# Critic Te Ārohi

Critic Te Ārohi is the official magazine of the Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) of the University of Otago. It is freely available around both the University's campus and selected sites in Dunedin city weekly during term time. Critic is New Zealand's longest-running student newspaper, having been established in 1925. Weekly circulation is 5,000 copies, with an estimated readership of approximately 20,000.

## Content

Critic's content is primarily targeted towards its student demographic and is generally written through a student perspective. The magazine enjoys enduring popularity with its readership. The physical copies distributed on a weekly basis have a pick-up rate of 99% according to OUSA.
Critic's content includes recurring columns, news articles, long-form investigative journalism, profiles, reviews, puzzles and culture pieces that often examine or portray student life in Dunedin. The magazine is known for its humorous examination of provocative and taboo subject matter. Traditionally, Critic has had 'themed' issues including "The Sex Issue", "The Drugs Issue", "Te Reo Māori Issue", "The Food Issue", "The Census Issue" and more. However, recent years have seen a movement away from overtly stipulated themes. Roughly half of all Critic issues remain unthemed within the magazine's yearly cycle.
Although the scope of the content has varied year to year under different editorship, in recent years the magazine's coverage has remained local; focusing on stories of relevance to students and the surrounding Dunedin community. Since 2012, the magazine's mission statement has been to "reflect the reality of Otago University students back to themselves." In a 2018 profile of Critic, former Editor Joel MacManus told Stuff the magazine seeks to "cover stories other media can't or won't, in a way that they can't or won't [...] When we write something I know couldn't be published in the Otago Daily Times or on Stuff – that's when I'm like, 'This is great!' That's when it's Critic."

### High Profile Stories

In 2018, Critic Te Ārohi reported that University of Otago Proctor Dave Scott had illegally entered two students flats without permission and confiscated bongs/water pipes, which were estimated to be worth over $700 combined. Critic's reporting received national media attention, resulting in a scandal the magazine labelled "BongShell." In a subsequent press conference, Scott confirmed the bongs had been destroyed and apologised for his actions.
In 2019, Critic published a story about a landlord breaching tenancy laws. After receiving a threatening letter in response, Critic made headlines for publishing the email on the cover of the following issue.
That same year, Critic published a exposé on the culture of misogyny in Knox College that normalised sexual misconduct against female students. The article included the testimonies of several female residents who had been sexually harassed or assaulted at the residential college between 2015 and 2017, many of whom claimed that the college's leadership ignored or dismissed their claims when they were reported to them. The article received national media attention. Although the feature was lauded for its investigative merit, Critic later issued an apology for not contacting Head Master Caroline Hepburn-Doole for comment before publication. With regards to the article's claim that instances of sexual assault and rape went "undisciplined," the magazine later accepted there was evidence "all complaints were documented and reported to others as appropriate."
In 2021, Critic published a series of articles detailing the findings of a six-month undercover investigation by Critic journalist Elliot Weir into Action Zealandia, a white supremacist organisation in New Zealand.
In 2023, Critic published a series of news articles reporting on hazing activity in Dunedin's student community. Critic's coverage, including a story on the abuse of a live eel, garnered national attention and was awarded 'Best News Story' at the Aotearoa Student Press Awards, with Judge Glenn McConnell commending the reporting for being of "national significance." The magazine's coverage later developed into a three-part series published in The Spinoff, authored by former Editor Fox Meyer.

### Design

Critic began as a newspaper in 1925, before becoming a magazine in 2001. The publication was tabloid in size until 2002, when it went quarterfold (around A4 size). The design of Critic is often significantly changed each year as new designers are employed; typically from the Otago Polytechnic Design School.
In 2011, Critic's covers (under the magazine's Art Director Andrew Jacombs) were selected in the 2012 Coverjunkie "Best Of" Publication and exhibited alongside some of the world's most leading titles, including TIME, Esquire, The New Yorker, Vogue, Sports Illustrated and lift-outs from The New York Times and The Sunday Times.

## History

In 1925 Otago University medical student Francis Bennett, whom edited the annual student publication The Review, suggested a new student newspaper. OUSA approved. The Critic went on to replace the 4-page newsletter Te Korero, which Bennett later described as "a dismal rag which [Dan Aitken] and I usually filled up with imaginative froth a few hours before it went to press." Editor Douglas Archibald Campbell outlined the newspaper's ethos in the publication's first-ever editorial, envisioning Critic to be a publication where "criticism may be brought into the open" and would "suffer no word or deed to go unquestioned within the four walls of Otago University."
On 27 February 2025, the magazine marked its centennial anniversary with a book launch.

### Controversies

The Office of Film and Literature Classification in 2005 banned an issue of the magazine, due to it containing a satirical "how-to-guide" on drug rape. The article was published in magazine's since-discontinued "offensive" themed issue, which ran from 2002—2005. Possession or distribution of this issue was deemed illegal. Editor Holly Walker stood by the decision to publish the article, stating it was "defendable" in that it highlighted "a very important issue and [would] hopefully make women more aware of what could happen to them." Walker later backtracked this statement in a comment to Critic in 2012, calling the article's publication a "mistake": "We were trying to be offensive for the sake of it, rather than with any greater purpose in mind [...] I wasn't a very woke feminist back then."
In 2010 The New Zealand Media Council upheld a complaint against Critic over the article 'The Bum at the Bottom of the World', which depicted three people the publication deemed homeless and vagrant. Editor Ben Thomson later stated the magazine "completely misjudged where the line was" and apologised for the article. The Press Council accepted Critic's apology as "sincere."
In 2013 Critic's Editor Callum Fredric received a $35,000 payout after a series of personal disputes with OUSA General Manager Darel Hall. Fredric was suspended by Hall on Friday 3 May, and was trespassed from OUSA buildings by Hall after attending a meeting on Monday 6 May to explain the situation to staff, before being asked to leave by Police. After filing legal proceedings, Fredric accepted a $35,000 settlement package from OUSA on Friday 17 May, and resigned as Editor.
In 2018, the cover of "The Menstruation Issue" featured a cartoon image of a woman menstruating. University of Otago Proctor Dave Scott took offence to the image and unilaterally decided to destroy all copies of the magazine. An open-letter signed by 17 former Editors expressed "deep concern" over the decision, with prominent New Zealand media figures accusing the university of "censorship." The removal of the magazines was further accused of stigmatising menstruation. The university later apologised, calling the decision a "mistake".
In 2020 Critic criticised Otago University's response to the Covid-19 pandemic in an opinion piece, leading the university's refusal to answer media requests from Critic and threatening to pull advertising from the magazine. Following changes in University of Otago media staff, the University has resumed accepting media requests and running advertisements.

## Awards and nominations

Critic Te Ārohi is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA) and has been awarded Best Publication in the annual ASPA awards in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Aotearoa Student Press Awards :
| Year | Awards Won | Runner Up | Judge's Commentary |
| 2024 | Best Editorial, Best Feature Writer, Best Reporter, Best Culture Writer, Best Investigation, Best Reviews, Best Sports Coverage and Best Social Media Presence. | Best Publication, Best Design, Best Feature, Best Profile, Best Column, Best Creative Writing, Best Science Communication, Best Māori Coverage, Best Cover, Best Centrefold. | No commentary was provided for the runner-up for Best Publication in 2024. However, across other categories, Critic Te Ārohi was highly praised for its design, illustration, and editorial content. Judges highlighted its "cool," "raw," and "gritty" aesthetic, with covers and centrefolds lauded for capturing the university experience with subversive charm and authenticity. Critic’s editorial work was described as nuanced and incisive, with standout pieces addressing complex topics with thoughtfulness and originality. |
| 2023 | Best Editorial, Best Feature Writer, Best Feature, Best News Story, Best Culture Writer, Best Photographer, Best Opinion Writer, Best Headline, Best Humour/Satire, Best Sports Coverage, Best Science Journalism and Best Column. | Best Publication, Best Māori Coverage, Best Reviewer, Best Cover, Best Centrefold, Best Illustrator and Best Illustration. | Judges Madeleine Chapman and Toby Manhire commended Critic Te Ārohi as an "outstanding student publication," noting there was little to separate it from Best Publication winner Salient. The magazine was commended for being "bursting with good ideas" and high quality execution across news section, features section and illustration in particular. Critic was praised for having a "clear and compelling personality" of which readers "would walk a mile in the rain to snag a copy [of]." |
| 2022 | Best Feature, Best Humour/Satire, Best Column, Best Photographer, Best Headline, Best Opinion Writer, Best Culture/Lifestyle, Best News Story. | Best Publication, Sports Writing, Best Poetry, Best Māori coverage. | |
| 2021 | Best Publication, Best Website, Best News Story, Best News Reporter, Best Feature Writer, Best Sports Reporter, Best Opinion Writer, and Best Editorial. | Best Feature, Best Culture/Lifestyle Writer, Best Headline, Best Creative Writing Fiction or Poetry. | |
| 2020 | Best Publication, Best COVID-19 Coverage, Best Design, Best Humour/Satire, Best Column, Best News Story, Best Photographer, Best Editorial, Best News Reporter. | | |
| 2019 | Best Publication, Best Feature Article, Best Humour/Satire, Best Photography, Best Editorial, Best News Reporter, Best Reviewer. | | |
| 2018 | Best Publication, Best Feature Writer, Best Student Politics Reporter, Best Opinion Writer, Best Feature Article, Best Design, Best Original Illustration, Best News Reporter, Best Headline, Best Editorial Writer. | | |
| 2017 | Best Publication, Best Feature Writer, Best News Writer, Best Headline, Best Sports Writer. | | |
| 2016 | | | |
| 2015 | | | |
| 2014 | Best Publication, Best Feature, Best Design, Best Feature Writer, Lifestyle Section, Best Original Illustration. | | |
| 2013 | | | |
| 2012 | Best Publication, Best Editorial, Best Series and Best Website. | | |
| 2011 | Best Education Series, Best News Writer, Best Feature Writer and Best Feature. | Best Publication. | |
| 2010 | Best Publication, Best Editorial Writer, Best Paid News Reporter, Best Illustrator, Best Education Series. | | Critic received the highest possible score from all judges and was praised for being "The only magazine this year that didn't just ask the audience to notice how smart it was; instead, it went out and proved it by doing smart, creative, interesting things." |
| 2009 | | | |
| 2008 | Best Publication. | | |
| 2007 | | Best Publication. | |
| 2006 | Best Publication. | | |
| 2005 | Best Publication. | | |
| 2004 | | Best Publication. | |

## Editorship

The Critic Te Ārohi editor-in-chief is an employee of OUSA, operating under a charter that grants editorial independence. The Editor is appointed and employed under a fixed term contract that covers roughly the beginning to end of Otago University's academic year. Previous involvement with the magazine is not a prerequisite for applicants, although most have held a sub-editorial position at Critic prior to being appointed editor. Although Critic's editorship has been shared in previous years (particularly in the magazine's early history), in modern times the role of editor is typically fulfilled by one person. The typical tenure for Critic Editor is one year, though roughly 10% of editors in Critic's history have stayed on for two years as of 2024.
Notable past editors include journalist and Rhodes Scholar Sir Geoffrey Cox, Priest and human rights activist Paul Oestreicher (OBE), renowned obstetrician Diana Mason (OBE), TV broadcaster Jim Mora, political commentator Chris Trotter, New Zealand Alliance Party co-leader Victor Billot, Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie and Rhodes Scholar and former Green Party MP Holly Walker.

### List of Critic Te Ārohi Editors

| Year | Editor |
| 1925 | Douglas Archibald Campbell |
| 1926 | co. W. G. McClymont and C. A. Sharp |
| 1927 | co. J. A. Stallworthy and M. W. Wilson |
| 1928 | co. A. M. Douglas and G. L. McLeod |
| 1929 | co. I. G. Gordon and J. C. Dakin |
| 1930 | co. Geoffrey Cox and G. C. Macdiarmid |
| 1931 | co. G. C. Macdiarmid and E. Stephenson |
| 1932 | H. A. Small (first half) and G. L. McLeod (second half) |
| 1933 | [Frank W. Guest] |
| 1934 | Frank W. Guest (first half) and [Ralph George Park] (second half) |
| 1935 | E. M. Elder |
| 1936 | C. P. Powles (first half) and P. M. Lusk (second half) |
| 1937 | Lloyd Woods |
| 1938 | W. R. Geddles (first half) and co. W. R. Geddles and P. M. Lusk (second half) |
| 1939 | N. V. Farrell |
| 1940 | B. H. R. Hill |
| 1941 | D. L. Matheson (first half) and N. F. Gilkison (second half) |
| 1942 | [Diana M. Shaw] |
| 1943 | Ronald Taylor (first half) and J. C. D. Sutherland (second half) |
| 1944 | [W. D. Trotter] |
| 1945 | co. Stephanie Wylie and Sheila Wilding (first half) and Stephanie Wylie (second half) |
| 1946 | co. Joyce Richards and Valarie Seymour |
| 1947 | co. [Thomas Guy Hawley] and Suzette Hawley |
| 1948 | Eric Hill |
| 1949 | Deirdre Airey |
| 1950 | C. I. Patterson |
| 1951 | M . E. D. Webster (first half) and co. Colin Newbury and Nigel Eastgate (second half) |
| 1952 | Paul Oestreicher |
| 1953 | John Irwin |
| 1954 | co. Howard Clay and Geoff Adams (first half) and co. Howard Clay and John Stewart (second half) |
| 1955 | Paul Thompson |
| 1956 | Earle Wilson |
| 1957 | Dennis Lenihan |
| 1958 | Fraser Harbutt (second half only) |
| 1959 | Fraser Harbutt (first half) and Allan Bruce (second half) |
| 1960 | Allan Bruce (first half) and Peter Matheson (second half) |
| 1961 | John Harris |
| 1962 | Andrew Brown |
| 1963 | co. Mel Dickson and Al Forrest |
| 1964 | Don F. Gray |
| 1965 | co. Roger Strong and Warren Mayne |
| 1966 | Don F. Gray |
| 1967 | Charles Draper |
| 1968 | Charles Draper (first half) and [Bob Dey] (second half) |
| 1969 | Mike Meek |
| 1970 | Peter Dickson |
| 1971 | John Robson |
| 1972 | Hugh Maclean |
| 1973 | co. David Peyton and John Keir |
| 1974 | Jim Mora |
| 1975 | Andrew Webb |
| 1976 | Bronwyn Evans |
| 1977 | Al Duncan |
| 1978 | Belinda Carter |
| 1979 | Belinda Carter |
| 1980 | Simon Kilroy |
| 1981 | Chris Trotter |
| 1982 | Reid Perkins |
| 1983 | Roy Ward |
| 1984 | Andrew Johnston |
| 1985 | alternating Niels Reinsborg and Lydia Mabbett |
| 1986 | co. for first half and then alternating Alexandra Tylee, Sam Elworthy, Grant Ramsey, Shelley Cooper, Andrew Vincent |
| 1987 | co. Gill Plimmer, Hannah Zwartz, and Fiona Morris |
| 1988 | Michael Tull |
| 1989 | co. Nickee Charteris and Astrid Smeele |
| 1990 | Emma Reid |
| 1991 | Colin Peacock |
| 1992 | Caroline McCaw |
| 1993 | Colin Williscroft |
| 1994 | Louise Johnstone |
| 1995 | co. Victor Billot and Paul Dagarin |
| 1996 | co. Leah McFall and Tracy Huirama-Osborne (first half) and Tracy Huirama-Osborne (second half) |
| 1997 | co. Logan Sisley and Gavin Bertram |
| 1998 | co. Brent McIntyre and Gavin Bertram |
| 1999 | Brent McIntyre |
| 2000 | Fiona Bowker |
| 2001 | Fiona Bowker |
| 2002 | Patrick Crewdson] |
| 2003 | [Patrick Crewdson] |
| 2004 | Hamish McKenzie |
| 2005 | Holly Walker |
| 2006 | John Ong |
| 2007 | David Large |
| 2008 | David Large |
| 2009 | Amy Joseph |
| 2010 | Ben Thomson |
| 2011 | Julia Hollingsworth |
| 2012 | Joe Stockman |
| 2013 | Callum Fredric (February–May) and Sam McChesney (May–October) |
| 2014 | Zane Pocock |
| 2015 | Josie Cochrane |
| 2016 | Hugh Baird |
| 2017 | Lucy Hunter |
| 2018 | Joel MacManus |
| 2019 | Charlie O'Mannin |
| 2020 | Sinead Gill |
| 2021 | Erin Gourley |
| 2022 | Fox Meyer |
| 2023 | Fox Meyer |
| 2024 | Nina Brown |
| 2025 | Nina Brown |

## Sub-Editorship

Critic's sub-editorial roles are Design Editor, Sub-Editor, News Editor, Features Editor and Culture Editor. Design Editor is the second most senior role within Critic as the only staff member (aside from Editor) that is employed full-time. In 2023 the role of Ētita Māori (Māori Editor) was made a permanent position. The role entails the production of Māori interest content and the magazine's annual te reo Māori themed issue.
Until 2018, there were rotating 'Section Editors' (now described as staff writers) covering books, art, film, games, poetry food, music, politics and sport. In some years, "Deputy Editor" "Technical Editor" and "Art Director" have been listed as sub-editorial roles. Notable staff members and contributors to Critic have included poet James K Baxter and cricketer and caricaturist Murray Webb.

### List of Critic Te Ārohi Sub-Editors

| Year | Design Editor | Sub-Editor | News Editor | Features Editor | Culture Editor | Ētita Māori |
| 2011 | Andrew Jacombs | Lisa McGonigle | Gregor Whyte | Role Not Listed | Role Not Listed | |
| 2012 | Andrew Jacombs | Sam McChesney | Charlotte Greenfield | Role Not Listed | Role Not Listed | |
| 2013 | Sam Clark | Sarah MacIndoe | Role Not Listed | Role Not Listed | Role Not Listed | |
| 2014 | Sam Clark | Max Prestige | Josie Cochrane | Loulou Callister-Baker | Role Not Listed | |
| 2015 | Kat Gilbertson | Mary McLaughlin | Laura Munro | Laura Starling | Loulou Callister-Baker | |
| 2016 | Natasha Murachver | Laura Starling | Joe Higham | Role Not Listed | Role Not Listed | |
| 2017 | Natasha Murachver | Charlie O'Mannin | Joe Higham | Role Not Listed | Role Not Listed | |
| 2018 | Jack Adank | Nat Moore | Charlie O'Mannin | Chelle Fitzgerald | Jess Thompson | |
| 2019 | Jack Adank | Nat Moore | Esme Hall | Chelle Fitzgerald | Henessey Griffiths | |
| 2020 | Molly Willis | Jamie Mactaggart | Erin Gourley | Role Not Listed | Caroline Moratti | |
| 2021 | Molly Willis | Oscar Francis | Fox Meyer | Elliot Weir | Annabelle Parata Vaughan | |
| 2022 | Molly Willis | Maddie Fenn | Denzel Chung | Elliot Weir | Annabelle Parata Vaughan | |
| 2023 | Molly Willis | Nina Brown | Nina Brown | Elliot Weir | Annabelle Parata Vaughan | Heeni "Sky" Koero Te Rerenoa (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Te Rarawa) |
| 2024 | Evie Noad | Ellie Bennett | Hugh Askerud | Iris Hehir | Charlotte "Lotto" Ramsay | Heeni "Sky" Koero Te Rerenoa (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Te Rarawa) |
| 2025 | Evie Noad | Ellie Bennett | Hanna Varrs | Iris Hehir | Jordan Irvine Charlotte "Lotto" Ramsay | Heeni "Sky" Koero Te Rerenoa (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Te Rarawa) |