Archive

Local Produce: Rheumy

Posted 1:35pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Ethan Montañer

Rheumy are a self-described “kosmiche noise group” who materialised into Ōtepoti’s music scene in early 2025. The trio create compositions that can be difficult to pin down with descriptions — the music is somehow free-form yet intentional, rhythmic yet droning — 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...

Strait Talk: What’s Actually Going On in Hormuz?

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Bella Bates

With TikTok explainers flying around and group chats spiralling, Critic Te Ārohi went straight to Professor Robert Patman to make sense of the escalating situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Patman, a Professor in the University of Otago’s Politics Department, specialises in international Read more...

Possums? We Don’t Know Her

Posted 1:22pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Luke MacLeod

The Otago Peninsula was declared possum free in March, making it one of the first inhabited landscape-scale areas in Aotearoa to successfully eliminate the pest. Critic Te Ārohi reached out to Chris Arnison, Community Coordinator and Operations Director of the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity 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...

‘Dunedin Herald’ Taking Shit Posting to the Next Level

Posted 1:17pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Stella Weston

The Dunedin Herald is a new satirical Instagram account, self-described as “our most special city’s most trusted news”. Despite being only six days old at time of writing, they’ve gained over 1400 followers. Although the student behind the account wanted to remain anonymous Read more...

Delivereasy Statistics Reveal Dunedin’s Food Delivery Diagnosis

Posted 1:15pm Sunday 26th April 2026 by Imogen Perry

A fifteen minute walk in the cold versus experiencing the full offerings of Fatty Lane from bed for a $5 delivery fee – this choice is becoming shamefully easy. Kiwi-owned delivery platform, Delivereasy, has recently shed light upon customer statistics, revealing the tendency for tauira across Read more...

Q&A with Q and Dave

Posted 1:42pm Sunday 19th April 2026 by Stella Weston

Qiulae 'Q' Wong believes that the “role of government is to look at the horizon and stand for that.” She’s sick of the divisive, “pendulum politics” that we see in New Zealand today, with governments undoing policy changes with every switch in power. Founded in Read more...

OUSA Q1 Exec Reports: These guys want to get paid

Posted 1:38pm Sunday 19th April 2026 by Gryffin Blockley

After riding the high of their election wins last year, the OUSA Executive have had to put their heads down and start the mahi for 2026.  The Exec gets paid through something called ‘honorariums’. In order to receive their honorarium, the Exec members must hand in a quarterly Read more...

Critical Tribune: Breatha Raises Hand in Class

Posted 1:29pm Sunday 19th April 2026 by Dildo Connor

Second year breatha, Shooda Sckipt, was sat in his Tuesday morning lecture last week. Talking to Critical Tribune reporters, Shooda recounted that he had “surprisingly mustered up the courage” to make it to a lecture for a class that had an upcoming midterm assignment – no small Read more...

The Bowling Club Needs Students

Posted 1:25pm Sunday 19th April 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet

Whether you don’t know what to cook in the flat tonight, are struggling with midterm stress, or your body is beginning to deteriorate due not seeing a vegetable in a week, Critic Te Ārohi has a solution for you. The Bowling Club delivers straight to OUSA Clubs and Socs, which is a perfect 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...

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...

Local Produce: Bunchy’s Big Score

Posted 4:12pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Ethan Montañer

Bunchy’s Big Score is an Ōtepoti art/pop/rock band who have become well-loved in the local scene over the past two years. Known for their noisy ear-worm bangers and ridiculously fun live shows, the quartet is preparing for what will be their biggest year yet. The band’s current Read more...

Critical Tribune: Hyde Street Party 2026 Flat Themes Unveiled

Posted 4:09pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Dyldo Connor

As Otago students return from mid-sem break, speculation from the shitposters of the Castle26 Facebook group has been at an all time high. Critical Tribune is here to put the rumors to bed and confirm the official Hyde Street Party flat themes. Critical Tribune investigative journalists spoke to Read more...

Thursdays in Black: More Than Just a Black T-Shirt

Posted 4:05pm Saturday 11th April 2026 by Bella Bates

The concept behind Thursdays in Black (TiB) couldn’t be simpler: wear black on Thursdays. Through symbolically wearing black each week on campus, TiB Otago creates weekly visibility and raises awareness of those who have experienced or are experiencing sexual violence.  Despite winning 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...

Get Standards and Start Complaining

Posted 12:29pm Sunday 29th March 2026 by Stella Weston

By not speaking up when something is wrong with a product or service, young people and students are losing themselves a collective estimated $16.5 million every year. Kadie Wilson, an advisor for consumer services at MBIE had some words to share with students about the benefits of making a fuss when Read more...

OUSA Reception Rescues At Least $25,000 of Lost Property

Posted 12:26pm Sunday 29th March 2026 by Harry Almey

In the days after St. Patrick's, OUSA Lost Property received 26 quality drink bottles, 14 chargers, 5 pairs of headphones, 4 Apple pens, 3 reading glasses, 2 telephones, 1 driver's license (rescued from Castle26 box negotiations), and 80 more assorted items. They don't have a partridge Read more...

Cost of Living and Unemployment Take a Hit on OUSA Student Hardship Fund

Posted 12:21pm Sunday 29th March 2026 by Gryffin Blockley

With 2026 well underway, many of Ōtepoti’s tauira are feeling the pressure from gold-plated petrol prices and the hellscape of Aotearoa’s supermarket duopoly. With seemingly the cost of everything on the rise, student hardship is taking a toll, and she’s not slowing for Read more...

Local Produce: AW / Andrew Wilson

Posted 12:17pm Sunday 29th March 2026 by Ethan Montañer

Andrew Wilson is an Ōtepoti-born musician with a hectic but impressive musical career. Many will know him as the frontman/guitarist of post-punk trio Die! Die! Die!, one of Aotearoa’s most important and consistent bands of the last 20 odd years. In that band he’s played innumerable Read more...

Local Produce: Deaf Raccoon

Posted 12:29pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Ethan Montañer

Deaf Raccoon are one of Dunedin’s most exciting new alternative punk bands, and are a testament to the importance of having all-ages gigs. Having only played their first gig in April of last year, the four-piece have already released a single, played the Rockquest National Finals, and made Read more...

Tamatha Paul Talks Housing

Posted 12:18pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Stella Weston

Tamatha Paul, Green MP for Wellington Central, and Party Spokesperson for housing (among other things), caught up with Critic Te Ārohi for a chat about the Green’s upcoming housing campaign. Housing is something that affects everyone, whether you’re “a student living in a Read more...

Dunedin Youth Orchestra Unlocks New Sound

Posted 12:15pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Stella Weston

In a grand collaboration with Dunedin Youth Orchestra, international performer and composer Daniel Verstappen (yes, a relative of the F1 driver) will be playing at Hanover Hall on the 1st of April. Belgium-born Daniel fell in love with New Zealand when he visited two years ago, and he hopes this Read more...

Second Year Law Camp Cancelled “For The Foreseeable Future”

Posted 12:14pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Hanna Varrs

Law Camp was a fixture of the second year law experience at the University of Otago. Hosted by the Society of Otago University Law Students (SOULS), they quietly cancelled for this year’s iteration of the camp. The event was traditionally a getaway to the country – featuring skits, Read more...

Semesters Dropped to 12 Weeks For 2027

Posted 12:11pm Sunday 22nd March 2026 by Hanna Varrs

This just in – the University of Otago is planning to change our semesters from 13 weeks to 12 starting from 2027. The saved week will be used as what they’re calling a “reading week” for students.  It’s well known that Otago’s hick cousins, Lincoln and Read more...

Case of Meningococcal Disease Found In Student Community

Posted 7:53pm Saturday 14th March 2026 by Hanna Varrs

As many are well aware, the University recently confirmed a case of meningococcal disease within the student community. Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson’s reassurances regarding the situation were beamed directly to everyone with a student.otago.ac.nz address. Meningitis is not to be messed Read more...

Fringe Starts with Bang(s)

Posted 7:47pm Saturday 14th March 2026 by Stella Weston

With shows ranging from comedy to ballet and everything in between, the Dunedin Fringe Festival is in full swing. Running from the 11th of March to the 22nd, this program is stacked with 93 shows in venues across Ōtepoti. Time to text the flat gc and do a wholesome outing for a Read more...

Politicians vs Professors

Posted 7:44pm Saturday 14th March 2026 by Te Awhirēinga Heperi

With an eager crowd watching and the sun shining overhead, a football game kicked off on Logan Park last Sunday, March 8th. Usually, that’d be nothing out of the ordinary. But if passersby cared to look a little closer, they’d see that gangly adolescent limbs had been traded with the Read more...

Local Produce: Monkey Do

Posted 7:42pm Saturday 14th March 2026 by Ethan Montañer

Monkey Do are a new pack of primates/alternative rock band who love the Ōtepoti music scene, and have spent the past year refining their sound at Pint Nights and flat gigs. Critic Te Ārohi caught up with Rowan (guitar, he/him), Mack (bass, he/she), Pato (guitar, he/him) and Kam (drums, Read more...

Foo Fighters Seeking Help

Posted 12:26pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Dylan O'Connor

Local Ōtepoti feminist punk band, SEEK HELP!, has been announced as one of the openers for the upcoming concert of American rock band Foo Fighters. SEEK HELP! made history last year by being one of two bands representing Otago at Smokefreerockquest 2025, and they finished in third place. Now, Read more...

E-Waste Department Saves Uni $40,000 in 2025

Posted 12:24pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Harry Almey

Te Oraka, a gem in the centre of campus, is full of student-run businesses and second-hand goods. Lesser known is that it also houses a selection of rescued e-waste. Critic Te Ārohi dusted themselves off one dreary day, and went to explore. Tucked in behind the second-hand clothes (nothing Read more...

Plug Pulled on Electric Hyde

Posted 12:22pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Imogen Perry

Electric Hyde, a proposed event advertised in popular Castle26 Facebook group as an alternative to Elective Avenue, was quickly cancelled following discussions with the University and the Otago University Students’ Association. Critic Te Ārohi understands that Hyde Street residents were Read more...

Students, Lecturers and Tutors React to New LMS Aoroa

Posted 12:18pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Bella Bates

In a move that has been met with both confusion and celebration, the University of Otago has officially started the roll out of Aoroa, its shiny new learning management system (LMS), powered by Brightspace. Despite being touted as a modern upgrade, Aoroa has already been critically received by Read more...

Local Produce: Cue-Go

Posted 12:08pm Sunday 8th March 2026 by Harry Almey

One day, in a rush to class, you'll pass Startup Dunedin on Leithbank. If you take a moment to really look, you'll spy a poster in the window of a student business they have proudly nurtured. Ready, set, Cue-Go.  The audio-visual event tech company, Cue-Go, is a star in the sky, Read more...

New Cheap Lunch Spot Opens Next to Campus

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 1st March 2026 by Hanna Varrs

Students may have noticed a new food truck operating out of the Museum Llawn, staffed with broad smiles and piling $5 Love Feasts onto plates. Jane Beecroft caught up with Critic Te Ārohi to discuss the mahi behind Krisha Kai, as well as the menu. “Samosas, smoothies, hot chips, apple Read more...

Otago Alumni Creates Flatchat: A Site That Lets You Read and Write Flat Reviews

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 1st March 2026 by Hanna Varrs

Ryan Cole is a 2022 University of Otago software engineering graduate, and the creator of Flatchat. He “really enjoyed” his time at Otago, and had some “fun and interesting” flatting experiences – including some more gnarly ones. “That’s where the idea for Read more...

Local Produce: The Plan Gig Guide

Posted 1:57pm Sunday 1st March 2026 by Ethan Montañer

No matter how long you’ve been in Dunedin’s music scene, it can still feel impossible to keep track of every gig that’s happening throughout the week. Luckily for you, a small team of local musos and fans have put together The Plan Gig Guide, a printed guide featuring a Read more...

Spilling The Green Tea With Chlöe and Francisco

Posted 1:43pm Sunday 1st March 2026 by Bella Bates

Before making their case for the upcoming election, Green Party Co-Leader Chlöe Swarbrick and Dunedin electoral candidate Francisco Hernandez joined Critic Te Ārohi for a more intimate Q&A over at Pearl Diver. Chlöe didn’t eat the crusts of her potato pizza, but we’ll Read more...

OUSA $4 Lunch SURGES to $5 Lunch

Posted 10:20am Monday 23rd February 2026 by Hanna Varrs

Cheap lunch over in OUSA’s Clubs & Socs building has been a mainstay of campus life for decades now. Brought to you by St Kilda’s Tandoree Garden, $4 Lunch has looked the same since 2022. However, four years later, 2026 brings a change in price as well as menu: a $1 price increase, Read more...

Local Produce: WarPossumTV

Posted 4:13pm Sunday 22nd February 2026 by Ethan Montañer

Ōtepoti’s music scene has a knack for producing incredible young bands, across any and all styles. Committed to preserving and capturing this talent, while adding in his own DIY flair, is Tane Cotton. “I think every local scene is special and needs to be preserved, but I think ours Read more...

Inflation Hits Rob Roy

Posted 4:05pm Sunday 22nd February 2026 by Jonathan McCabe

The price of Rob Roy’s learner cone has climbed to $3.50, a whopping thirty cent increase from last year. This is the second wave of price surges to face ice cream enjoyers since the Ma family took over the reins in July of 2024. Third year student Nico reckons that the iconic spot has gotten Read more...

Castle26 Admins Tell All about Shitposting Crackdown

Posted 4:02pm Sunday 22nd February 2026 by Gryffin Blockley

Castle26: arguably the cornerstone of the North D community. The sixteen thousand strong membership (allegedly free of freshers) have provided an important space to find a random Facebook flatmate, sell your Electric Ave ticket for exorbitant prices and laugh at your mates license being held ransom Read more...

By-Election brings Old Worms out of the Woodwork

Posted 3:58pm Sunday 22nd February 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet

Dunedin is heading back to the ballot box… Again. A by-election is being held to fill the vacant seat left by the tragic passing of Councillor and former Mayor Jules Radich. Nominations are currently open and will close on March 2nd, with voting beginning April 10th.    This Read more...

Fundraising for Mental Health: A Marathon, not a Sprint (Literally)

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 22nd February 2026 by Molly Smith-Soppet

On March 7th at 5am, while the rest of Ōtepoti is fast asleep or stumbling home after a big Friday night, Philip Yeardley will be up running in circles. For 100 kilometres.  Having already completed a marathon, a 50km run, and the Three Peaks challenge, men's mental health advocate Read more...

Critic Te Ārohi Wins Best Publication at Aotearoa Student Press Awards

Posted 12:25pm Thursday 13th November 2025 by Critic

In its 100th year, Critic Te Ārohi won Best Publication at the Aotearoa Student Press Association Awards (ASPAs) held in Ōtepoti on November 8th. Known for its irreverence and bold approach to student life at the University of Otago, the magazine placed in all but four categories at the Read more...

Skilled Students Snag Blues and Golds

Posted 4:05pm Monday 13th October 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

The annual Blues and Golds awards were held last Thursday to celebrate cultural and sporting achievements of Otago tauira. The yearly ceremony is a collaboration between the University and OUSA, proving just how well some students are able to lock in. In total, 56 individuals or clubs got an award. Read more...

Job-Seeking Students Say “Bullshit” to Luxon’s Employment Claims

Posted 3:10pm Monday 13th October 2025 by Nina Brown

Prime Minister Chris Luxon and Minister for Social Development Louise Upston announced last week that the Government will be imposing further restrictions for Jobseeker applicants. The news sparked an influx of national headlines speculating whether Luxon’s “tough love” approach Read more...

OUSA Quarter 3 Wrapped: Part II

Posted 3:04pm Monday 13th October 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

At last week’s Exec meeting, the last half of the quarter three reports were approved. Here’s what those Exec members got up to to get paid for their honorarium (i.e., top-up their StudyLink). It was a drama-filled quarter for many, but here’s what the Exec were doing when Critic Read more...