Columns

Commodifying Pop Culture (In The Form of Tattoo)

There’s something to be said about loving an idea so much that you feel the need to condemn it to permanence. We live in an age that sometimes confuses consumerism with love which means that we need to digest or embody something for our claim over it to feel valid.  

Read More »
Columns

The Reality for Reality TV: Ink Master *GONG WRONG* (Not Clickbait)

The Season 15 finale of Ink Master became a trigger-point for conversations about art, bias, and representation in traditionally masculine spaces. At its centre was Freddie, a queer finalist on the show, whose interpretation of the challenge theme “female” subverted the expected feminine form into something that sparked debate at

Read More »
Features

Finance Bro Advice for Rangatahi

By Maraea Gowens Real talk: talking about money can be awkward as. For many of us, it is easier to talk about who is hot or not at Te Matatini than to talk about investing, savings and all the financial jargon… But here is the secret: our tīpuna were investors

Read More »
Columns

The Price of “Free” Kai

Written by Tawera Marsh When we gather as whānau, as hapū, as iwi, there is always kai. It flows like aroha, endless plates being filled, cups being topped up, hands busy in the kitchen, voices laughing and calling out instructions. To feed people is to manaaki them. To provide kai

Read More »
Columns

Rongoa For Uni Survival

By Temepara Smith He taonga tuku iho nā ngā tīpuna In traditional times, Māori had many different types of Rongoa for different matenga. Our rongoa practices were birthed from our environment and cultural beliefs. Today, we live in a different environment with its own challenges. Stress, burnout, and anxiety are

Read More »
Columns

Find Mana in the Small Things

Anita Taiapa Brown “Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu,” Cheesy, but a classic whakatauki that I think embodies the āhua of this article. Mana is in the small things, regardless of how cringe that might seem to you. Being Māori, being Indigenous, being a minority- your existence is a political statement,

Read More »
Columns

Shades of Whakapapa

Written by Kata Roberts According to my AncestryDNA results, I’m made up of 63% European and 37% Māori heritage, which basically means I’m a walking Treaty negotiation. I’m proud of both sides, but it’s the Māori side I’ve always felt more connected to. That’s why it stings when I don’t

Read More »
Features

Head? Is it tapu?

Part 1: Ripeka Paapu The notion that receiving or giving oral sex while wearing moko kanohi is tapu reflects a modern discomfort, not the lived realities of our tipuna. To understand moko is to understand that it has always been part of the totality of our humanity, not a restriction

Read More »
Columns

And That’s On Period.

By Nova Te Hapua Mauri ora e hoa mā! My names Nova, I’m a Kaupapa Māori researcher in all things īkura,menstruation. Okay, before you freak out and turn the page thinking I’m one of those witchy woo woo paint with your period blood girls, which kei a koe if that’s

Read More »

WHAT’S THE BUZZ? Urgenc-bee

Over the past few years, the word “urgency” has come up a few times in the news. The word invokes a sense of adrenaline, and it’s come up so often that you’d be forgiven for thinking New Zealand Parliament runs under a constant state of panic at a rate of

Read More »

Old World Tiramisù Blues

What if I was to tell you that there was nothing Italian about the tomatoes in ragu? That there was nothing Indian about the chilies in curry, or anything particularly Irish about potatoes? Before the 1500s, food in Asia, Europe, and Africa (collectively known as the “Old World”) looked verydifferent

Read More »

The Notesapp 

the untouchable  warmth barely reaches the very last cells on my fingertips  as i reach towards the glowing auburn that whisks with the wind  pull back at the rage of heat that surges to attack with its  plumes of acrid grey shoving up my nostrils watering eyes that can’t tear from the piles of glowing

Read More »

Live, Laugh, Linkin Park 

The time came where I got to experience the rush of live music once again. Linkin Park came to Auckland for the first time since 2013. After the 2017 passing of the lead vocalist, Chester Bennington, Linkin Park re-formed in 2024 with a new lead singer and drummer – Emily Armstrong from Dead Sara

Read More »

JUDGING BLIND: YOUNG MARRIAGE 

As of February 26th, I have been engaged to my amazing fiancé. We are both 20 years old and have been together for 3 years, we have a house, two dogs, three horses and a plan for our future together. All to say I am so incredibly happy…but a lot of

Read More »

Superman, Omniman, Homelander, & Nietzche’s Ubermensch

A commentary on Nietzsche’s Ubermensch exemplified through Omni-man, Superman and Homelander If you have not read my previous column some defining is in order. First master vs slave morality, to give a brief yet incomplete summary, Master morality is exemplified in the Melian dialogue “the strong do as they can, the

Read More »

The Mona Lisa is not that impressive.

At least not for the reasons that most people think. Mona Lisa has often been credited for both her beauty and mystery, unarguably one of Leonardo Da Vinci’s most famous pieces. However, visually, it’s not even one of his more provoking works. I myself am partial to his sketches (even those that remain unfinished) that greatly demonstrate his position as a polymath, rather

Read More »

FUN THINGS… TO DO IN YOUR FLAT

Super Bot   Flat getting boring? Everyone sitting around staring at their phones? It’s time to introduce a game that has existed in parts of the country for a long time: Super Bot.  This game requires equal parts skill, luck, and poor decision-making.  What you need:  How to play:  Step one is simple; everyone finishes their drinks. Once

Read More »

The Notesapp 

decorum; diaphonized  let them lave up the cerebellum with soap  build up phellum, genetic armor, mi amor!  you can cope, leave that man, but you know you never can  he’s the cylinder for worms and the cameras at cannes  w ash while you rot and pour bodies on the froth  niagra of viagra in the vice-cubes of hoth  caught

Read More »

Nexus Knows

Q: Should I change tutorials because there are no cute guys in the one I’m in?   A: Yes absolutely. Jk, but having people in your tutorial you enjoy the company of can be 50/50. The most important thing in your tutorial is of course to work on your learning and assignments, but I know the

Read More »

Whisked Through History: The Story of Matcha

Matcha mania has taken the world by storm. What was once a ritual beverage consumed exclusively at tea ceremonies has quickly become a global sensation. Across the world, matcha’s bright green colour, earth aroma, and slightly bitter taste have captured the taste buds of millions. But when have you ever stopped to ask: what exactly is

Read More »

What’s the Buzz – Questioning our Smokefree Identity

If you were at the university’s clubs day during Week 1, you may have seen the Young Nats and Labour tents staring each other down. As an avid watcher of Parliament TV, I can tell you that things got even more intense when it came to discussing smoking and vaping policies in the debating chamber.  During

Read More »

Popping Pills

Prescription Abuse and The Pharmaceutical Black Market Unlike most of our writers who spend their time writing on Substack or Wattpad, turns out someone had

Read More »

Embracing Kinks

Destigmatising Desire and Navigating Consent Sexuality is a vast, colourful spectrum, and kinks, unconventional sexual interests or practices are a vibrant part of it. Yet,

Read More »

Language with Julie

Is language the truest representation of a culture? And if not, what do you think is the truest representation?  I probably wouldn’t use the word

Read More »

Kickflipping in Palestine

Skateboarding means the world to skaters from everywhere. Skating is a radical, inclusive, and interconnected community with a philosophy of Fuck You to anyone who

Read More »

Borderline

Borderline is an indie pop-rock band from Auckland. Members Ben, Matt, Max, and Jackson have curated a funky, idyllic sound that’s both playful and mature.

Read More »

Cease And Desist

Cease & Desist – a hardcore band from Hamilton, New Zealand. Koen play bass and does lead vocals, Caleb plays drums and does backing vocals

Read More »

Managing to Make Music 

Lans sat down with their cousin Jayden Keoghan, founder and managing director of August Avenue who represents artists such as Bic Runga, Borderline, Kimbra, and

Read More »

Attack on Titan

Rating: 5/5 Attack on Titan is an anime that starts off deceptively simple but becomes a true thriller the further you get into it. The

Read More »

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

Read More »

Opt-Out of Voting ACT 

ACT’s newest policy is giving students false hope for cheaper study costs.   Under its proposed tertiary policy, students would be able to opt out of

Read More »