The Horror Within Us: the Horror Genre and Mental Illness
I think horror has always been so strong as a genre because it reflects both the best and worst in us. There’s always been a certain pull to the battles that occur in both literary and film within this area. Never have I been an overly large consumer of horror, mostly because I’m a
America, what the fuck???
You’d think I would have stumbled across it before, but for the first time in my life, I recently saw an anti-abortion sticker on the back of an old woman’s truck. ‘Abortion stops a beating heart.’ Well yeah Susan, that’s kind of the point, so it’s good to know you got the memo. Now obviously, we’re lucky enough to
Hong Kong’s City of Darkness
Picture this. The year is 1985, and you are flying into Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak Airport. As you approach the runway, you look out of your window, and what appears is a giant megastructure that is made up of hundreds of buildings crammed together like sardines in a can. What’s even
Revealing Reviews
This show is a gripping psychological survival horror series about the dangers of child neglect. It follows a young girl who suffers from frequent abandonment, often left to wander the surroundings of her town and nearby jungle alone. As a result of her parent’s frequent neglect, it appears the poor girl has
History’s Missing Civilisation
In 1826, explorer Charles Masson of the British East India Company was travelling across the Punjab. Well-versed in the classics, Masson was busy exploring the sites of Alexander the Great’s military campaigns when he stumbled across mysterious ruins near Sahiwal in what is now modern-day Pakistan. Impressed by the site’s size and large
Night, blooming jagoff – Fakemink’s Terrified
Since his rocket to stardom with the danceable EDM-laden Easter Pink in 2025, UK Rapper Fakemink has been a staple of everyone you know’s TikTok FYP thanks to a slew of catchy hooks, a distinct pitched-up voice and constant invoking of Belgian fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester. Mink’s debut 2023 album London’s Saviour made him concrete in the “UK
The Notesapp: For Grant
It sat empty, the armchair Black, bold, scuffed Home to the ghost of a man He used to fish, He used to walk, He used to laugh, He used to be Then he didn’t It began in his feet, Tickling his toes and grabbing at his ankles, A cruel, curling pain
$50 date
Welcome to the $50 Date, where a broke university student takes his girlfriend on a date with a budget of $50, and rates the activities accordingly. The rules of this exercise are simple; Whatever we do, we can only spend $50. Each, or total, I hear you asking? Yes. After the activity,
What’s The Buzz – MMBee
Some people have a countdown until Christmas. I’m crossing off the days on the calendar until it reaches the 7th of November: Election Day. Whether you’re anxiously watching the votes get counted, you’re actively avoiding any mention of politics, or you have no idea how to even wrap your head around the election, it’s important to understand
The Notesapp
The air was stagnant, I could taste the presence of hundreds of pastors who had led services years before. The congregation rustled— shifting weight, creaking pews, the soft drag of dress shoes across the hardwood. Pastor Sheridan’s voice rolled from the pulpit, controlled but thunderous through my unsettled ears. As he lifted
Unconventional ways to survive university with ADHD
Properly diagnosed or not, medicated or not, having ADHD while trying to get yourself an education is a little bit of a bitch to deal with. You’d think it wouldn’t be so hard; this is a degree I want to do, I chose to do, I like the subjects, but every reading and assignment and tutorial feels
Waikato Spots
When you’ve been in Hamilton long enough you realise this place kinda sucks, we don’t have aesthetic historical buildings and multiple libraries like dunedin, we don’t have a supermodern student bar and restaurant like Christchurch, we don’t have a rooftop soccer pitch and multiple dinner spots on campus like auckland, I dont know what those country Bumpkins do at massey and lincoln but we’re
Editorial – Issue 17 2025
When Toby asked me if I’d like to write the editorial for a ‘newspaper’ theme, my first thought – and words – were ‘Yea, sure.’ And then once I’d left the office and was halfway down the motorway, I was thinking to myself… What the fuck will that look like?
Editorial – Issue 16 2025
Ruby I’m a history nerd. A world war junkie. An obsessor of origins. A know-it-all-about-America. Like seriously, I have a permanent space on my arm dedicated to the JFK assassination. I’m constantly seeking historical context; the who, the what, the why. But that’s not what draws me in. It’s not
Editorial – Issue 15 2025
Admit It, Geeks Run The World Geeks, freaks, nerds and tweaks, welcome to Nexus’ Geek Culture, where I’m sure you’ll find something in these pages to tickle your deepest geeky fancies and fantasies. Somewhere in these delectable pages to come, I’m sure you’ll find something that speaks to you, whether
Editorial – Issue 14 2025
Sex n Drugs I’m really excited for this week’s issue as it gives me an opportunity to share my story to people who have or are going through the same thing. Maybe some people can relate, and I can tell you some things I’ve learnt. When I was 12 living
Editorial – Issue 13 2025
The Future Is Female As you flip through the pages of this issue of Nexus, one thing is clear: to celebrate women is to celebrate possibility, perseverance, and the power behind shaping our ever-changing future. Let’s start with something big: dismantling the patriarchy. It’s a term we hear a
Editorial – Issue 12 2025
Love Beyond Borders Two years into my twenties, after a stretch of being single, I found the kind of romance I had only dreamed of. It was sudden, intense, and different from anything I expected. I fell in love for the first time in New York City, abruptly and fervently.
Editorial – 2/09
We’re back! Happy September everyone- I hope you’re ready to get on with the rest of the semester and kick ass with the rest of your uni work. I want to use this space for two things, and I’ll start with a little how-to guide on staying on your game
Editorial – 5/8
Last week was magnificent. It was epic. It was an absolute dream. It was a legendary tale I’ll tell my kids one day. It was *insert every other good adjective*. Why, you ask? Not because of the Olympics, no. But because of you. Shoutout to the readers who manifested for
Editorial – 22/7
A lot has happened in the time between the release of our previous issue and this one. Football didn’t “come home”, Trump is talking about unity, and Daemon Targaryen had an explicit dream about his mum (?). Somehow, only one of these things surprises me (and it isn’t the last
Editorial – 8/07
As I was writing this, the waves of Kamala beach were crashing in front of me, and I was torn between abandoning Nexus, and keeping my job (just kidding… kind of!). The water was so clear, and the weather was finally nice and sunny. I could have been swimming that
Editorial – 20/5
The people spoke and asked for option one, which unfortunately means that everyone who didn’t pick that has to read my rambles about power-scaling… or do you? I would love to talk to you about how there is no way Gojo could beat Hashirama (bffr), however I have decided that
Editorial – 6/5
I have been sitting at my computer for two days with absolutely no progress. I have written so many first sentences and paragraphs, but I can’t seem to finish them! So, I decided to add all of my starters here for two reasons: one, you can decide which piece you
Opinion – The Classical Argument
Waikato has some great courses available under the Bachelor of Arts… but I’m thinking it could be even better. When looking at paper and subject options when I was enrolling for my degree, there was one particular subject that appeared to be missing, Classics. I never studied it at high
Recipe – Yo-Lemo-Nana Smoothie
Things You’ll Need: One Banana One Lemon Yogurt Cup One Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream ½ cup of Frozen Mango Chunks A Blender How to: Start by taking out your frozen mango chunks, and let them thaw out on the counter for 20 minutes. Next, blend together your yogurt and
Soundcheck: My Laneway predictions (via playlist)
Are you free February 21st, 2027, and are getting prepared to spend an arm and a leg on Laneway tickets? Do you miss the rush of finding out festival headliners? Could you not care less but want to know what some random person thinks Laneway 27 could hold? Then this
Horoscopes – Issue 19
Aries: Just an idea… Start that assignment before 11:47pm. Your future self will thank you. Taurus: Treat yourself, but maybe check your bank account first. The stars can’t pay your overdraft. Gemini: Take notes in your lectures. Making three new friends is great, but it won’t help much in the
Soundcheck: REALITY COULD – AND OUGHT TO – WAIT
Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas holds a special place in my heart. When I was highkey fat and horrifically depressed in highschool, I mean like completely miserable – I had a nose pimple and my crush called me Rudolph – sitting in the library and letting my Spotify shuffle through Room
Against The Label “Main Character Syndrome.”
Just let people be weird and slightly annoying. Take that with a grain of salt as I am a very weird and occasionally annoying person, but I am vehemently opposed to the idea of ‘main character syndrome.’ It’s really exhausting to exist as a human being, let alone to do
Recipe: Really Fkn’ Good Chicken Schnitzel
Ingredients: Method:
ENGLI202 Shakespeare and Performance
Now, I will admit that even though a random audit is supposed to be going into a class you have ZERO business being in, I kind of do have a slight amount of business here. Sue me, you’re going to hear about an english paper from an english and writing
Soundcheck: Heaven in a Wheelbarrow (& A Bluegrass Band)
If anybody reading this has seen me in the wild, then they’ll know that I have something of an attraction towards cowboys. I dress like one, I’m as broke as one, and if I could ride horses, then I’d probably live like one. Unfortunately, I’m neither tough nor talented enough
Recipe: Girl Dinner
It’s important to note that ‘girl dinner’ is extremely subjective. It is different for everyone, and varies on your levels of energy, motivation, finances, and total personal value (amongst others). That being said, let’s get into my personal dinner. Playlist: Do not listen to any music, just open Spotify and
Opinion: Chris 1, 2, and 3 are really against misogyny (6’4” btw)
Step aside, DC’s Trinity: There’s a new superhero trio on the block. They’re tough, they’re righteous, and they’re fighting the toughest crime of all: misogyny. Who are the brave warriors behind this triumvirate? Why, it’s none other than Chris Hipkins, Chris Luxon, and Chris Bishop. That’s right, the fifth wave
Nexus Interview Amber Clyde – Founder of Girls Skate NZ
Girls Skate NZ is a not for profit who have been running skate lessons for 8 years. The organisation has carved their way into parks all over Auckland and shown how far some funding and some gnar can take you – even supporting Kiwis competitively shredding! What did you enjoy
Active Imagination: How Protests Hold Power.
‘Protest’ falls into the lexical category of both noun and verb. The past participle is not commonly used. We say that we are ‘protesting’ but very rarely do we say that we have ‘protested.’ This is because change and power are both results of ongoing imagination and continual action. The
The Good Shit Has Changed
In today’s day and age, when you step out into the public world, you’re very likely to see an array of people clutching an array of drinks that all have one thing in common: caffeine. You’re probably holding one yourself, whether it’s a hot coffee spewing steam, a cold coffee
When the Attacker Becomes the Story
In the hours following the attack at Berlin’s Christopher Street Day Pride celebrations, the focus of public conversation shifted with remarkable speed. Before many people knew the names of those injured or understood the impact on Berlin’s LGBTIQ+ community, headlines were already highlighting one particular detail: the alleged attacker’s links
Bisexual girls are allowed to have boyfriends- just accept it.
Since pride month has finally ended, it’s appropriate to talk about what’s happening to bisexual women in queer internet spaces at the moment. Since the 1980s, there has been an observable rift between bisexual women that date men and lesbians, which has been recently revived on social media. I sat down with Sonja Ellis, a professor
The iPad Kids Aren’t Alright
A New Plymouth primary school has phased out the use of iPads for students in years one to four. Omata School was one of the first in the country to adopt the use of devices in the classroom, but Principal Karen Brisco is now not so convinced that they are
Gymfluencers and the Ozempademic
Scroll through social media for five minutes and you’ll find a new body to aspire to. One creator swears by becoming a “muscle mommy,” another insists Pilates is the secret to a lean physique, while someone else claims marathon training transformed their body and life. Alongside these fitness trends come equally viral
The Tavern – Grassroots NZ Film with Matt Hicks
Sup Matt! Tell us a bit about yourself and your time at Nexus? I used to write a column called ‘Making living cheaper with Honest Matt’. It was dodgy (borderline criminal) financial advice for poor students. I won columnist of the year for 2012 and got really drunk at House. Also, that
Maiki Sherman’s resignation: more than just a controversy
Maiki Sherman has resigned from her role as political editor for 1News at TVNZ. That’s the headline, but it’s not the full picture. The circumstances surrounding her resignation have been only one part of an ecosystem of muddied waters that now make up the relationship between Parliament, the media, and the New Zealand
Running on Empty: How the Cost of Living Crisis is Driving Student Burnout
There is no hiding the association university has with stress; deadlines, class, and the pending doom of an uncertain future have always been part of student life. But for many students in Aotearoa, that experience is increasingly being replaced by exhaustion. Between rising rents, grocery prices, transport costs, and tuition
The Rise and Fall of Fees Free
The tumultuous history of deciding who pays for university The University of Waikato opened in1964, and its students back then had a much different experience financing university than we do today. From 1962 until 1989, the government paid for tertiary tuition fees in full with the state bursary. As the story often goes, all good things
Red or Black?
It’s not much of a secret that online gambling has seen a rise in popularity in the last few years, especially with the younger generation. The technology being offered today means you can gamble from anywhere you can find a connection, anytime you want, on whatever device you’re using. It’s convenient, accessible, and marketed as entertainment suited
NATIONAL ARE POCKET-WATCHING YOUR PARENTS – THE WAR ON NEETs
The NACTFirst coalition’s favourite move – the infatigable passing under urgency – was flourished again on Friday, the 28th of August. Jobseeker beneficiaries aged 18-19, whose parents make $67,225 or more, will lose access to their benefits. This policy has been critiqued since it was launched. The Green party argued
GETTING (STUDENTS) BACK ON TRACK (TO VOTE FOR NATIONAL)
National MP Nicola Willis unveiled a new policy which the party promises to implement if reelected in November. They announced they would reduce the student loan repayment rate to 10% from 12% after having been the ones that increased it to 12% back in 2012 to begin with. Far be
OBITUARIES
Towards the end of August, we were rocked by a string of high-profile deaths. On the 25th of the month, the Queen of Country, American Singer-Songwriter, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton passed away in Nashville Tennessee following a battle with Cancer. Parton is of course remembered for her music career
Apprently Kids Need to Touch More Grass
The Government has introduced legislation that would prevent children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms, putting New Zealand alongside a growing number of countries attempting to restrict young people’s access to social media. The Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill, introduced to
Nexus Breaks the News – Issue 19
LABOURS OF LOVE Hipkins has suddenly pulled away from it’s commitment to reinstate the Māori Health Authority out of fears that, if they did reinstate it, it would just meet the same fate. Hipkins further said, “Nah yea, gotta be honest we’ve realised that we don’t actually really need to do
The People of Hamilton Cannot Drive
If you’ve driven anywhere in Hamilton in the last year, you’d notice there seems to be an epidemic of very poor drivers on our roads, making bad decisions and making our city look worse than it already does. With a whopping 338 accidents or fatal crashes on our Hamilton roads
Te Piringa Political Debate
Waikato students and residents gather in te Pā to witness our very own political debate. With Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke representing Te Pāti Māori, Opportunity party leader Qiulae Wong, Dr. Parmjeet Parmar from Act, Hamilton East candidate Georgie Dansey (Labour), Hon Tama Potaka – our current Hamilton West MP with National, Dr
Human Ethics Committee Wait Times Leaving Students in the Lurch
Wait times for the Human Ethics committee in Health research have left much to be desired, affecting the work of many Honours and Post-graduate students. One student stated that in 2025, they submitted their research proposal to the ALPSS ethics committee in April, intending to start research in May. While
Nexus Breaks the News – Issue 18
#FUMBLEOFTHECENTURY No, this isn’t about Penk’s failure to overthrow the government. No, this isn’t about Luxon basically giving TOP over to the left bloc right before they got kingmaker status. This is about your flatmate locking himself in his bedroom after texting “W Tits” to a woman on Hinge. At least
Grow Up and Start a Small Business
Lucky for Rotorua, PM Luxon met with their Business Chamber to discuss the state of the economy for small business owners. Unlucky for said business owners, Luxon had some not so nice things to say. After stating that small business owners need to simply “be adult” when facing rising costs
Winston’s Wignats – NZFirst has a Nazi problem.
In a shock to a surprising amount of people, a senior NZFirst youth figure was revealed to have been connected to far-right messaging networks. Nicholas Newport/Wells, 26, a former Waikato University student, was linked to at least one social media account that repeatedly posted ‘Heil Hitler!’, and which expressed support
India’s “Cockroach” Uprising: How a Meme Movement Shook Modi’s BJP
For the past 12 years, India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has risen almost unimpeded. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party has won election after election and built a governing coalition that dominates India’s Parliament. Over the years, Modi has cultivated an image as a strong leader who doesn’t bend
Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour (5/5)
There are no words to describe this event. I genuinely fked myself going to this concert because after this there won’t be any better concert to go to. Benito is a great guy, one of the best people alive, but he fked my life and left me in an existential void. It was an amazing show,
? By Bassvictim.
Propelled to the forefront of the whole electroclash/knitted sweater/no-its-not-indie-sleaze-dont-call-it-that London/New York “scene” with their two 2025 albums Basspunk 2 and Forever, Bassvictim’s Ike Clatman and Maria Monrow have had an open messiness to their image that lands somewhere between Pete Doherty with Kate Moss and the Instagram stories of that highschool couple you’re sort of worried about. Although
The Moment
+4 Charli XCX’s new film The Moment is both a cringe-fest and a beautiful commentary on modern pop music, set to bratty beats we know and love. While the British popstar isn’t the greatest actress of all time, her ability to tap into emotions on a dime is admirable, and within the context of the film, she
Bridgerton: Do Better
1/5 The fourth season of Netflix’s Bridgerton takes us beyond the surface-level luxury of the Ton and into the servant’s quarters, showing us the Cinderella-esque Sophie Baek and her blossoming romance with one Benedict Bridgerton. While this author is unable to fault the season’s main event, the short and sudden side plots do have her
Heated Rivalry: It’s gay, not queer
-4/5 If you’ve had any internet access in the last few months, you would have heard of the mega-hit TV show Heated Rivalry. What you might not have heard about it, is that it’s pretty much total slop that turns a blind eye to the struggles of queer people internationally and deliberately excludes complex narratives in the name
Wuthering Heights
Rating: +2 “Come Undone” reads every poster for director Emerald Fennell’s latest venture, a film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, “Wuthering Heights”. But this tagline begs the question, “will I, really come undone?”. What starts off as a beautiful love story between two children in the English countryside and progresses to a deep-rooted tension between two of the
Willoughby Tucker Forever Tour 13/02
Southern Gothic meeting dream-pop meeting drone has landed in Auckland. Ethel Cain enchanted Auckland Town Hall on the two sexiest days of February 2026 – Friday the 13th and Valentine’s Day. As an attendee of night one, it feels good to say: “if you weren’t there you really missed out.” Raised
“We’re here, baby!” – Lorde, Ultrasound Tour (11-2-26)
It’s a warm Auckland Wednesday, and Spark Arena is buzzing with excitement, and the smell of Ariana Grande perfume. The Auckland-born singer Lorde (29) played the iconic New Zealand venue, Spark Arena, in front of 13,000 of her fans, dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and her signature black curls. As
REVIEWS
ROLLING “STONED” REVIEWS – by Kyuss Maxwell In our typically surreal antics Nexus found a random stoner at the skatepark who was willing to review his fave underground local bands for a few strong beers. We’re talking underground UNDERGROUND. Rise the Wicked are cruising with 102 monthly listeners, Indicator dogs
Reviews – 2/09
Music – Short and Sweet (Sabrina Carpenter) 10/10 Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album ‘Short and Sweet’ is essentially an ovulation album. It’s incredibly horny but still delivered with class. It’s as if she channelled hormonal surge into these tracks, delivering pop bangers and ballads with equal flair. From soaring choruses to
Reviews – 5/8
Umbrella Academy 8/10 I think we all need a reminder of what this show is about before we decide to commit ourselves to another season. The plot is basically just superheroes, conspiracy theories, and multiple reasons to cry. Defs Watch If: You’re sick of the same three comic/superhero brands pumping
Reviews – 22/7
Challengers (2024) 10/10 “Challengers,” is an absolute cinematic gem directed by Luca Guadagnino. Starring the radiant Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor, it is a steamy blend of sports drama and temptation. Guadagnino, known for his visually stunning narratives, brings his signature flair to this movie, (literally) sporting vibrant visuals,
Kōrero Mai – Issue 10 2026
I’ll just come right out and say it. If there were no extra financial support for education, I would not be attending university right now. Many tauira don’t have the luxury of a safety net or financial stability. Many come from homes that don’t have an extra $20 to spare. Back in the dark ages, in
Kōrero Mai – Issue 7 2026
Tauira Māori on campus Māne (Monday) Tūrei (Tuesday) Wenerei (Wednesday) Hoki atu ki tō kāinga – Just go home Nā Elyse Rahiri Only a quarter of the way through the year and already most of us are feeling a bit pau te hau. Getting back into the swing of study can be overwhelming and even worse if you have people pleasing tendencies, don’t say
Kōrero Mai
Tauira Māori on campus Tūrei (Tuesday) Wenerei (Wednesday) Taite (Thursday) Te Waiora – Rā Hākinakina | Gate 2b – 4:30 pm Reo Māori Phrases of the Week Kia ora koutou! Here are some useful everyday Reo Māori phrases to help you talk about holidays, whānau, and what you’ve been up to. COLUMN I tōku whānau tokorua ōku kuia, noho tahi ai. Arā, ko tōku kuia a toto nei, me te kuia o tōku ngākau. Ko te rongo o te aroha, kāore i rerekē. He tirohanga Māori tēnei. Ahakoa te momo aroha,
Kōrero Mai
By now you’ve probably heard we’ve got a new name. We’re still WSU, but now we also carry our ingoa Māori, Te Awa Kōtui. This didn’t happen overnight. WSU has been working towards an ingoa Māori that truly reflects us and our tauira for a long time, across multiple boards. I also want to acknowledge the presidents, vice presidents, VP Māori, and life members who contributed
He Kura Tūroa
Kia ora, my name is Anaia Rua, and I am from Ngāi Tūhoe & Ngāti Awa. In the following piece, I reflect on the profound connection shared between Aotearoa and our relatives from Hawai’i during the “He Kura Tūroa” wānanga. He Kura Tūroa: Relatives Across the Pacific He ahurea te taiao, he taiao te ahurea. The environment is the culture, the culture is the
Tikanga: Does It Evolve in a Modern World?
A question I heard recently has been sitting with me: can tikanga evolve in a modern world? It came up during a kōrero between a group of tauira, and it sparked a lot of reflection for me about what I’ve been taught and how I understand tikanga today. For many people, tikanga is
Tauira Māori on campus
There’s a strong Māori presence on campus and plenty happening this week, from Cultural Hour to weekly wānanga and study spaces. If you want to meet other tauira, build your reo, or spend time in a Māori space between classes, there are kaupapa running across campus. Keep an eye on… Te whakahiapo – Maori law students association – @te_whakahiapo
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