2025 marks Critic’s 100th year in print, and we are incredibly proud to announce our intention to produce a book to commemorate this milestone. You are reading this because of your personal connection to Critic Te Ārohi, whether through the University, as a former student, or through the magazine itself.
Many hours and careful thought have gone into determining the best approach. There are two types of books that could be made about Critic Te Ārohi: one, a detailed text-heavy historical account, and the other, a nostalgic anthology showcasing “the best” of Critic as it reflects the Otago student experience. We have chosen the latter.
This doesn’t mean that a historical book won’t one day be made; however, it would require significantly more time, funding, and staff capacity than is realistic. Yet our decision is based not only on these practical constraints, but also on our belief that a celebratory, nostalgic anthology produced by current staff will be more commercially viable, appeal to a wider audience, and better reflect Critic as a magazine. The written content and art itself takes centre stage, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the student experience across the decades, guided by contextual preambles submitted by alumni and local historians.
The overarching story of the book is
a century of the studentOtago experience through the eyes of Critic Te Ārohi
Who is this book for?
• Otago student alumni and their families
• Graduates, whom the book can be marketed to as an ongoing graduation gift
• Critic alumni
• Current students who are fans of Critic
• University of Otago staff
• Dunedin locals (a significant amount whom will overlap with the student alumni population)
• Those working in New Zealand journalism
Current Progress
Critic requires $70,000 in private donations to proceed with the project, and we’ve been making significant behind-the-scenes progress in anticipation of this.
Publishing: Spectrum Print has provided multiple quotes for publishing costs. We plan to publish a hardcover book sized 300mm W x 250mm H.
Archival Digitisation: Hocken Library is currently digitising Critic’s archives dating back to 1925, under the supervision of Kirstie Ross.
Funding Strategy: Upon securing the initial $70,000 to green-light the project, Critic intends to run a one-month public Boosted campaign and apply for additional grants throughout the year to cover publishing, promotion, and design staffing costs. This includes grants from:
• Ara Toi Ōtepoti (March application)
• Manatū Taonga (August application)
• Copyright Licensing NZ (September application)
• Creative New Zealand (November application)
Structure of the Book
The book will begin with a foreword by Grant Robertson, who has been invited to contribute. This will be followed by an introduction from the Book’s Editor, Iris Hehir, reflecting on Critic’s history and providing an overview of the book — explaining the selection process, thematic structure, and overall vision.
Next, there will be a thank-you page acknowledging all donors and contributors. Following that, the book will feature a table of Critic’s past editors, a record of the magazine’s awards at the Aotearoa Student Press Awards since 2002 (as the most award-winning student publication), and a chronological timeline of featured articles.
Chapters
Selected articles will be organised into themed chapters, each beginning with an introduction that contextualises its relevance to Critic and Otago student life. The articles within each chapter will be arranged chronologically, with a preamble written by a relevant contributor — predominantly the author of the article or the Editor at the time.
While the themes may evolve as our archival research progresses, predicted chapters include:
• Academia
• Breaking News
• Capping Show
• Clubs and Socs
• Famous People
• Gender
• Halls of Residence
• Party Culture
• Protest
• Queer Culture
• Reviews
• Scandals and Controversies
• Scarfie Life
• Sports
• Student Politics
• Technology
• Te Ao Māori
• The Clocktower (University Administration)
• War
• Design Evolution
Critic Co-Editor
Alumni Profiles
The book will include profiles of Critic’s most prominent editors, delving into their year running the magazine and illustrative lives thereafter. These include, but are not limited to:
• Sir Geoffery Cox (1930 Editor) – Pioneering broadcast journalist and Rhodes Scholar
• Paul Oestreicher (1952 Editor) – Amnesty International Chairman, appointed OBE for commitment to peace and justice
• Diana Shaw (1942 Editor) – First woman to edit an issue of Critic, appointed OBE for contributions to women’s reproductive health
• Hamish McKenzie (2004 Editor) – Co-founder of Substack
• Holly Walker (2005 Editor) – Former Member of Parliament and Rhodes Scholar
• James K Baxter (Staff) – New Zealand’s most famous and critically acclaimed poet
The book will conclude with an epilogue by Critic’s 100th Editor, Nina Brown, followed by a page of praise for Critic from notable figures.
In order to do Critic’s full-range of history justice, we intend to set a quota of articles for each decade. Some themes will naturally feature older content — such as ‘War’ — while others, like ‘Design Evolution,’ will showcase how the magazine evolved into an illustrative quarter-fold format. That said, we expect most themes to have strong continuity across decades.
Within each theme, articles will be arranged chronologically to create a natural narrative flow and ensure smooth transition between eras.
The Book Editor will make the final decision on the archival selection in consultation with a board of current Critic editorial staff and alumni. This board will assist in recommending which shortlisted articles should be included in each chapter.
This project can only happen if Critic Te Ārohi raises $70,000 in donations by March 16th. If you would like to support this project, please contact OUSA at 100@critic.co.nz for banking details.
• All donations to this project are tax deductible, as OUSA is registered as a charity.
• To show our gratitude, those who donate will be personally thanked in the book, recognizing your immense generosity in making this possible.
Sponsorship Packages
Our request to you
Sponsorship packages will also be available depending on the donation amount. These packages include recognition as a 100th Year Sponsor in all 26 issues of Critic this year, free advertising in the magazine, and a complimentary logo displayed at all promotional events. If you are interested in these sponsorship opportunities, feel free to mention it in your email, and OUSA will reach out with further information.
Stay in Touch!
If you’d like to stay updated on the progress of the project, there will be a biweekly newsletter filled with snippets and discoveries as we delve into Critic’s 100 years of history. This will be an exciting way to share our journey and show you how your support is making an impact.
We will reply to any donation emails with the opportunity to subscribe to the newsletter.
A centenary only happens once.
We are incredibly grateful for your belief in and support of this project, as well as for your ongoing personal connection to Critic Te Ārohi.
Ko ngā pae tawhiti whaia kia tata, ko ngā pae tata, whakamaua kia tina.
The potential of tomorrow depends on what we do today.
