted 7:36pm Sunday 28th July 2024 by Nina Brown

I hate to be a hater, but the opening of Kmart and its cult following made me a bit disappointed. This comes with the big fat disclaimer that, yes, the tracksuit on the cover of the issue was bought from Kmart, and yes, I am wearing the slippers I bought while I was there. And I’m never going Read more...

OUSA Exec: Please Give Us Lecture Recordings Policy Feedback

Posted 3:06pm Monday 22nd July 2024 by Ibuki Nishida

Hey gamers. It’s me, your International Rep, Buki. Critic’s foolishly given me this little box to write in. Like, I could say anything right now. But I’ll be nice. There are many things I wanna to tell you, but I’ll save those for another time because I am here for one reason Read more...

Local Produce: Caribou

Posted 3:43pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Jordan Irvine

Named after a Pixies song that they jammed for the first time just over a year ago, Caribou has been making an impact on the Dunedin music scene. Made up of members Mario (he/they) on guitar and vocals, Cam (he/him) on drums, Colton (he/him) on bass, and Ben (he/him) on guitar, their indie sound can Read more...

Booze Review: Heineken 0.0%

Posted 3:41pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Chunny Bill Swilliams

Drinking a non-alcoholic beer for the first time is a strange experience. It tastes like beer, smells like beer, makes you crave nicotine like beer, yet there’s something missing. It’s like drinking out of a week-old luke-warm keg that has long lost any sense of its carbonation. Read more...

Horoscopes: Week 15

Posted 3:22pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Critic

Aquarius It's time to decide if you will continue to sell your soul to please others. Life can be a little bit scary at times, but so can you. Make sure to stand your ground and not let yourself wonder if you were silent or if you were silenced. If you were a TikTok trend: Who TF did I marry Read more...

Mi Goreng Graduate: Connor's Nachos

Posted 3:19pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Connor Moffat

Ruby’s on vacay, so design intern Connor swooped in to save the day with his “banging” nacho recipe! Nachos are a classic go-to student meal, perfect for the colder weather for a quick and tasty feed. To make it vegetarian, simply swap the mince for more veggies such as carrots and Read more...

Why I’m Doing Dry July

Posted 3:04pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Nina Brown

I’m doing Dry July. And it’s been kind of… nice. When I’d thought about doing Dry July and how it might be a nice break, it was a small shock to realise that I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone so long without a drink. And that bothered Read more...

Debatable: Is Winter a Good Season?

Posted 3:00pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Otago University Debating Society

Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. The Debating Society welcomes new members and meets at the Business School every Tuesday at 6pm. For The change in season rolls by unnoticed in the depths of first-sem exam hell, but with calmer times ahead we can stop and Read more...