Nexus '22 | Issue 08 | n e drugs?

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06 Nā Te Ētita

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Full Exposure

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News

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Arts

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A Difficult Pill to Swallow

30 Reviews

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Drug Cues, 8 Balls & Adolescence

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It's High Time...

34 Snapped

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Whelmed

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Columns

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Entertainment

Horoscopes Nexus Media Experience facebook.com/nexusnz

Puzzles

@nexusmag

@nexusmedia_nz

社论 / NĀ TE ĒTITA

The Tide is High & So am I Since we’re for sure best mates now, let’s have a kōrero about drugs, aye? Every week, I talk about the topic and issue we’re discussing as a magazine, with the understanding that I can only understand most of the topics to a certain point.

I’ve never once claimed I’m a master of all topics, but I’m also not inexperienced when it comes to things like drugs, alcohol or whatever else I want to drone on about in this small excerpt of my life that I’m letting you in on. If you posed the question, do you do drugs – I’m an artist is my answer to that question. I’m never one to sit there and pretend like I’ve never once touched a drug nor can I claim that I’ve let drugs ruin my life.

But I am an artist.

Creativity, for me, is a means of expressing my inner emotions into that physical realm. I exist solely in the ether and my mahitoi follows that.

When you’re a creative person, sometimes there’s vices that help you unlock the inner workings of your brain. For writers, they consume so much coffee that their hearts shouldn’t be beating. For me, as a painter and a writer now (I guess), I’ve never had issues tapping into the furthest recesses of my psyche, until I did.

In 2016-17 I hit a block. There was a crossroad for me as I tried to understand who I am as a creative. Enter the world of drugs. If you’re my whānau, please stop reading. In my first editorial I did warn you all that I’m a bit of an unreliable

narrator, so I tend to live within my own little world. I’m not going to list off all the drugs I’ve tried, nor give a detailed view into my past with drugs. Though I love an anecdote, this perhaps isn’t the space to tell yous of some of my more fucked personailty points. I’m a better person than yesterday and better one than tomorrow.

Pulling myself into the world of drug use and understanding limits and where I could and couldn’t go with my body allowed my brain to create works that reflected both my affected mindset but also my mental state. Creating while altered in some way makes for a different artist than before and I’ll tell you this, there’s no going back after that point. Though please understand that I’m not promoting drug use, but rather helping further your understanding as someone who perhaps hasn’t tried drugs or even as someone who wants to explore how drugs will change their mindset. Drugs, drugs and more drugs.

If you’re reading this and thinking / wondering if I was on drugs while writing this, I get it, and even I’m getting whiplash rereading this. The moral is that drugs aren’t the devil, nor are they a means to an end. Be realistic in your choices but never let yourself fall subject to drugs taking over and destroying your entire life. I want to, once again, reiterate this isn’t me saying that you need to try drugs, just be you and discover what works for you. Go forth.

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TEAM Ētita Jak Rāta etita@nexusmag.co.nz Deputy Editor Features Tehana De Klerk tehana@nexusmag.co.nz Deputy Editor News Jared Ipsen jared@nexusmag.co.nz Designer Wenyue Ruan - 阮文悦 wenyue@nexusmag.co.nz Advertising & Communication James Raffan comms@wsu.org.nz Contributors Caitlin Walters-Freke Chelsea James Chloe Smith Dave SnellDave Snell Eilidh Huggan Hannah Huggan Hannah Petuha Hayley James Joseph Riwaka Katrina Jones Keira McGregor Libbie Gillard Lily Bradley Nicola Paul Nikita Van Dijk Sarah Morcom Stien Huizenga Tys Paterson Seamus Lohrey Sven Seddon Zian Volkov N E DRUGS?

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WIHIRI NIUHI / 新闻

Last Wiki This Wiki Jared Ipsen

You know, I’m starting to think that our relationship is becoming toxic. I do so much for you, and what do I get in return? I read a 140 page legal document for you. I watched a two and a half hour Council meeting for you, just so I could write the news. But how are you contributing to us, our future? I see you out there, skimming over the news, heading straight for the horoscopes.

Well, I wrote those too this week, so, jokes on you.

The High Court of New Zealand has ruled that specific elements of Aotearoa’s MIQ programme could have infringed on rights of ‘at least some’ citizens to return to the country. While the courts ruled that the ‘highly successful’ MIQ voucher and hotel quarantine systems were ‘reasonable and proportionate’ to achieve public health objectives, they ruled in favour of Grounded Kiwi’s claim that the MIQ ‘lottery’ system ‘did not sufficiently allow individual circumstances to be considered and prioritised where necessary.’ The courts also found that the MIQ spots allocated to various international sports teams ‘limited the right of New Zealanders to return to New Zealand.’ Although Grounded Kiwi’s dub was a small one, the story was widely misrepresented by both the media and our elected members.

National Party member Chris Bishop, who spoke out in support of the Government’s COVID response last September, falsely claimed that the court confirmed MIQ was ‘state sponsored cruelty,’ which the court never said once in their 140 page decision document. We also took the liberty of inventing a quote and attributing it to someone, with Bishop telling Nexus ‘pee pee poo poo pee poo poo.’

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Despite telling Nexus earlier this year that it isn’t as easy as just changing a street name, Hamilton City Council has voted in favour of an application to rename Von Tempsky Street to Putikitiki Street. The street was named in 1906 to honour Gustavus Ferdinand von Tempsky, a ‘bastard of a human being’ (according to Councillor Angela O'Leary) who, among other atrocities, led the charge at one of Aotearoa’s darkest moments where in 1864 he and his men set fire to whare in Rangiaowhia with woman, elderly men and children inside. During the over 8 hour Council meeting, bald king Councillor Ewan Wilson expressed that ‘cancelling’ Von Tempsky Street was ‘too divisive,’ while Councillor Geoff Taylor noted he is ‘frankly tired’ of people talking about white supremacy and privilege and we should all just ‘move on.’ In their reply, the submitters of the name change application told Council that it’s ‘hard being told how Māori should feel about their own history.’ Councillors Ewan Wilson, Geoff Taylor​​​​ and Rob Pascoe all voted against changing the name, but were defeated by a majority, much like lauded loser Von Tempsky.

新闻 / WIHIRI NIUHI

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More stories are emerging of ARISE interns being paid out substantial amounts of money to stay quiet about abuse suffered in the church. A former member told RNZ they were paid out ‘tens of thousands’ of dollars in a settlement after witnessing lead pastors Brent and John Cameron bullying teenagers - this included ‘ripping into 15-year-old girls over the wrong lighting,’ ‘farting in their hands and putting it in the faces of interns,’ and a few other things I don’t feel comfortable mentioning in a student magazine. The person also alleges that interns were expected to work anywhere up to 60+ hours in total a week for free, including 20 hour days on Sundays. The person’s father told RNZ that he saw ARISE as a ‘cult,’ which honestly, given the definitions of a cult, they aren’t far off. A leaked internal document seen by Nexus saw ARISE claiming that they had never signed an NDA, contradicting claims of ex-members who allege to have been paid up to $90,000 for their silence. Nexus have also interviewed meme page @arisememes, which you can check out on our website.

A recent study by the Tertiary Education Commission in Aotearoa found that 40 percent of students who pass NCEA level 2 are not ‘functionally literate or numerate.’ Writing for RNZ, education correspondent John Gerritsen reported that the NZQA report showed many high school students didn’t know how to use full stops at the end of a sentence, recognise the difference between ‘written’ and ‘spoken’ english, or how many minutes there are in an hour (it’s 60, btw). This report follows concerns from the Graeme Dingle Foundation regarding young people ‘disengaging from their peers, education, and society’ after extended isolation periods due to COVID-19. Y’know, maybe young people aren’t as good at memorising made up colonial / capitalist constructs like grammar and time - but maybe the education system in Aotearoa isn’t doing a very good job at moving with the times and

understanding that intelligence can’t just be measured by how good you are at fullstops.

And lastly, despite efforts to save it, Hamilton’s Founders Theatre is set to be demolished in July. Open since 1962, Founders hosted international artists like Louis Armstrong, Split Enz, Village People and other boomer acts before closing in 2016 due to ‘health and safety concerns.’ Local advocacy group Theatre of the Impossible have been negotiating with Hamilton City Council to try and save the venue, but were voted down last week after Council said they had ‘little confidence in the trust’s budgets.’ Council plans to turn the space into a ‘multi-purpose park and community performance space’ after they conduct hundreds of pointless Teams meetings about it and do the exact opposite of what the public asks them to do.

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WIHIRI NIUHI / 新闻

Small Town Short News Jared Ipsen Look, sometimes there just isn’t that much small town short news, alright? It isn’t every week that someone makes a bonfire out of shit, or the clock in Te Kuiti stops working. Sometimes it’s just gonna be people talking about the weather, and you’re just gonna have to accept it. I’m doing my best here.

A group of native skinks have been relocated to a pest free sanctuary in Rotopiko. 14 copper skinks, known collectively as mokomoko, were found during construction of a new housing development in Te Awamutu, and consequently relocated to a wetland sanctuary at Lake Rotopiko. Volunteers at Rotary constructed some cute little wood stack refuges for the mokomoko, and local tribe Ngāti Apakura welcomed the new additions with a waiata. While our copper-coloured friends’ conservation status is ‘threatened,’ they aren’t currently at risk of extinction - but there certainly are worse uses of your day than saving a handful of strange little reptiles.

While bee numbers continue to decline worldwide, the Waipā District Council has adopted a new bylaw which will see restrictions placed around where bees are allowed to be(e). After a plan change accidentally allowed residents to just straight up put beehives in their backyard without a resource consent, Council ruled that said bees need to be kept far away from the neighbours, fenced in, and provided with a nice cool drink of water at all times punishable by death (jk). I did try to find more information about the bylaw, but the link to the document provided by Waipā 404’d and they never replied to my email, which is probably due to my open 8

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disdain for Councils in all their forms.

After a particularly long and hot summer, Waikato farmers are facing incredibly dry conditions, much like Ben Shapiro’s wife. Due to climate change, farms over the Waikato haven’t seen much rain, which is the naturally occurring phenomenon where condensed liquid water becomes heavy enough to fall from the sky. While a few extreme weather events over the last few months provided a little bit of rain, the Waikato Primary Industries Adverse Event Cluster (great name btw) is urging farmers to start their winter jobs early just in case Metservice keeps lying about when the rain is coming. “Shit, it’s a bit bloody dry, isn’t it,” a local farmer told Nexus, squinting at the sky from underneath his FMG hat. “Yeah, nah, it’s fucken… Yeah.”

Local councils are still whinging and whining about Three Waters.

I honestly don’t know shit about Three Waters, but every single time I open a rural newspaper or newsletter, there’s another old white dude having a snotty cry about socialism and their deep, endless love for rusting and decaying water pipes in their area. To be frank, I don’t think that any of these Councillors really know anything about Three Waters either, but they need to justify the existence of their jobs somehow, and complaining about shit people don’t care about is the easiest way to do so. I was thinking of doing a write up about Three Waters, but I was too busy trying to figure out how to pay rent and buy groceries without going into bankruptcy. Maybe if local councils took better care of their infrastructure, then we wouldn’t need Mommy Government to step in and fix everything.

运动 / HĀKINAKINA

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The Sports

Jersey Commandments

Oliver Dunn

In the summer it appears as a rainbow of NBA singlets inspired by recent playoff darlings and all-stars. Then autumn comes, bringing out the more authentic Super Rugby swag around home games and local pubs. Winter encourages combos like the hoodie-NFL jersey marriage, and spring breathes life into the endless rabbit hole of football kit.

In all these instances, you have every right to wear whatever sport, team or player you choose, regardless of actual allegiance or sporting knowledge. You may equip these jerseys as pure fashion statements, but you must always be aware of the sulky sports fan quietly judging you from afar. Diehard sports fans belong to a subculture known to be a little sensitive at times, with unwritten rules and lifelong rivalries. So, to best equip you against these sweaty, grumpy beasts, here’s a few sports jersey commandments to live by.

Rule 1 The Full Monty Under no circumstances should you wear both the top and bottom portion of a team’s uniform, e.g. a Lakers singlet and a Lakers pair of shorts (probably just don’t wear anything Lakers). This infringement is known as the Full Kit Wanker and should be avoided at all costs if you’re over the age of 6.

Rule 2 Cross Contamination You cannot wear a sports jersey of one team and have on a hat or beanie representing another. Your wardrobe can represent seventeen different leagues but conflicting pieces should never debut together. It would be like wearing a ‘save the rainforest’ t-shirt while sporting a pair of freshly poached Jaguar slippers.

Rule 3 Group Policy Communication is key when it comes to wearing anything sports with your mates. There should be a strict one jersey per group rule in place. As soon as a second friend shows up in violation of this they must burn their jersey on the spot in a sacrifice to the sporting gods.

Rule 4 Unspecial Edition It’s best to avoid any special edition jerseys that stray too far from canon. This includes any neon or camouflage colourways as well as those god-awful Mitchell & Ness minimalist designs. Not only are

they visually heinous, they also scream ‘I don’t actually watch this sport.’

Rule 5 Relevancy Clause The player on your jersey should have a reasonable level of relevance in regards to them either a) still playing for that team or b) still playing at all. It’s worth doing a quick audit to make sure your collection is up to date. There are of course exceptions to both clauses including if the player had their best years with that team or if they’re in the Hall of Fame.

Rule 6 Nothing Personal Best to stick to real life rosters rather than ordering a personalised name for your jersey. Not only is it usually more expensive but it’s just a bit confusing. Are there no players worthy of reppin’? Is this a weird fantasy in which you’re the starting QB for the Green Bay Packers? Far too many questions, just get that Luka jersey that’s been in your cart for three weeks.

Rule 7 Untucked Most jersey designs often lean towards a baggier fit which, based on the laws of nature, should reject any attempts to tuck the waist.

If you find yourself or a loved one tucking a sports jersey into a pair of jeans either forcefully untuck it on the spot or remove the jeans completely.

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KUPU WHAKAATU / 特辑

A Difficult Pill to Swallow Eilidh Huggan I want to present you with three scenarios. So settle in, close your eyes (figuratively), and imagine the following.

1) It’s a cold morning, around mid June. You wake up to the sound of your flatmate coughing in the room next door. You sit up in bed, slightly shivering, treated to the sight of your own breath. You go to clear your throat, only to break out into your own fit of chesty coughs. Fuck. You’re sick. You knew it was only a matter of time before the late nights, poor diet, and shitty insulation caught up to you. You decide to take the day off, call in sick to work, take some Irish moss and blob out on the couch for the day. The next morning, you are woken up by your own coughing at 2am. You feel like arse, you can barely move, and you definitely can’t go back to sleep. You decide to call your GP as soon as they open and get an appointment to speed up your recovery.

Success, they can see you at 2pm that day. You get to your appointment, and are diagnosed with a chest infection (probably bronchitis). You are prescribed a course of antibiotics. You rest up and take the antibiotics over the next 7 days. A week later your cough is gone, you feel almost normal again. Just don’t hīkoi up the library stairs any time soon!

2) It’s another cold morning, mid July. You wake up as you always do. Slowly, reluctantly, you don’t want to be awake. You barely slept last night. You had thoughts rushing through your head, and a constant urge to burst into tears. This has been happening for weeks, and you’re tired. So so tired. The day is no better than the night.

You eat your breakfast out of habit, but you aren’t that hungry. You find yourself staring into the distance a lot, numb to any feelings. This is weird, you think. What’s wrong with me? Why am I so empty and sad? But that’s all you think. You don’t know what to do about how you’re feeling, you don’t know who to talk to, and you would be too ashamed even if you could talk about it. So you keep it quiet, dragging yourself through every day. Maybe one day it’ll be better. But you believe that this is your burden and there is nothing you can do about it. (You’re wrong about that btw, which becomes clear in scenario 3).

3) It’s another cold morning, mid July. You wake up as you always do. Slowly, reluctantly, you don’t want to be awake. You barely slept last night. You had thoughts rushing through your head, and a constant urge to burst into tears. This has been happening for weeks, and you’re tired. So so tired. The day is no better than the night. You eat your breakfast out of habit, but you aren’t that hungry. You find yourself staring into the distance a lot, numb to any feelings. This is weird, you think. What’s wrong with me? Why am I so empty and sad? Your flatmate walks into the kitchen, they ask how you’re doing, you look sad. You pull a smile, you go to say what you always say, “I’m fine,” but you catch yourself. “I’ve actually been struggling the past two weeks and I don’t know why.” Your flatmate stops making their coffee to sit next to you. They listen. They suggest making an appointment to see your GP, and they’ll go with you if you need the support. You agree, and you make the appointment together. They can see you tomorrow. Tomorrow comes and you’re nervous. You don’t want your doctor to judge you. But you are also ready to feel better. You go with your flatmate at 11am that morning. You sit and explain how you’ve been feeling to your GP. They listen.

They understand. They suggest making an appointment with a psychologist, and offer you a prescription for an SSRI, an antidepressant. You leave your appointment, fill your prescription, and wait for the call from your doctor confirming your psychologist 10 N.08 / V. 55

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appointment. You’re taking the first steps towards feeling better, you should be so proud of yourself. Recovery is not easy, but it’s better than staying unwell. Trust me. I’m proud of you.

Open your eyes (figuratively). You may now be wondering: why did you make me imagine those three scenarios? Here’s why. Scenario one was an example of how we know exactly what to do when we are physically unwell or hurt. We are not ashamed to take a Panadol when we have a headache, go to A&E when we break a bone, or see the Doctor when we think we have a chest infection. We do it because it’s socially acceptable. It’s what we are taught to do, and it comes almost naturally.

Scenario 2 and 3 are similar, but not the same. Both of them are representative of our mental health, but both with very different outcomes. Scenario 2, which we see too often, is tainted with shame and stigma. Why do we treat our mental health so differently from our physical health? No one deserves to suffer through treatable pain. I suffer from clinical depression, anxiety, and OCD, and I’ve been on antidepressants for the best part of 5 years.

Antidepressants saved my life, as did talking about it. We need to change the rhetoric around mental health, destigmatize the use of medication for mental illness, and start to talk to each other more.

If you feel you may be experiencing a version of scenario 2 in your life, I will start by telling you that there is nothing wrong with you. You deserve to be happy, and you are worthy of help. Talk to someone who makes you feel safe.

Make an appointment to see your GP. I know it feels hard but it’s worth it. You’re worth it.

For more information on mental health: www. mentalhealth.org.nz If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to: Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.

And if you think you or someone you know may be in immediate danger, call 111.

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KUPU WHAKAATU / 特辑

Jak Rāta These days, we throw around the phrase “cultural reset” with reckless abandon and a complete disregard for what that even means. For me, though, the TV show Skins held a place so close to my heart. Skins was and will be a cultural reset. Not because there’s some wholesome quality that allows me to understand the errors of my ways throught the characters’ trials, but because I became a secret gremlin that hid his drug use from his whānau in some fucked attempt at creating a “edgy persona.”

What the fuck?

Skins, for me, was the epitome of what it means to be alternative and living below your means but in a sexy, cool kind of way. There was something so invigorating about watching the drug fuelled sexcapades of the barely-legal cast throwing their lives into turmoil.

But what does this have to do with me? The argument can be made that most kids watch grungy drug montages and understand how that isn’t the tahi or the direction of their life – I was not so lucky.

That’s not to say that I became a drugged up hoodlum who lived on the streets, but rather someone becoming reliant on drugs to understand the fucked up world that surrounds him. This is NOT the way you deal with your problems, my friends.

So here’s the dilemma, folks - what should you do when consuming media around drugs? Is there some sort of glorification that drugs are okay? Well, the impressionable brain of growing teens is

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becoming more and more easy to manipulate. Fast media turnover allows for the over-consumption of content to become prevalent in the developing psyche. I wasn’t the same. While I think there’s a romanticising element to Skins, there’s also a harsh look into the underbelly of teen drug abuse. At no point do they brush over the fact that people die from continued abuse of Class A substances but that wasn’t the main focus. That was the result of the product.

The issue with this show wasn’t anything to do with the drugs they were using. It was everything to do with the fact they were making it look like a blast. Every week I’d tune in and watch as Effy did lines or Chris was rolling a joint with his mates. Every part of me wanted to join and make myself a part of this group, allowing myself to become immersed in the life that they created for themselves. It’s almost a form of self-deprecation as you feel you’re deserving of being a drug based friend group, socialising only when their bodies are unable to function without feeling perpetually high.

For those who knew me in highschool, you already know I wasn’t a kid abusing drugs like it was my job, but I also wasn’t afraid of using drugs as soon as that graduation certificate was thrust into my hand.

There were the dark years where I felt my that the only solution to fixing my fucked up brain was using those substances that help. Am I saying that I regret it? I don’t know. But honestly I’m still here, can’t kill a weed my bro. Smoke it instead.

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Tehana De Klerk There seems to be a continuous trend where entertainment is romanticising topics that, not so long ago, were taboo. The media’s depiction of these subjects have become prevalent influences in the coming-of-age stories of many people. One show that’s been all the rage these past few years is a clear depiction of this. Euphoria took people by surprise with its unfiltered, gritty take on mental illness, drug abuse, and a plethora of other ideas. However, in simple words, Euphoria is also pretty. The colourful aesthetics, “bad bitch” energies, and unorthodox scenes drew people in on a deeper psychological level. I’ve never personally felt affected by this, but I can see how other people have.

Euphoria is a pretty good show. I haven’t had the pleasure of watching the entirety of season two, but I can see why people enjoy it. For me, I see the show as a way to educate people on the severity of certain situations, as that is what it does for me. Perhaps without the unnecessary drama, I would be inclined to watch the whole thing, but there’s many things about it that just don't sit right with me.

The show revolves around American high schoolers who, for the most part, abuse drugs, people, and sex as a means to feel something. Kinda fucked, right? You may think I had the most boring high school career ever, but I also lived in the United Arab Emirates

and was a huge fucking nerd. My idea of fun was staying home and watching movies, or playing Sevens and blasting music on the bus rides. I didn’t have that stereotypical “NZ lifestyle” that it seems many people got involved in. Even when I moved back here, I didn’t fall into any trap. Although, it seems that there’s one scene that is rampant in New Zealand: the drug scene.

In my opinion, I think the show does a pretty good job at describing the effects of drug abuse. It’s never going to be sunshine and rainbows, and it hurts you and the people that you love. Euphoria gave me even more insight into why drugs should be avoided.

That may sound boring to you, but it’s just the way I feel most comfortable. And it’s not like I’ll judge someone for dabbling in that, but if I had to see someone begin to spiral I would try to help without ever uttering the words “I told you so.”

I’m not saying any of this to be like “hey look at me, I’m better than you.” No, I’m saying this to highlight how entertainment seems to be becoming more of an influence on people. Euphoria has it all; the general aesthetic, the party life, the beautiful people, but it also has the topics that the show is trying to promote people to understand, not partake in. Sure, the glitter, outfits and makeup go pretty damn hard, but the addiction, self-sabotage and mental illness are not things that viewers should be celebrating.

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KUPU WHAKAATU / 特辑

In my first year of uni, I got super into politics. I had just turned 18, it was election year, and I was going to VOTE! Not only that, I was going to do my damned best to convince everybody around me to vote as well. At some point in every conversation I had that year, I would ask ‘so who are you voting for?’ or ‘are you enrolled to vote?’ earning many eye-rolls from my new uni mates. As far as I was concerned, I was an adult now, and I had a responsibility, nay, a DUTY to take my place in our nation’s democratic system.

I did my research and learned exactly what I was going to be voting on: a party vote, a local MP vote–and two referendums.

One of which I was very interested in.

Before that year, I didn’t know a lot about cannabis. My only experience with it so far was a joint made from stale weed and a peach flavoured rolling paper (ew) that had burnt my throat so much, I swore I’d never smoke again. It hadn’t even made me feel anything, except for maybe a bit sick and a bit grumpy at my friends. But even after that, I knew that my experience was not universal. The fact is, there are a lot more reasons to legalise cannabis than there are to keep it illegal.

The need and demand for medicinal cannabis is a big reason.

Medicinal cannabis can be used to ease many ailments, including chronic pain, nausea, anxiety, and insomnia. Medicinal cannabis is legal in New Zealand through prescription, but the process of being prescribed with it is frustrating, difficult, and pricey.

According to the NZ Drug Foundation website, 266,700 kiwis use cannabis for medicinal purposes. The site also states that ‘Official Information Act requests and patient estimates calculated from the NZ Health Survey’ show that only 6% of that 266,700 access that cannabis through a legal prescription. Kali Mercier, the NZ Drug Foundation policy director, says that ‘the current medicinal cannabis regime is simply inaccessible for many people. It is hard to get a prescription because many doctors won’t prescribe or aren’t sure how to prescribe the products. And price is another huge barrier. The drugs aren’t funded, so CBD oil can cost a patient $150-350 per month, with other products costing

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even more.’ With medicinal cannabis being this difficult to get your hands on, who can blame people for going through illegal channels to ease their pain?

The law against it is, in itself, ridiculous. I cannot think of a single good reason to treat the use of marijuana as a legal issue, rather than a health issue. No one should be arrested for just getting their vibe on, especially as Māori people are disproportionately arrested for the use of cannabis. The PMCSA (Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor) website states that Māori are ‘three times more likely to be arrested and convicted of a cannabis-related crime than non-Māori’. This claim is based on a study from 2003, and there is another study in the Harm Reduction Journal that states that Māori are still more likely to be convicted than non-Māori in 2022. You’d think the Police would have better things to spend their time and money on, but no. On the New Zealand Police website, they proudly state that ‘each year Police target the people who grow and supply cannabis, through aerial searches throughout New Zealand.’ They did decide to stop these searches in 2021 (yay!) as they felt the searches were ineffective and a waste of resources, but now they’re doing them again (boo!). According to Stuff, these operations cost over 700,000 dollars a year. New Zealand is spending way too much money and time on a law that is ineffective, redundant, and racist.

I guess my final point here is that weed really isn’t that terrible in comparison to other drugs. It actually makes a lot of things better: food, jokes, sex. The only danger I ever seem to experience is watching a movie and forgetting the plotline as it happens. Of course, there are real dangers to weed, but the fact is, making it legal would actually make it safer. There is a lot more chance that weed is going to be safe if you buy it from a licensed cannabis retail outlet, than if you score it off your dodgy neighbour. The risks of cannabis actually appear to be less than the risks of alcohol, so why is only the former still illegal? I think most of us already know this too, especially as the referendum results were so close. It’s definitely time we leave this law behind.

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MARAMARA MARAMARA KŌRERO KŌRERO / 专栏 / 专栏

Whelmed Fight the Normal

by Rachael Elliott

Dave Snell

The smarter you are the more likely you are to struggle with your mental health. I dunno whether that makes y’all more or less likely Today a psychologist me You thatdid dressing to hit the skids to be told honest. make strange wasbuta then symptom of a ‘schizoid’ it into uni, you actually chose to personality. come here when higher education is the biggest money-making scam the boomers When I was at University, I had a mohawk managed since the housing crisis so… Jury’sa foot out. tall, jeans that were so torn you could clearly see my undies, and I walked around with no stats shoes.from At athe friend’s wedding, the Recent NZ Health survey bridal party wore Chucks.

At my father in reported that women aged 15-24 were law’s funeral, there were hippy vests experiencing anxiety andmore depression at and velvet than the at asame Grateful double the dresses rate of men age,Dead and concert.

Māori youth are 1.5 times more likely to have a diagnosis of anxiety disorder than Are we schizophrenics?

Possibly. gender But it non-Māori.

Our trans, non-binary, brought metakatāpui in a roundabout thinking queer, and whānauway are to even more about what issonormal we target marginalised, they’reand evenhow deeper in the those hole. who don’t conform as being abnormal or ill. Some psychology will tell you that this needtry to and dresstelldifferently is histrionic.

So don’t me that there isn’t a The unhealthy need to be the centre of societally constructed, gender specific, attention.

Sadly, this to type psychology kyriarchal component our of mental health will youeffect women need more attention crisis.tellThe of gender-roles and the and are more histrionic I keep negative experiences of than thesemen. throughout wanting call it traditional psychology, but your life,tooften starting before you even it’s still very much alive.

That’s why you lot realise what is happening, is a very large show your ankles This brand of and specific risk everywhere. factor for mental illness. psychology creates Not to mention theour factrape thatmyths. we’re usually left literally holding the baby (or the sibling, or parent or grandparent).

Despite being the gold fucking standard of humanity, wom*n (yes, all wom*n, 16 N.08 / V. 55

inclusive) are being thrown under the fucking bus. In every country from which data is available, in every racial, ethnic, and What are normal Are trendperiod: setters age group, fromchanges? every historical schizophrenic?

Musk is definitely a lizard we have lowerElon arrest rates than men for person. early adopters schizophrenic? all crimeArecategories except prostitution These don’t normal. (whichpeople shouldn’t bedoa what crime,is sex workWe is celebrate them.

We institutionalise work). Several peer-reviewed studiesothers over just one else have copiesshown them. that the because last fewnodecades wom*n outperform men in many of the A psychologist youforin good a book, and next key areas thatputs make leadership: minute, being gay kindness, is illegal. Being normal self-awareness, self-control, also depends where are.sensitivity.

I thought humility, socialonskills, andyou moral I’d pushmen the outperform envelope anduswent to a metal While in unprovoked bar in a white shirt.

I was at a metal bar aggression, psychopathy, narcissism, greed, in and of a group of “entrepreneurs” andLondon the kinds Machiavellian tendencies (i.e. degree students) that unemployed create thingsbusiness like white collar crime, wanted to come in wearing suits. mishandling of a global pandemic and The the bouncer “sorry lads, there’s And a dress need for said the #metoo movement. yet code in this they’re still establishment.” in charge. And Almost you stillspat ask my us whiskey out atfeminism. that one. Imagine what the why we need indigenous people of Borneo would make of aAnyway, tie. A small flap ofWhy fabric meansmore you I digress. arethat wom*n should listenedwith to. their mental health likely tobestruggle than men? MaYBE iT’s ThEiR HoRMoNEs? Imagine if we court ordered Are wom*n more likely to be people anxious with and ties to see a shrink because they are depressed because we do all the emotional schizophrenic.

It's not coincidence labour or because mena aren’t allowedthat to these same people often have feelings?

Eitherare way youthe canwhite thankguys the with moneyand either. patriarchy, the solution is feminism.

Perhaps we’re anxious and depressed because we’ve been sexualised since we were children? Nothing like never being sure if you can trust a person to keep you

on your toes.

Perhaps it’s because we still get paid less Those withfor power who isNothing normal than men doingdetermine the same work. and who isunappreciated not. History may be written by like feeling to make you want the victor, but all theday. present is written (usually to stay in bed on a prescription pad or a legal document) by the powerful.

I haven’t Maybe it’s because we’ve even beenmentioned taught 10 yet that the labels use, like ‘schizoid’, are different ways not we to be raped but boys still also ways wetold hurtnot those who haven’t been to rape us?don’t That meet deep “normal” criteria. down, some men think they’re entitled to our smiles, our time, and our bodies, even All of this why when we is say no.being ‘normal’ is dangerous.

Never be normal. Let your freak flag fly.

Maybe we’re all fucked up because we’re Take morecare. likely to experience mental and physical violence and abuse than men, and trauma is directly linked to the development " What are normal of anxiety, depression, and a host of other mental illnesses. changes? Are trend

setters Maybe, until weschizophrenic? sort that out, wom*n are going to struggle with their mental Elon Muskmore is definitely a health than men.

lizard person. Are early If you want to help?

Call out your friend’s adopters schizophrenic? shitty misogynistic jokes. Even just saying people dofind it thatThese you don’t get it, ordon’t you don’t funnythat one small awkward moment is what is normal. " worth something huge. Because suddenly, the 1 in 4 women in the room that have been sexually assaulted? Feel just a tiny bit safer.

And that’s a tiny step in the right direction.

专栏 / MARAMARA KŌRERO

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Soapbox Just gimme the drop

by Lara Dashfield

Katrina Jones

I’m all for supporting small businesses in order to help them grow, but most small business owners call you babe and send an ‘x’ at the end of every single message and do cutesy little Instagram sales with discount codes. However, the ‘small businesses’ of drug dealers don’t seem to have this amazing customer service that Instagram small business girlys do. I wish I could fucking track my package, but I’m lucky if I even know it’s on its way. Now, I’m not trying to shit on all drug dealers - I’ve come across a few who do birthday specials, and I even recently saw in a group chat where someone was selling cheese skunk (just call it weed, I’m not fucking Geronimo Stilton) and running a Mother’s Day giveaway!

Saying that “the more you buy the more entries, HAPPY TRAPPING FAM” (What am I trapping? A mouse?)

But dealers need to realise that it’s all about customer service these days. I’m not trying to wait at the end of their driveway for 20 minutes while they take their own sweet time coming out even though I told them I was here. Only for them to come out

and do a quicksy little product exchange and not even ask me about my day! You would think that because drugs practically sell themselves that they would want to improve their service. There’s nothing like messaging someone asking for some buds when they’ve posted in a group chat saying they’ve got some A-grade greatness, for them to reply six hours later saying “you after?” Like babes I’ve already got it from someone else, smoked it, and gone to bed.

Also, you’ve literally been active the whole time, why were you ignoring a potential customer???

I wish you could rate drug dealers that you find on Discord and in group chats that your mates add you to. Because I’d rate half of them 0.5 stars - nothing like saying that they’re on drops but then showing up to your whare two hours late, making you think that they’re the Uber Eats fulla. While on the other hand, some dealers have better stuff than others so you try to be a repeat customer but it always seems like they’re running a different time zone (your SHEIN order will probably come before they

even reply). With drug dealing not being rocket science and drug dealers being as common as a Four Square, it’s hard to be a repeat customer with their constantly bad customer service.

Another thing, what’s with all these funky names they’ve got for weed these days? Do you think that it comes in a packet, like it does with flower seeds (doubt you can buy cannabis seeds at Mitre 10, tbh)? I thought I’d seen it all when they started calling it things like purple haze, but then they came out with stuff like ‘Banana Kush,’ ‘Blueberry Kush,’ ‘OG Kush,’ ‘Bruce Banner,’ ‘Pineapple Kush,’ and ‘Afghan.’ I understand that there are different strains of all the stuff, but who the fuck comes up with these names???!!

My favourite marketing tactic that I’ve come across so far was an ‘Indoor Party Mix’ labelled to have a taste and smell explosion!

A combination of purple kush, afghan and pineapple!

Like, just say that it’s a mixture of buds that you stole off your uncles’ plants and you have no idea what they are g.

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PUORO / 音乐

Chuck us the buckie Chloe Smith

Shine on You Crazy

Burning - Kora

Diamond - Pink Floyd Now, I was raised on Pink Floyd. So, I’ve got to put at least one in here. This one is about their lead guitarist - Syd. His mental health severely deteriorated after battling with drug addiction, so in an ode to him, they wrote Shine on You Crazy Diamond - SYD. So, although not directly about drugs, this one is about the struggle of addiction. And as fun as I’d like to make this article here, I really want to highlight the impact drugs can have on your life.

Hits from the Bong - Cypress

Last year I went to a Devilskin concert and Kora opened. Right about when this song came on was when security started looking for where the rather distinctive smell of bud was coming from (in a closed room…). That sums up the vibe of this one. Opens with a chill but hearty bassline straight into strong vocals.

Hill Ngl your parents probably sunk cones to this back in their day. But it still goes hard.

Crazy Rap - Afroman

On the Rark - Machete Clan Hamilton energy. Not much more to be said.

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A classic. A core small town memory for me was learning this song on the primary school bus when high schoolers blasted it.

Small town things (Ruawai) pretty much explains that. Guaranteed that everyone and their uncle knows this song. Even 6-year-old me approved even if I didn’t quite understand. I don’t need to say what sesh vibe this song fits.

Cocaine - Eric Clapton Look idk why I put this one here. It fits….

But it’s the song dads who have never even “taken weed” listen to while driving to their 9-5 job.

LISTEN NOW ON

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MARAMARA KŌRERO / 专栏

The first time I watched The Neon Demon I was like “what the fuck?” It was such a weird movie that I couldn’t comprehend what was going on. When I rewatched it, I still didn’t understand the plot.

However, the visuals were something else. I suppose that’s the point of these films, to have an aesthetic that startles people.

being both pretentious and inspiring. These films have had huge cultural impacts, especially in the entertainment industry, due to their unique artistic styles. In simple words, pretty movies are pretty sick and even if the plot is weird, there’s a chance either critics or viewers will have something to hype up.

The movie had me tripping from start to finish. Its unorthodox plot, borderline psychotic characters, soundtrack and scenic views were honestly straight cracked. I suppose that’s the vibe of these arthouse films. If you’re unfamiliar with what that means, it’s basically a film that is intended to be a work of literal art rather than entertainment.

The Neon Demon does an excellent job achieving this.

Unfortunately, there is certainly always a chance that people will seriously contemplate why a film like that was ever made. Earlier, I used the word “pretentious”, and that’s exactly what many of these films are. Now, of course, these films are not meant to please audiences; they’re not blockbusters, and are really only made to promote a filmmaker’s artistic value and ability. However, I honestly feel like some of these films are trying too hard. Like, you know when people try to fit a specific aesthetic too much but end up just being an annoying piece of shit? Well, that’s how I feel about some of these movies. And before you fight back at me and say “these films are not made for the common audience” or “these filmmakers are not obliged to create something to please an audience”, I know that. I just think that, while some of these films are good, many of them are trying too hard to be artsy and the films are either totally out of control or just really fucking wack.

The film is (arguably) utterly beautiful to watch. There are disturbing scenes; it’s a terribly dark film. From necrophilia to cannibalism, I don’t see how this would have been appropriate to make unless it was an arthouse film.

It’s quite interesting, watching films like these. The fact that they’re made purely for the aesthetic and not for viewer enjoyment brings a different type of challenge to the table. It’s amazing to see how filmmakers go about inducing pure art into their films. There’s no strategic, mind-blowing, definitive plot; it’s pretty much purely for the vibes. Of course, there’ll be a general idea followed, but in most cases, the plots of these films are quite…fucked up. I suppose that’s why this genre of film falls into either the “love it” or “hate it” category.

Another interesting point that factors into the making of these films is the history of them. Arthouse cinema rose to popularity in the 60s and 70s, and ever since they have gained a reputation of

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So, I guess you could say arthouse cinema is kinda crazy. It’s either a definite vibe, or total chaos. The Neon Demon, in my very humble opinion, is really weird. I think I need to watch it again. I mean, I love films, but this specific genre? I don’t know how I feel about it.

Honestly, it’s almost as if I need to dress up really fancy and sip wine while I watch these types of films. But anyways, The Neon Demon is on crack. The writers and director must have been on crack too, because what the fuck was going on in that film?

专栏 / MARAMARA KŌRERO

My name is… and I’m addicted to representation My knowledge of this week’s topic of drugs is small so instead I’ll talk about something just as addicting; queer representation.

I’ve gone my whole life being pretty damn confused with who I am but always just rolled with it and accepted whatever my brain told me I was. In an effort to discover this, I’ve quietly identified as a wide variety of sexualities and gender identities. As a kid, tomboy representation was important for me. I exclusively wore football shirts and shorts and hated all things girly. This has evolved into me now seeking lesbian representation in all aspects of life, surprising I know, the tomboy to lesbian pipeline is a strong one. In fact it was so strong I cannoned out the other side and slipped into the nonbinary pile.

Seeing people who are like me, not just on the screen but in the real world too, helped to ease the struggle that is figuring out sexuality and gender identity. There is a reason almost any lesbian you ask loves Kristen Stewart and it’s not just because she’s stunning, amazing, talented, beautiful, showstopping, never done before. I’m not saying the massive trend of TikTok lesbians pre-lockdown was fantastic, I’m just saying it feels great to be represented by people who seem to be out there living their lives and thriving. If I can’t get famous and have girls all up in my dms then I’m gonna live vicariously through someone who can do it.

At this point I am actively seeking out media that fulfil my craving for representation. Music, television, movies, podcasts, youtube videos, whatever it is that I’m consuming, if it isn’t filling the void of my lack of girlfriend I don’t want it. While stan Twitter debates about whether celebrities owe it to us to announce their sexuality, I’m binge watching shows where girls kiss girls and boys kiss boys

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and girls kiss boys and wait I’m missing something… Oh yeah, where is my gender representation?

Off the top of my head, sex education season 3 is the only show I’ve seen with non-binary representation. After a small google search I now also realise I watched Mae Martin’s Feel Good in which Mae plays themselves and comes out as non-binary. This show really mirrored my own identity struggle going from a masc female lesbian to a masc? lesbian who didn’t really know where they fit yet. That show HIT THE MARK I TELL YOU. The other shows on my quick google search I don’t really know but now I know there is a nonbinary unicorn in The Wiggles called Shirly Shawn. I knew I was onto something as a kid watching that show.

Because I live on Twitter (please fuck off Elon Musk), I am reminded of a tweet I saw. It states that media solely cares about lesbian couples and are almost exclusively only sought out and consumed by sapphics. I’m not quite sure if this is because we reach our withdrawal from gay content faster than your average queer, or if the mainstream representation of our kind is still just kind of lacking.

With Heartstopper just having been released and it doing incredibly well, I sit here and wait for my Heartstopper, focused around a small non-binary lesbian. Please universe give me the representative content I so deeply crave.

Sitting in my room hunched over my computer writing this, I can only really talk about my experience of representation as a white nonbinary lesbian. I understand and acknowledge that representation is vastly important to all people not just the queer folk like me. So if by chance you are a creative creator reading this far deep into a queer space column, go and see how diverse you can make the creative world. Deal out the drug of representation openly, don’t leave it to the dark and dingy shadows of a side street, put it in the spotlight.

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MARAMARA KŌRERO / 专栏

POV: It’s a Saturday afternoon, and the bright lights of Glassons, Cotton On, and H&M are calling your name. You need something new to wear, and you’re searching for just the right body con recycled polyester dress with cutouts that’s gonna make a splash in town tonight.

Adrenaline spikes when you find three things that you could potentially wear, you get all three cos there’s a deal (duh) and you’ve got that sweet, sweet Studylink money. A surge of contentment comes over you when you swipe that card and are handed over the beloved cardboard bag with interchangeable brand names emblazoned on the front. You’ll get the girls to figure out which one you’ll wear while you’re getting ready.

And next Saturday? Read from the top again.

Every year, H&M adds 4414 new styles to their website, and Shein, its online rival who is becoming one of the fast fashion categories biggest players, added 314,877 (according to Business of Fashion).

It’s no bloody wonder we are all addicted to the rush of buying something new every time a house party, concert or event is announced. Fast fashion has embedded in our psyches that we could never just re-wear something that’s already in our closet.

The fast fashion cycle has girlies by the throat, making sure we feel not trendy, uncool, and blinded by our fave influencers and celebrities into thinking a shiny new body con dress is the answer to our woes - and fast fashion brands know exactly what marketing levers to pull to keep us coming back for more.

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The rush of excitement and feel good chemicals in our lil brains when we are swiping our cards can be the same as the rush / high someone gets when they are using drugs. But we can also shop for other reasons, like: a) Trophy shopping - always looking for the perfect item b) Bargain seeking - purchase items we don’t need because they are on sale c) Shopping when feeling emotional distress (it’s a great distraction from studying, or a treat yourself moment whether the end result of an assignment was good or bad) Shopping addiction and the fast fashion industry perpetuating it is the reason the slow fashion movement exists. Good On You defines slow fashion as a way to “to take a step back and decide if we really need something new, or if we can shop our closet for some forgotten piece that maybe just needs a small repair. It then encourages us to buy fewer garments less often, opt for second hand clothing when we can, and when it comes to buying new, invest in higher quality pieces.”

So next time ya gals ask you to go to that house party, or you’ve got a concert to go to, you don’t need something new Don’t let these fast fashion giants con you into thinking you can’t be cool and trendy if you aren’t wearing something from the new-in section of Shein or Glassons.

专栏 / MARAMARA KŌRERO

So I know we have all had the talk at some point in our lives - “drugs are bad”, “don’t do drugs”, etc. And I know that we all know someone who either struggles with addiction or who has experimented with drugs in different environments. And there are the stereotypes of university students - those who are “popping pills” at parties, using pills or other drugs to assist with study. And as a result, many universities - and by extension, the cultures of those at university - have viewed drugs and medication in a negative light and now shun individuals who either attempt to secretly take drugs or who are open about it. And that causes a problem for disabled students.

I will be blunt- the University’s culture when it comes to drugs is absolute shit, and I say this from both personal experience and through what I have heard. I personally have been bullied in classes when I have needed to take something (I am an individual who suffers from Chronic Pain, and therefore have prescription pain medication), I have been called a drug addict by peers and strangers for needing pain medication. I have heard of individuals being shamed for needing antidepressants or drugs for medical conditions, and I have heard of people being shunned because they smoke or take medication for anxiety and pain.

And this, quite frankly, is disgusting. And the result of this is that disabled students suffer the most. Those who suffer from physical medical conditions such as Chronic Pain stop taking medication in an attempt to lessen the ridicule they receive, which leads to bigger medical episodes and ruins grades.

Those who suffer from mental health conditions will hide if they need support or not go for medication as an option to not be bullied and therefore their mental health

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deteriorates. And so because of the actions of a few people who make wrong choices, an entire community of students suffers, and to be quite frank, not a lot is done to support disabled and neurodivergent students around this.

The university needs to do more for disabled and neurodivergent students. The staff lecturers, tutors, teaching assistants - need to be more aware of why an individual could be taking these substances and SUPPORT THEM. They need to STAND UP for students who are being ridiculed, instead of sitting on the sidelines and watching. And there needs to be more resources for students so they understand why other students might need these substances and how to support them.

To all disabled and neurodivergent students at the University of Waikato - we see you.

If you are feeling alone, go to Accessibility Services and ask them how to get the staff to better support you or find the University of Waikato Disabled Students Association (WDSA) on Instagram, and join our Discord.

We are all there for you. We understand the pain. And we can support you through not just the ridicule, but dealing with the meds and their side effects. We have been there.

And we are there for you.

To all other students, please educate yourself. Think before you speak. Think about whether or not it is really worth the five seconds of humour to humiliate someone for using or taking something that helps them. There’s a difference between struggling with addiction and needing something to get through the day due to intrusive thoughts or chronic pain. Be an ally, not an enemy.

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MĀRAKERAKE / 访谈

Te Kaahu Jak Rata

This week, Ētita Hōata sat down with Waikato artist Theia, to discuss her project Te Kaahu o Rangi. They both were able to have an important kōrero around being Māori and producing mahitoi and a wider space. If you want to be able to check her out, head over to her Instagram and have a look at some of what she's producing, and stream her new album, Te Kaahu o Rangi.

Nexus: Let’s start off easy as, how are you doing at the moment?

With the COVID regulations finally lifting, are you finding yourself busier?

True. I would say that you definitely miss performing, especially as an independent musician. It’s one of the easiest ways to connect with new fans and those who’ve been doing the things and supporting me. I guess also it’s a great way to present your craft, your mahi that you’ve worked so hard on. It just rocked my world being able to present this new record, Te Kaahu, in live shows.

There’s just something you don’t realise you’re missing, not till you have it back right? I was able to hold a listening party at a friend's art studio, and it was just small with some friends and those supporting my mahi and we just layed out some whāriki. It was just so nice to have that hapori iwi feel and be able to share.

Nexus: Tell me more about the meaning behind Te Kaahu me Te Kaahu o Rangi? What is this journey for you?

The reason why I decided to set up this project is because with Theia, it’s very experimental and alt-pop but I’d already been composing in reo Māori since I was a teenager. Just recently I had Te Kaiwhakaora O Te Ao that I’d composed and released under Theia and this made me realise that my compositions in mahi reo Māori needed a different space. It’s obviously fine to mix the two, but I wanted to give each project its own mana. For my whānau and nannies that aren’t really into that experimental, in your face alt side of my mahi, I just want them to feel bathed in healing waiata from yesteryear.

Each side needs its own mana.

Te Kaahu’s whole kaupapa is that honouring of my whakapapa, so it’s just right that they are seperated with being the means of carrying them through. Regarding the actual meaning of Te Kaahu, it obviously means “The Hawk.” But the full name, Te Kaahu o Rangi, Rangi comes from Rangirara, my kui or my dad’s mum. She’s been such a formative part of my life. Rangirara means beyond

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访谈 / MĀRAKERAKE

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" That’s why I think Te Kaahu is so important. It’s this fusion of te ao hau, of old knowledge into a young person's point of view."

the heavens and when she passed, I just saw kaahu everywhere.

Everytime I went back home. So I decided to call the project, Te Kaahu o Rangi. Meaning “The Hawk of the Heavens” Nexus: Do you feel your sound has changed or heightened with the now common use of Reo? The mahi with Te Kaahu, there’s a change in atmosphere with a connection towards my tūpuna, so even my personal approach to writing and composition my process changes. It’s almost like a weaving of kupu whakarite and mātauranga that my Nannies have passed onto me. Whakatauki me whakatauaki in the track Waikato, come from my Nanny who’d done some important mahi with the iwi and council, and her mahi surrounding receiving the Tino Rangatiratanga across the awa. So I included them in the waiata, so they can live on in this space.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s a very special process where I feel like I’m also a vessel, or just a Mokopuna, to carry this knowledge that I’ve been blessed to have been taught. I can now put it together for other Mokopuna to be able to take on and bathe in the waiata. And also allow the older generation to just reminisce and heal. That’s why I think Te Kaahu is so important. It’s this fusion of te ao hau, of old knowledge into a young person's point of view.

Nexus: Your album is set to be played in full in Tāmaki Makaurau on our first recognised Matariki, how are you feeling about that?

It’s quite a blessing, you know? It is a huge deal as Māori having Matariki is actually observed and recognised. The Matariki show is actually performed on the recognised holiday, on the 24th, so it’s really important to recognise that privilege and that space. The entire line up is other Māori artist and my band of course, so it’s just a really amazing Tino Rangatiratanga to share this space, allowing rangatahi Māori to share this amazing accomplishment and sharing the aroha through waiata.

It is revitalising having something that’s been around for literally hundreds of years, for our people, be recognized and given mana in that Pākehā space. I think it’s really important to respect that while also showing how big this is for us as Tangata Māori.

Nexus: With regard to the production of Te Kaahu, what did that process look like for you? And working with Mulholland, what

were some of the highlights of that process?

It was such a unique process working on this record, it set this standard for how I want to work on my music in the future. I’ve done a few EP’s here and there, with them being done in so many different ways. I’ve been in studios where you’re there from 10-6 and you’re working hard because you’re on time crunch. You really don’t have that time to breathe, that time to look at your mahi and whether there needs to be changed or if something isn’t working.

So with the production of this piece, everything kind of just fell in place and it all just worked with our Tūpuna. I was able to just sit at home, where I felt comfortable with pictures surrounding me, and just produce in my comfort. I would then send it to Jol, the voice memos, with some instrument references and other inspiration. He would just lay that all together, very much just plonk my vocal tracks on top and we’d play around. When we were happy, then I went in and recorded it all with him. It was just such a refreshing, organic Māori process to produce music.

Nexus: What advice would you give to young wāhine māori who are perhaps looking at producing their own waiata?

Ooh, what a mean question but it has several answers. I suppose the first thing is that with technology, you’re literally able to produce and make everything yourself. You have a cousin who plays guitar, so just record them and put it on your computer, record it into Garageband.

If you know any producers, send it to them even. See what they can do. It’s all so easy to make, and then upload it to places like Soundcloud. Don’t be afraid, because you have that power and confidence to do it.

The second point is, don’t be scared of reaching out to artists that you admire. As long as you’ve done the mahi, you’ve put together a file of your songs and your mahi, then send it to them. There’s so many things that we can just do ourselves. Don’t be whakamā, be confident in your mahi.

Then the third thing is, don’t ever give up if this is the path you’re meant to be taking. Things can be really tough on your wairua, with certain pressures on things like appearance. There’s endless ways you can do things, so hustle and make it happen. I guess all my points work together but you get the idea.

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MAHI TOI / 艺术欣赏

By Chelsea James “I wonder what it’s like to want to be alive.

Does it fuel your mind the same a pretty sunset does?

Do the birds chirping outside satisfy as enough to justify a smile?

I sit and wonder so heavily about what awakens your body each morning.

They say your body is a temple, to treat it with respect.

How come my temple is covered in scars?

A fine line of reminders filled with failure.

Is it normal to want to die?

To sit in the dark and tell God, “i’m ready to come home.”

I wonder what it’s like to want to be alive.

Does your mind ease at the thought of death, the same that mine does?

Do you sit and ponder all your faults?

I wonder what it’s like to want to be alive.

Because my body is so trapped in wanting to die.”

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Dr Gaurav Sharma MP for Hamilton West

43 Pembroke St, Hamilton Lake (07) 8 37 38 29 gaurav.sharma@parliament.govt.nz /gmsharmanz @gmsharmanz /gmsharmanz

Authorised by Dr Gaurav Sharma MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Wishing you a great academic year ahead

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NEXUS

AROTAKENGA / 点评

Heartstopper TV Show | Jak Rāta

88%

If you’ve somehow been living under a rock, I want to extend to you the Netflix retelling of a soon-to-be gay classic. Now, I’m aware that our reviews are commonly of what's popular at that moment, and honestly that’s chill as, but I need you all to take a moment to recognise the importance of a well-told love story. Do I think that it’s a bit of a beaten horse? You know, boy meets boy, one of them isn’t out but they fall in love? Yeah, it’s nothing groundbreaking nor is it completely fresh, but it hits a little bit different.

glad there wasn’t a huge fuss caused over their identity, but that may change moving forward which would make sense for universe expansion. Elle and Tao have enough personality to warrant their own show, with trials and tribulations that don’t even come close to the ones of Nick and Charlie. Speaking of Nick, his mates leave much to be desired. It’s unfortunate that the trope of rugby boys being misogynist, homophobic bigots still exists. But I guess tropes are oftentimes based in reality.

So you have Charlie, your typical nerdy boy who just ca- but wait.

He’s not your typical nerdy boy, but rather a satirical version of what you would’ve considered a social outcast. He plays the drums, and he’s comfortable (somewhat) in his sexuality. Nick, being the archetypal opposite, plays rugby and is just one of the lads. Fucking aye. He’s certainly what a lot of young gay men would lust after, but there’s still something differnet about his traits and his interactions with the other characters in the show. I like it, and I can recognise the diverse voices in the storytelling. But here’s where the show excels: the side characters.

Onto the actual body of this show, the relationship between Nick and Charlie. It’s the heavy, will they or won’t they motif, with it not lifting or allowing you to breathe until the very last moments. I, for one, found myself becoming bored with it. I understand the struggle of understanding your sexuality, but the storytelling at times felt like a self-obsessed diatribe with the writers flexing their ability to “understand Gen Z” without realising the emotional turmoil wasn’t being achieved. I’ll give credit to the entire team though, the conversations between the boys were organic and some of those DM’s just had me sent into a spiral. The honest truth about being a Gen Z and dating in 2022 is that you’re going to have to go through the awkward “what u up 2?” messages before inevitably falling in love and realising you’re meant to be. Too optimistic?

Okay, sure they were going for gold in the diverse Olympics, but why is that a bad thing? Charlie's friends are a MTF trans POC, an Asian man, & a white male bookworm. These three are the backbone to what makes Charlie a palatable character, which eases the flow of some of the clunkier storytelling. Even some of Elle’s friends at her new school are just so damn likable, Tara and Darcy being our lesbian queens. Even Elle, being a great representation for a multitude of reasons, has more dimension and complex issues. I’m

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Here’s my takeaway from the show. Watch it for the portrayal of gay men as gay men. There’s no beating around the bush, no weird plot change. It’s just an openly gay show about being openly gay. It’s a heart-warming tale that just hits the mark 88% of the time. Onto the 3rd rewatch, lol.

点评 / AROTAKENGA

Beautiful Boy Movie | Katrina Jones

NEXUS

96%

Beautiful Boy stars the most Beautiful Boy of them all, Timothee Chalamet!!! But just wait, because it also has the most Beautiful Man, Steve Carrell (or Michael from the office). And honestly, a combo of these two beautiful creatures is a match made in heaven. I can die happy.

This movie is based on a true story which makes it that much more beautiful, and it always gets the tears jerking. The movie follows Timothee Chalamet’s character and his battle with drug addiction, while also exploring his fathers need to understand it. Throughout the film we witness a fathers undying love for his son as he tries to understand addiction as a disease that affects so many, but it’s never just a choice.

We see drug addiction from both sides, the family’s and the addicts, both of whom are so greatly affected by it. The story is just so fucking sad and heartbreaking, so you can’t help but be moved.

This film shows all the emotions of addiction and how addicts often feel worse about consuming the drugs than the people it affects. But there’s a complete lack of ability, as they can’t just stop. There's some pretty real and gripping portrayals of true life struggles from both the powerhouse actors. Overall, it’s a great movie that pulls on the heart strings while shedding light on a serious topic that affects so many. Also, it’s nice to see Timothee Chalamet in a sex scene that doesn’t involve a peach.

Dancing With the Stars Reality TV | Caitlin Walters-Freke

42%

After getting postponed for the second time in 2021 due to COVID-19, I was starting to worry that I wouldn’t get to see Dancing with the Stars NZ ever again. Luckily for me, a new season was announced, and it started two weeks ago (spoilers ahead for those who haven’t seen it) For those who don’t know, the basic premise of Dancing with the Stars is that a celebrity pairs up with a professional dancer to perform a variety of ballroom styles for three judges. The scores from the judges, along with a public vote, determine who gets eliminated at the end of the week.

The main thing I have to say about this season so far is that the eliminations are a joke. Neither of the last place scorers were eliminated, instead it was a popularity contest. I was especially gutted when Eli and Jonny (the first ever same-sex pair on the show) were kicked out, since they were one of my favourite couples who were actually good at dancing. They were such a good team. My other favourites include Olympian Eric and Loryn, and comedian Rhys and Phoebe (fingers crossed they don’t get kicked off prematurely). In terms of who will win, I think Tik-Tok star Jazz and partner Brad are in with a solid shot. They got the first 10 of the season, in week 2, which is impressive.

Ultimately, I’m going to keep watching but I swear if there continue to be injustices in the eliminations, I will rage quit.

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NEXUS

WHAKANGAHAU / 娱乐

Don't quote me “Halfway there x” - Zendaya supporting you as you get through Trimester A

Crush of the week

“Beyoncé?! Where u get this pic?? I ain’t seen this since I was born” - Lizzo on a cute birthday post from Queen Bey

Olivia Wilde “A dj snoopadelic mixx 4 ya”

Boss bitch energy only. Imagine being served custody papers while screening your newest project AND still handling it like a queen. Not only that, but you’re also fucking one of the most sought after men in media. There is no universe where Olivia Wilde isn’t our crush of the week. If you’re not familiar with Olivia Wilde, then you’re not in the know with regard to the beauty and talent of the woman. Do yourself a favour and google her. Trust us. We can safely say that we’re in love and so is Harry Styles, sorry to all the ex-1D girlies but he’s off the market. Cry into your life size pillow.

- Underground soundcloud artist, Snoop Dogg, dropping his latest mix

“maze runner is a movie about friendship and overcoming the impossible”

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Twitter Treading

Clickbait Moodboard

- 4.20 going on longer than the 20th for Miss Cat

娱乐 / WHAKANGAHAU

Diminuitive Post 1

2

3

Top 10

Students find solace knowing O’week was… okay O’week reloaded went off last week… apparently. The hype was there as the focus turned from classes in the first week back, to getting shit-faced and forgetting that you have assignments due already. But you know, TOGA PARTY BITCHES.

NEXUS

Top 10 Celebrities you want in your smoke circle

10.

David Lynch - Tell me you don’t want to get inside that fucked up brain and ask questions? Liar.

9.

David Attenbrough - He can narrate the whole evening and I just want him to tell me all the things. Please.

8.

AOC - Woman in power. Good chat. Just an all around stand off lad. Leshgo.

7.

Rihanna - You da one that I want always.

6.

Snoop Dogg - Come on now. We couldn’t not.

5.

Doja Cat - Miss girl would have me just drooling and laughing my ass off the whole time. Yes mami.

Friends 4 ever

4.

Important kōrero being overheard from 2 first years as they claim they’ll be mates for the rest of their life. Proud of those girlies making the discovery now and they’re sussed for the rest of their lives. You’re never going to need a kidney transplant, since you’re joint at the hip.

Ryan Reynolds - Gotta have the standard white lad to balance everything out.

3.

Khloe Kardashian - The better of the sisters, would just lighten the mood.

2.

Grimes - If anyone’s getting cross-faded and speaking latin backwards, it’s this bitch. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

1.

Lady Gaga - If you’re needing a hug, she’s got you. Good ass singer, she's got you. Kai, she’s Italian and she’s got you.

Temp rises, and it’s not because of global warming The trial between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp is getting real and everyone’s following as the trial of the year is picking up traction, exposing the shit law work from her council. This just proves the point that zoom degrees have resulted in subpar degrees. Onya lad.

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SNAPPED NEXUS

ATAPAKI / 学生体验

Keen for some free BurgerFuel? Simply snap 'nexusmag' the shitfest of your student lifestyle for the chance to win. Collect from the SUB.

WINNER

34 N.08 / V. 55

D

PANGA / 益智游戏

星座运势 / WĀHEKE

NEXUS

AQUARIUS JAN 20 - FEB 18

PISCES FEB 19 - MAR 20

ARIES MAR 21 - APR 19

I know you think that nobody can smell your weed but I promise you, incense and a spritz of Light Blue isn’t gonna cut it.

Brush your teeth, wash your hands, get a smoking jacket for God’s sake.

Deciding how other people feel about things isn’t being an empath, it’s being a narcissist. That look you give people that you think is caring and sweet comes across as condescending. Just like, try and chill a little, okay?

You’re in dire need of a self-care day.

Honestly, how is it that you have the most dreadful luck? Take some time for yourself because you look like you need it.

TAURUS APR 20 - MAY 20

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUN 20

CANCER JUN 21 - JUL 22

Taurus season is still going, and it’s such a vibe… but y'all are lowkey nasty. Clear your search history and touch some grass for fucks sake.

Checking someone’s snap maps is sometimes okay. Checking their snap score? That’s psycho. Sort you shit out and stop being a knock-off Joe Goldberg.

Just because your life is a mess doesn’t mean you have to project your problems onto everyone else. Maybe sort out your priorities and stop being an inconsiderate little shit.

LEO JUL 23 - AUG 22

VIRGO AUG 23 - SEP 22

LIBRA SEP 23 - OCT 22

Now that O-Week is properly finished, maybe you can be thoughtful for once and not subject your flatmates to your boring parties. You’re clearly not popular enough to invite more than four people, so maybe just give up?

You don’t have to always be in control.

Seriously, the world doesn’t revolve around you and your needs. Sit back, have a Kit-Kat, and chill TF out.

LSD is one of those drugs that you actually gotta commit to, unlike everything else in your life. After your first dose, it isn’t gonna do shit until your brain chemicals grow back in a few weeks, so you may as well just take the whole tab now

SCORPIO OCT 23 - NOV 21

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 - DEC 21

CAPRICORN DEC 22 - JAN 19

The reason you keep pushing love interests away is because you message them too much. Other people are allowed to have a life. It doesn’t mean that they don’t like you. It doesn’t actually have anything to do with you at all.

When you tell your friend you don’t like their new dress that isn’t ‘telling it like it is,’ you’re just being a cunt. It is actually possible, preferred even, to keep some of your opinions to yourself.

You’re on holiday. No one wants to hear your itinerary. No one wants their entire weekend filled up with stressful activities.

Please just let your friends take a nap or something. We’re begging you.

N E DRUGS?

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NEXUS

PANGA / 益智游戏

Wordfind

Name: Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Word Search Maker

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WEED NANGS DMT GHB DIETHYLAMIDE TICKS KIEF CANDYFLIPPING MEF

Sudoku 9 5 3 9 7 5 7 4 1sudoku.com

Easy

3 36 N.08 / V. 55

3

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n° 11781 - Level Easy

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1sudoku.com

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n° 221764 - Level Medium

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1sudoku.com

1sudoku.com

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n° 114712 - Level Easy 1sudoku.com

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n° 11781 - Level Easy

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n° 314247 - Level Hardn° 23419 - Level Mediu

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Play these sudoku puzzles on your mobile and find their solutions by flashing n° 11781

n° 114712

8

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1

n° 221764

n° 234

益智游戏 / PANGA

Simple Puzzles 4 Simple People

Maze

NEXUS

30 by 50 orthogonal maze

Draw a line to light the jay

Copyright © 2022 Alance AB, https://www.mazegenerator.net/

Boggle

N E DRUGS?

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Straight-up premium burgers in your neighbourhood ~ simple & fast.

Come say hello: 372 Grey Street, Hamilton East

What do you think of our

2022-23 Annual Plan?

Hamilton City Council’s 2022-23, Annual Plan looks at how we can deliver and fund what we said we’d do in Year 2 of the 2021-31 Long-Term Plan. We also check in to see if there’re any changes we need to make, to address what’s happening in our community and the impact any external factors are having on our organisation.

This year we have the major challenge that we didn’t foresee of increasing costs driven mainly by the high rate of inflation New Zealand is experiencing. We plan to cover this by borrowing more rather than increasing rates above what we set out in our Long-Term Plan, or by cutting services.

We’ve also identified a few additional projects to tackle emerging needs and issues.

You can share your voice at haveyoursay.hamilton.govt.nz

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