Issue 24 ✦ Nostalgia

COntEnts

Features ✦ Ahuatanga 5

3

Letters ✦ Pū

6

7

14. The Children Yearn for the Mines: Confessing to my Minecraft YouTuber Past—Phoebe Robertson

17. Help! I’m Considering Time Travelling Back to the 2010s—Francesca Pietkiewicz

22. Fresher Feels Then and Now—Kiran Patel

26. The Iconic, the Cringe, and the Timeless— Barbara De la Peña Cuevas

28. Halloween Hallowhere Hallohowdoyoudo?—Pippi Jean

Kōnae Ipurangi

31. Aunty Vic

32.. Ngāi Tauira

33. Studylink Approved Meal Steals

4

8

9

About

Salient is published by, but remains editorially independent from, the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA). Salient is funded in part by VUWSA through the Student Services Levy. Salient is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA).

The views expressed in Salient do not necessarily reflect those of the Editors, VUWSA, or the University.

Complaints

Complaints regarding the material published in Salient should first be brought to the Editors in writing (editor@salient.org.nz).

If not satisfied with the response, complaints should be directed to the Media Council (info@mediacouncil.org.nz).

Letters Got opinions about what we publish? Send it to letters@salient.org.nz and we'll publish it.

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Editorial

Kiwi Kids Are Rocking It (Rocking It)

It’s been a wild ride, but we’ve finally made it to Issue 24: our final issue as editors. In this issue, we’re reminiscing on our childhoods, teens, and our years at Salient It’s time to soak in the sappiest soppiest of nostalgia.

We all seem to be going back in time and searching for the things that gave us childhood comfort. We’re building our dream homes, and making them up to the Healthy Homes Standards, in The Sims. Bella is blasting K-pop in the office as we write this and we can’t stop krumping. The other week, Maia played Penguin Diner on FRIV games for an hour. Fran is getting cosy in bed and rewatching old 2014 Vidcon collab vlogs on YouTube.

It’s safe to say this time of transition has got regression looking all types of crazy, sexy cool.

Slightly blurry selfies taken on an iPhone 4 are looking fresh as hell. We’re doing Jump Jam dances to Sticky Fingers, recreating our Smokefree Rockquest days. All these chats about our first pink Nokia bricks and watching What Now on Sundays and then seeing Tāmati Coffey as a Labour candidate at the VUWSA Climate Debate has got us feeling old. But, who cares? At least we’re not 30 yet. We still have a little bit of time left to figure out our lives, so for now we’ll be putting on our jelly sandals and Silly Bandz like it’s time for the school disco, and cuing up the classic 00’s Barbie movies for the sleepover party. Get your glow sticks ready girlies!!

Being a kid was wrought with super bright primary colours, terrible dancing, and the earliest of Apple iPod technology. In Primary, wearing a sunhat in the wooden, splinter-filled playground was mandatory—no hat and you’re in the shade babes. We all popped off to bangers such as ‘Kiwi Kids are Rocking It’ in assembly and Glee covers in school singing. Silly Bandz, Smiggle, and Pokémon cards had to be banned in our intermediate schools because it just got too much. In high school, we all prepared for our first time, jobs, and experiences with drugs and alcohol. Fran once prepped for her first proper hospo job at Noah’s Ark by playing Papa’s Freezeria, and it low-key helped. Maia prepped for being a writer in early teens by reading Wattpad and playing Episode. (Bella, Maia, and Fran were all Wattpad authors. Bella was actually ridiculously successful at 50k reads on a 5SOS fic.) Being nostalgic in Aotearoa is like no other, a little isolated from the world as we are.

While we love looking back in time, it’s safe to say that Salient is not the publication it was in the 2000s, and we love the way it’s grown. This year’s Salient has been a time. From making noise about law school lecture recording in the first issue, to reviewing sex toys, to having a bit of a boygenius stan era, to the department-gutting staff cuts that have changed this university, and students’ experience of it, forever—not to mention an election among it all. We’re so grateful to everyone

who has read these editorials, stuck a centrefold up on their wall (breaking their flat’s rules about blu-tack in the process), and told us the crossword had a mistake (xoxo). Thanks for staying with us until Issue 24.

In this issue, the Salient News Team breaks campus news for the last time in 2023. Ethan reveals the university decisions behind the call to tear down Students Against Cuts posters on open day. We report on the politicians braving Study Wage for All protestors to vote on campus. There’s an update on the mysterious disappearance of a condom dispenser from the bathrooms of level 1, Student Union. And for the freshers currently struggling to find flats in Wellington’s cut-throat rental market, we’ve got some tips for surviving the rat race.

We’ve got two pages for the final of Groove Garden, complete with a release calendar to keep your summer soundtracks stocked. Phoebe admits to her biggest secret: her Minecraft YouTuber past. Fran is having a quarter-life crisis and considering time-travelling back to the 2010s in search of nostalgic comfort. Kiran takes us back to 2016 for some firstyear nostalgia, and reflects on how the first-year experience is different in 2023. Barbara explores the iconic 2014 Tumblr smash hit that was Alexa Chung’s It. And Pippi pulls through with fake blood recipes to make your Halloween terrifying.

(BTW, if you were worried after last week, Fran is not actually bald.)

Enjoy the final issue of 2023, and don’t be so nostalgic that you forget to live in the moment. In 10 years, we’ll all be reminiscing on our uni days gone by. We’ve vowed to have a reunion in 10 years, take shrooms, and relive it all, chaos and crack ups included.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye,

Maia and Fran xoxoxo

Salient is fuelled by:

Note from the Editors

To everyone who has picked up a copy of Salient this year, submitted an article, or written a VuW: Meaningful Confessions post about us, we want to say

Thank You.

Ōtaki Summer Camp 2024 –registrations opening soon!

19-22 January 2024

Early Bird $110 / Full Price $140

Cost covers campsite, catering, a nature excursion, nightly music performances, and full access to the three day programme of speakers and discussions.

Ōtaki Summer Camp is a three day event in January for young people with an interest in politics, justice, community building, and nature.

With climate anxiety on the rise, opportunities for young people to connect with others who care about the big issues are more important than ever. The camp involves three days of political discussion, speakers, music, nature, delicious vegan catering, and actual camping. The event is held on a gorgeous rural property in Ōtaki, 40 minutes north of Te Whanganui-ā-Tara Wellington. Last year’s speakers included Tāme Iti [Ngāi Tūhoe], Jesse Bythall, Steve Abel (Greenpeace Aotearoa), and Bernard Hickey.

Ōtaki Summer Camp is aimed at 17-35 year olds, but we’ll happily chat with people who are older who want to participate. If you’re interested in attending, or know people who might be, please spread the word. Early Bird prices are available until 20 December 2023.

To register or find out more visit www.otakisummercamp.com

Winston Peters

I am dissapointed that you have interviewed winston peters. he is pathetic and nothing but an alt right grifter. his current platform is transphobic, racist and only serves to pander to the conspiracies of the alt right.

Apply to be the Editor of Salient for 2024!

Applications are open NOW until 16 October for the next Editor(s) of Salient.

The editorship is a full-time, paid position beginning in January 2024 to October 2024 with an opportunity to work with the current editor this year to assist with the transition.

Two people may apply together, as co-editors, and the job will become two part-time paid positions.

Apply via Seek, and be sure to include a CV, a portfolio of writing, and a cover letter outlining your vision for Salient

Salient, truly, would not have been the same without you.

Staff Told to Tear Down Posters Protesting Cuts on Open Day

Words by Ethan Manera (he/him)

Documents released to Salient under the Official Information Act reveal the university ordered the removal of posters protesting staff cuts around campus ahead of Open Day.

A staff member, whose name was withheld by the university, emailed the communications department in early August saying, “We have seen quite a few posters and fliers dropped across campus about “staff cuts” and “programme cuts” etc. I know we are a University and encourage freedom of speech, [...] but I don't want this to be a key focus for Open Day (given the purpose of Open Day is recruitment of new students!)”.

A work order slip was then submitted requesting Campus Care “remove ‘stop the cuts’ posters dotted around the Campus ahead of the Friday 25th Open Day”.

On Open Day, a video emerged of a campus care officer tearing Students Against Cuts (SAC) posters off a notice board in the Kirk Building, prompting widespread outrage on social media with many calling out the university for restricting students’ freedom of expression and right to protest. Some comments from both academic staff and students included calling the removal of posters “an act of silencing dissent” and “absolutely fucking disgraceful”.

Staff involved had noted in earlier emails that posters on public notice boards were not allowed to be removed, and only those in areas such as windows, walls, and the columns in the Hub could be torn down. However, this was not communicated in the work order slip, and was only conveyed through a direct message at 11:20 a.m. on Open Day, 48 minutes before the video surfaced.

When the university was made aware of the post, internal emails show the communications team called the situation “annoying”.

“They shouldn't have been taken down. Grrr,” a staff member expressed.

They responded to the outrage by releasing a Twitter (X) statement saying the posters “were removed due to a misunderstanding”, and that the university “respects and strongly supports our students’ rights to express their views”.

The university was closely monitoring the posters discourse on social media, emailing screenshots of Twitter threads where staff and union spokespeople criticised the removal of posters.

The released documents show university staff were also closely monitoring SAC’s plans for Open Day, with a staff member covertly photographing a student erecting protest posters in the Hub and emailing the image to other senior staff. A university spokesperson disputes this, saying the photo “was not taken covertly, but as part of our usual practice of informing relevant staff of activities happening on campus that might be of interest”.

The university’s Chief Operating Officer, Tina Wakefield, maintains that the posters “were removed in error due to a misunderstanding”. ✦

Grant Robertson Votes, Eats Sausage, and Ignores Protesters on Campus

Words by Niamh Vaughan (she/her) and Maia Ingoe (she/her)

VUW has become a hotspot for politicians heading to cast their vote, with Labour’s Grant Robertson and Ibrahim Omer voting in the Hub last Wednesday, and the Greens’ Tamatha Paul and James Shaw, alongside Wellington mayor Tory Whanau, voting here last Monday. Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni showed up in support, but didn’t cast her vote.

As part of their political efforts, Grant Robertson and Wellington Central candidate Ibrahim Omer “awkwardly paraded around university, disturbing studying students to ask them if they’ve voted yet”, a bystander told Salient

Robertson was closely followed by Study Wage For All protesters holding a banner with the words, “Only 37% of full-time students get any kind of allowance…the main culprit here is the National Government’s absurd means-testing programme.” This quote was from Robertson himself in 1996 when he was president of NZUSA.

“We're holding up the sign to kind of remind him about where he's come from and what he should vote for,” said incoming VUWSA president Marcail Parkinson.

Robertson ignored the protestors until Hana Pilkinton-Ching, a Study Wage For All activist and current VUWSA Campaigns Officer, confronted him. “[When you were a student politician] you said that the current levels of student support were bad. Here you are, like three decades later, what are you doing about it? [...] Labour ruled out expanded eligibility to universal allowances, even though that's what you want to campaign for.”

“We've done a lot over the last few years, including bringing in fees free, lifting allowances, [and] consistently lifting access to accommodation support. I know we haven't been able to do everything that you want, or that back in those days I was looking to do,” replied Robertson.

The voting booth was not the only thing Grant Robertson paid a visit to, quickly turning to the Niuean Students’ Association sausage sizzle in the Tim Beaglehole Courtyard. “I’m not like the Prime Minister. I don’t eat lots of food,” Robertson said, promising to return for a sausage after he’d cast his vote.

Voting booths in the Hub are open on weekdays from 2-13 October, and voting closes overall for the 2023 General Election on 14 October.

Condom Confusion Comes to a Head as Machine Vanishes from Campus

Acurious condom machine in a men's bathroom on Kelburn campus has vanished following reporting by Salient, with the university sending mixed signals.

The coin operated machine piqued Salient’s interest in April for its retro charm and bizarrely off-branded product.

When asked back in April, machine co-owner Andrew told us that although he has personally “never worn a condom”, students were eating them up, “It's a well used machine.”

Now, students no longer have the protection of a $2 studded johnny. The wall in the men’s bathroom on level 1 of the Student Union is bare, with four screw holes left in memory of the metallic money-maker.

We can't know for sure how many unplanned pregnancies have happened as a result of its removal—we don't even know why it was removed in the first place.

Salient issued a ‘please explain’ to the university. A spokesperson said, “The condom machine in the men’s toilets outside Mauri Ora was removed in late 2022 as it was no longer operational. The university attempted to make contact with the supplier but received no response.”

However, this simply isn't true. Salient has seen evidence that a student purchased a condom from the machine in March this year, and used it successfully.

When questioned further, the university replied that “although the removal was requested in late 2022, the machine was not actually removed until 12 April 2023”, merely nine days after the publication of our original article.

They also claimed that “the machine was not operational, with its mechanisms, dispenser, and feeder rusted and nonfunctional. There were no signs of recent replenishment.”

But Neil, the other co-owner of the machine, reckons “that's not true at all”.

He said the machine was fully operational and regularly refilled, claiming it was one of their most successful machines nationwide.

Neil was contacted by the university two months ago, by “someone who thinks they wield some power” to remove the machine, and says it “was a real shame because it was getting a fair bit of use”.

He said he doesn't want to cause any trouble with the university, he just wants to reinstall the machine and get back to business.

“I’d love to put it back,” Neil said. “If you can pull some strings and get it put back in, I'd be really grateful.”

Words by Ethan Manera (he/him) and Francesca Pietkiewicz (they/she)

How to Survive the Renting Rat Race

Words by Maia Ingoe (she/her) and Zoë Mills (they/she)

It’s that time of year again: hordes of freshers perform the annual ritual of scurrying to find a flat before the next academic year begins. The difficulty to even be offered a flat as a first-time renter has forced our news intern to accept a flat in the ditch of Devon Street in Aro Valley (pray for him).

To save you from the same fate, we’ve put together our top tips on finding a flat. Hit up the VUWSA Advocates, Brie Keatley and Erica Schouten (advocate@vuwsa. org.nz), for more free advice and support.

Make a flat CV

Just like for a job application, put together a CV showcasing your flatting group. Print it out and bring it with you to viewings—it’s a sure way to prove you are interested, organised, and memorable. A good flat CV should have photos of everyone—not your drunk pics from Shady Lady though, thanks. Include your current occupation (Student or working? Full time or part time?) as well as any renting history. Include a phone number for references from the halls, as well as a character reference and employment reference. Property managed tenancies will likely need you to fill this info out on an online form, so it’s a good idea to have it organised before applying.

Facebook is your ally

Act like a boomer and spend all your spare scrolling minutes on Facebook. TradeMe is good, but Facebook is where the most rentals are. Most flats will fill up all their viewing slots within minutes of being posted, so get in quick. Comment that you’ve messaged, so you don’t get lost in requests.

Pin these groups to the top of your feed so that you don’t miss a post: Wellington - Rooms/Flats/Apartments/ Flatmates, Flats and Rooms for Rent Wellington NZ, Flats & Flatmates - Wellington, Wellington Flatmates & Rentals, Flatmates Wanted Wellington, and of course, Vic Deals. There’s Facebook groups for all your specific needs, such as Wellington Pet Friendly Rentals, or Queer Housing Network NZ - Wellington.

To view or not to view

Viewings are make or break for the landlord, and for you. Show up early and have as many people from your flat group present as possible. Bring your flat CV as well as lots of questions. Now is the time to grill your prospective landlord. Does the property meet the Healthy Home Standards? What was the most recent maintenance issue? Does the property have a significant history of mould? Is the property expected to have a rent increase within the next year? Scan the ceilings and window frames for any mould, as well as checking that all the windows open. Be clear about your group’s available move in date, and show up organised—it’ll make a good impression, and will help you appear ~responsible~. Landlords are notoriously tough on student tenants, but don’t be afraid to ask questions. You’re paying their mortgage, after all.

Don’t flat with your nine besties

Yes, we know you don't want to cause tension in your hall friend group, but trust us, don't do it. Not only will you have to subject yourself to an ungodly cleaning roster, but having a huge group will limit your ability to find a flat that meets everyone’s needs. Instead, choose a smaller group with similar lifestyle, location, and financial limits. Figure out what is most important to you and go from there. Do you need a carpark? How far from work can you be? Is it wheelchair friendly? Choosing a flatting group is a time where you're allowed to be selfish! Be picky and be upfront with your flatties about your expectations before you even start the hunt. Sometimes, it’s easier to just join a pre-established flat on your own. I know it seems scary, but take it as a chance to expand your social circle and find a place that’s catered specifically to your needs.

OPINION : Not Keen on Either Chris? That’s Fine, You Still Have Options

Words by Zoë Mills (they/she)

Whether you're a politics nerd like me, or someone who can't stand it, I think we can all agree that this election has been one of the most dry, bland, and uninspiring contests of recent years.

We’ve got a choice between Chris and Chris for PM; one with hair, and one with considerably less hair; a seasoned politician and a seasoned businessman. The same lines are recited and the same pandering becomes easy to see through. ‘Does it really matter which Chris gets my vote?’ I pondered after the leaders’ debate last week. Chris with hair had some good points, but Chris with no hair also managed to get in some zingers.

Not to mention the looming dread of climate change, the cost of living, the struggling health sector, the housing crisis… I totally understand if you’re feeling unmotivated to cast a ballot. But this is also exactly why I’m voting, and why I urge you to do the same.

Our MMP electoral system means that every single vote— particularly minor party votes—matter, especially in terms of forming coalition governments. Although it’s a common misconception, a vote for a minor party isn’t a wasted vote!

The presence of minor parties in government can influence major parties to focus on specific policy issues that might otherwise go ignored.

While I'm not out here telling you that a minor party vote is the only vote, I am telling you that it’s totally normal to not feel fully aligned with the major parties, and that you do have other options besides the Chrises.

Voter turnout amongst 18-24-year-olds is the lowest out of all age groups, with only 78.02% of young people in the age group actually turning up to vote in the last general election. In comparison, 89.14% of 65-69-year-olds voted, as did 86.82% of people over 70. Your landlord will vote. So will your boss, and so will your parents. Why is their vote any more important than yours?

While no political party is perfect, the only way to guarantee a government that represents all of us equitably and fairly is by casting a ballot for the people that you believe best represent you and what you care about.

There’s no time like the present to exercise your democratic right. Go vote!

HOT TAKES

What are you nostalgic for?

Jemima (she/her)

Helena (she/her)

Climbing trees. I haven't climbed a tree in probably like seven years and that is something I used to do all the time as a kid.

Finley (he/him)

Running around in bare feet and not thinking twice about it, and that being a big aspect of feeling free.

Charlotte (she/her)

When I used to have a pet sheep, I would feed them milk and then I’d sit on the grass and my dad would bring me crackers with plastic cheese on top and a little thing of tomato sauce.

Those Total Girl magazines that you used to get at the supermarket with the little makeup in the front of them, I used to love those.

HEADLINE

Debate Debacle: Chris and Chris Scrap over South Island Debate

After Labour leader Chris Hipkins was forced to isolate with Covid-19 on 1 October, the future of The Press leaders debate, previously scheduled for last Tuesday in Christchurch, was thrown into obscurity. Subsequently, National leader Christopher Luxon pulled out of the debate due to an inability to reschedule. Labour candidates hopped on the offensive, with Grant Robertson claiming that Luxon was “running scared”, and Deborah Russell posting an edited image of Luxon in a chicken suit. Luxon hit back with a statement saying that he was “extremely disappointed” to see Labour making “false claims”. In either an unrelated post, or one which makes him the only candidate to endorse cannibalism, Luxon also uploaded an image of him eating some KFC with the caption “#Chicken”. Alternatives were proposed, including the party deputies going head to head, but a new minor party debate was eventually settled on, featuring the Greens, ACT, Te Pāti Māori, and NZ First.

The Press leaders’ debate will be held on Tuesday, 10 October at 7 p.m.

“The National Party’s On Fire”— Local Candidate Shows Off Pyrotechnic Skills

The National Party’s Wellington Central candidate, Scott Sheeran, has shown off his fire poi skills in a video uploaded to Instagram. The video features Sheeran on the waterfront telling his followers that voting has opened and claiming, suavely, “the National Party’s on fire”. The camera zooms out to show Sheeran fire spinning with (genuinely) a lot of elegance and flare, while wearing his trademark blue dad sneakers. However, the video was temporarily removed from the candidate’s profile. Sheeran told the Herald that this was due to confusion over the licensing rights to the video’s background music. He went on to say that he first tried fire spinning

“at a beach bar on a little island off Cambodia”, though he does not practise regularly. The video has since been re-uploaded to Sheeran’s Instagram.

No ‘I Voted’ Stickers at Polling Booths This Year

Bad news for nerds everywhere: your visit to the voting booth this year won’t come with a sticker featuring everyone’s favourite orange voting guy. In 2020, due to Covid-19, the Electoral Commission made the decision not to provide ‘I Voted’ stickers, with every voter instead walking away with a pen. This year, the Commission took to social media to explain that it would no longer be providing stickers at future elections. The decision was largely based on decreased demand, with “fewer people wanting stickers after they’ve voted”, the Commission said. In response to fierce criticism on social media, the Electoral Commission has indicated that they will review this stance post-election along with the rest of their voting processes. They have also said that there’s nothing stopping people from making their own stickers… so get crafting!

Definitely Not Cocaine Pictured on Broken Ranfurly Shield Following Hawke’s Bay Win

The Hawke’s Bay Magpies’ 20-18 Ranfurly Shield win over the Wellington Lions has been overshadowed by an incident at the team’s post-match celebrations. An image with the caption “fuck we broke the ranfurly”, shows the shield snapped in half with some sort of suspicious white powder smeared on it. The team have amassed criticism for this, with further frustration towards one player who was charged for driving with excess breath alcohol. The nation’s top wood experts, however, have weighed in on the issue, with the craftsman behind this version of the shield telling Newshub that the powder is probably plaster. New Zealand Rugby have repossessed the shield and launched an inquiry into the event.

TOP TUNES OF ‘23: JULY & ONWARDS

TOP TUNES OF & ONWARDS

THE GROOVE GARDEN GARDEN

Words by Xavier Farrow-Francis (he/she/they)

1. BB/ANG3L by Tinashe

Since splitting from her major label and going independent in 2019, Tinashe has been on a creative stream upward, sounding more liberated as an artist and fresher with each album. BB/ANG3L is an all-time high for her, as she fuses sensual R&B with sleek and futuristic dance beats. Throughout her career, Tinashe has proven time and time again to push boundaries and experiment with her sound, but on this album it culminates in her glossiest, most cohesive, and most addictive project to date.

Listen if you like: KAYTRANADA, Shygirl, Disclosure

Genres: alternative R&B, UK garage, UK bass

2. My Back Was a Bridge For You to Cross by ANOHNI and the Johnsons

ANOHNI has always been an incredibly powerful voice in art pop, constantly using her music to advocate for the earth, for queer identity, and for love. On her latest offering, she delivers one of the most emotionally affecting albums of this year. While her lyrics have always been stirring, she writes and sings with such potency as she croons about life, death, grief, and humanity, with soulful and rocky instrumentation as her accompaniment. Delicate, confronting, stunning, and heart-wrenching all at once, My Back Was a Bridge For You to Cross is a masterclass in conjuring emotional responses in the listener, and there isn’t anything that makes this strong of an impression from 2023.

Listen if you like: Nina Simone, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey Genres: soul, singer-songwriter, chamber pop, art rock

3. softscars by yeule

An album like this one is really fascinating, because despite its penchant for technological sci-fi and fantasy themes, it's still in tune with the struggles of depression and connection in the hyperdigital age. It’s a crackly and frenetic, but fragile, glitch rock record. Even when considering its depressive nature, it sweetly encapsulates the distance you feel while trying to love yourself and the people around you. The glitchy pop aesthetics that permeated yeule’s former work are still present here, but they work together with a hazy shoegaze soundscape. They coalesce to create a body of work that feels like it was made not only for us, but for people thousands of years down the line, struggling with being alive in their cybernetic life. yeule provides an experienced and loving shoulder to cry on in softscars, and it’s uniquely touching.

Listen if you like: Wolf Alice, Grimes, Charli XCX, Beach House Genres: shoegaze, indie rock, glitch pop

4. Disenchanter by Alaska Reid

If you’re a sucker for songs that tell stories, Alaska Reid’s Disenchanter is the album for you. Listening through the album, Reid conjures up recollections of road trips through an icy, wintery North America with her country-tinged and synth-inflected style of indie pop rock, and ruminative, introspective coming of age lyrics about a melancholy life. It makes for a magically windswept listening experience, not dissimilar to reading a book of essays written by a woman who wishes for better.

Listen if you like: Big Thief, oklou, Sky Ferreira, Magdalena Bay. Genres: indie pop, singer-songwriter, Americana, alt-country.

5. SUPERNOVA by Ralphie Choo

Oozing creativity and packed to the brim with sonic surprises, SUPERNOVA is unlike anything I’ve heard. Taking clear inspiration from the modern classics—think Frank, Kanye, Travis—Ralphie Choo morphs so many sounds into one package, leaving your jaw agape for much of its run time. Sometimes luscious R&B cuts, sometimes raging dembow bangers, it’s a wickedly cheeky debut record made all the more impressive when considering he made it almost entirely himself. Ralphie Choo is certainly going to be an artist to watch over the coming years.

Listen if you like: Frank Ocean, BROCKHAMPTON, ROSALÍA Genres: neoperreo, glitch pop, experimental hip hop, Latin electronic

OTHER AWESOME RELEASES

OUT NOW OR SOON

Obviously, there’s tons of stuff that’s really great out now (or about to be) that I just didn’t have the space to go in depth about, but still want to point your attention towards. I’m super excited about these releases, and this is my last opportunity to get you to listen to them, so here they are!

I’VE LISTENED + OUT NOW:

Playing Robots Into Heaven by James Blake

Listen if you like: Four Tet, Burial, Jai Paul, SBTRKT

Genres: future garage, dubstep, UK bass

Get Up by NewJeans

Listen if you like: K-pop girl groups, Troye Sivan, PinkPantheress

Genres: K-pop, UK garage, R&B

Ooh Rap I Ya by George Clanton

Listen if you like: Tame Impala, Moby, Blank Banshee, ~vaporwave~ Genres: chillwave, trip hop, neo-psychedelia

Sorry I Haven’t Called by Vagabon

Listen if you like: Billie Eilish, Jessie Ware, King Princess Genres: alt-pop, R&B, indie pop

Powders by Eartheater

Listen if you like: Yves Tumor, Caroline Polachek, Arca Genres: art pop, trip hop, psychedelic folk

HAVEN’T LISTENED + UPCOMING:

Ambrosia by Namasenda (out now!)

Genres: alternative R&B, dance FEVER DREAM by COUCOU CHLOE (out now!)

Genres: hip house, freak trap

Perfect Picture by Hannah Diamond (out now!)

Genres: electropop, futurepop

Javelin by Sufjan Stevens (out now!)

Genres: chamber folk, indie folk

Something To Give Each

Other by Troye Sivan (this Friday!)

Genres: dance-pop, electropop

SAVED! by Reverend

Kristin Michael Hayter (20 October)

Genres: appalachian folk, avant-gospel

Lahai by Sampha (20 October)

Genres: alternative R&B, neo-soul

Nekkuja by Marina

Herlop (27 October)

Genres: avant-folk, glitch pop

1989 (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift (27 October)

Genres: Taylor Fucking Swift!!!!!

Sweet Justice by Tkay Maidza (3 November)

Genres: pop rap, experimental hip-hop

3 easy steps for a chance to win $3k.

Register

Meet with a MAS Adviser

You’re in the draw

Graduates of 2023, we want to celebrate you with a $3k giveaway. Register now, meet with check, then you’re in the draw!

Register at mas.co.nz/grad2023

MAS is proud to be supporting NZMSA, including publication of this guide

LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT STUDY BUDDY?

THE CHILDREN YE a RN FOR THE MINES

Confessing to my Minecraft YouTuber Past

Words by Phoebe Robertson (she/her)

CW: Sexual Harrassment.

ah, nostalgia—that bittersweet sensation that tugs at our heartstrings and transports us back to simpler times. When I first heard the theme for this week’s Salient, I knew exactly what I needed to share, but I couldn't help hesitating. Was I ready to confess my most significant, darkest secret? It's something so cringe-worthy that I've kept it buried deep within me for years; a secret so well-concealed that even my onagain, off-again partner of three years might not know it. But today, I'm taking the plunge and revealing all.

Brace yourselves. In high school, I was a Minecraft YouTuber. You read that right. The cringe factor is now officially off the charts. I can already sense the eye rolls and hear the keyboards clicking away, composing emails to Maia and Fran, suggesting they disown me for admitting that I was once a part of the unsavoury Minecraft YouTube phenomenon. It's the truth, and I'm here to face it.

Let's dive into this pixelated rabbit hole together, shall we?

Here's a fun fact about me: at the tender age of 8, I visited a friend's house and sat down at their office computer. Little did I know that this moment would change the course of my life forever. It was my first encounter with Minecraft, a game that would become my obsession. Over the next year, I embarked on a mission that involved saving every cent of pocket money, working at my dad's café, and maybe "borrowing" a few $2 coins from my parents' spare change jar. All of this was in pursuit of one goal: owning my own computer to play Minecraft

Here's another tidbit for you: PewDiePie, the longrunning king of YouTube, kicked off his epic journey with a Minecraft Let's Play video titled ‘Minecraft Multiplayer Fun’ back on 2 October 2010. That's right, even the biggest YouTuber of them all had a Minecraft phase.

As the years rolled on, Minecraft's popularity skyrocketed. A new breed of content creators emerged on YouTube, including SkyDoesMinecraft, Syndicate, Tobuscus, and many more. My personal favourites were The Yogscast: the trailblazers who introduced mods and custom maps into their gameplay. When I wasn't busy saving for my own computer, I was glued to the screen, watching these Minecraft Let's Plays with my two brothers, our eyes wide with wonder.

The Yogscast were founded in 2011. Lewis Brindley, known as ‘Xephos’, and Simon Lane, known as ’Honeydew’, collaborated to create content and expand their network. One of their most enduring contributions was the ‘Jingle Jams’: a series of livestreams held every December to raise money for charity. It all began when fans sent them presents during the Christmas season, only for Brindley and Lane to insist that the money be donated to charity instead. Fast forward to today, and the Jingle Jams have become the world's biggest charity gaming event, raising over £25 million since 2011.

Then came 2012: the year I finally acquired my very own laptop. It was also the era of Minecraft parody songs, which became an internet sensation. I remember playing Wii Sports Resort with my little brother, our laughter filling the room as we listened to The Yogscast's parody of the 1992 hit song ‘What's Up?’ by 4 Non Blondes, aptly renamed ‘HONEYDEWYEAYEA’. Lines like “And so I dig sometimes / For some coal and stone / And I think to myself / I'm all alone" had us in stitches. After writing this article, that song was stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

The golden age of Minecraft, spanning from 2013-2015, was a whirlwind. It was a time when Minecraft Hunger Games took the world by storm, laying the foundation for the battle royale genre that Fortnite would later conquer. Parody songs continued to captivate us, and my brother, ever the mischief-maker, decided to become a Minecraft troll, detonating my precious base on our shared server. The fallout? A two-week ban from the game was imposed by our exasperated parents.

But as they say, what goes up must come down. In 2016, the Minecraft community faced a dark turn. YouTuber LionMaker faced allegations of inappropriate behaviour with underage girls alongside YouTubers Tobuscus, The Yogscast’s Sjin, and SkyDoesMinecraft. Popular drama YouTuber Keemstar claimed that the

"Minecraft community is getting a reputation for being a safe place for paedophiles", tarnishing the credibility of Minecraft YouTubers. Basherverse, another prominent Minecraft YouTuber at the time, began creating inappropriate content with explicit thumbnails and public meltdowns on his own channel. I vividly recall watching these videos as a 14-year-old, unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation unfolding before my eyes.

From 2017-2018, it seemed like the Minecraft era was drawing to a close. Interest waned as content creators shifted their focus to new horizons like Fortnite, which burst onto the scene in 2017. TikTok emerged in 2016, and YouTube started to feature shorter content, further reshaping the digital landscape. More importantly, the kids who once eagerly consumed Minecraft content had grown up, leaving behind the blocky world that had defined their childhoods.

So there you have it: my journey through the highs and lows of high school football—I mean Minecraft from the early days of discovery, to the glory years and the eventual decline. It's a testament to how a simple game can shape our lives, craft lasting memories, and even lead to some cringe-worthy YouTube adventures. Minecraft may have faded from the limelight, but the nostalgia it brings remains as vivid as ever, reminding us of a time when our biggest concern was crafting the perfect pixelated world.

If you want to find me, I’ll be relieving the nostalgia of a simpler time, crafting my world in blocks on my

I’m Considering Time Travelling Back to the 2010s

Words by Francesca Pietkiewicz (they/she)

CW: Disordered Eating.

000s nostalgiacore is all over my FYP. Softgrunge 2014 Tumblr is resurfacing. I’m going on Sylvanian shopping trips. It feels like my brain has been wired back to the past.

For the first time since I was 16, I’m off birth control. Maybe this #tbthursday is more like a freaky friday with my teenage self.

The 2010s were my teens. Like any bullied-child-turnedawkward-teen, I was chronically online. I was a Youtube and Vine obsessed tween who reblogged Nike Free Runs, Starbucks drinks we didn’t have in Aotearoa, and read The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I leaned far into anime obsessions and became an Animal Crossing playing, budget Lolita weeaboo. A couple of months into being 14, I flipped the switch, declaring all my past selves as undeniably cringe, and dived into my Van Gogh, sock-wearing, mustardyellow-Kanken-bag-obsessed, art-hoe era. Not forgetting a tiny K-pop phase in between, once I was 15, I reset back to indie-alty Tumblr and Mac DeMarco, and masked a lack of self confidence with music pretentiousness.

I never thought my mid-teens, riddled with insecurity, would seem so sparkly rose-tinted in reminiscence. But living in 2023 has got me there. A part of me wishes I was 15 and awkward again: a time before balancing rent, work, and personal life. It was an era that I described in my diary as

being “wasted” because I hadn’t been in a relationship yet and I wasn’t going to enough parties. I’ve dyed my hair back to the colour it was when I first dyed it. I’m listening to almost exclusively Midwestern emo and indie angsty grooves. Believe it or not, I’ve even made a new Tumblr account. Why does taking an Alice in Wonderland-type-edible to transport me back to my teens seem so tasty right now?

Humans often experience nostalgia in times of solitude or transition, and I’m experiencing both. I’m burnt-out to a crisp, trying to stay sane and apply for my Master’s while finishing up my editorship.

It’s not just me. The 2020s are a wack time to be in your 20s—it’s no wonder Gen Z is ready to get jiggy with our cringe cinnamon-challenge past all over again. We’ve experienced technology costing us jobs, a climate crisis, and a global pandemic. Here in Aotearoa, we’re in a housing crisis and a $7 cucumber isn’t unheard of. Our lifetimes have been fraught with social change.

“I think it’s no secret that the younger generations, and Gen-Z much more so than my own, have been asked to bear the burdens of change much more so than previous ones,” says School of Languages and Culture Lecturer Charles Rice-Davis. It makes sense we’d be wanting to grasp onto memories of a seemingly simpler time.

Let’s hop on every 2000s kid’s favourite form of public transport—The Magic School Bus—and learn a little bit about the origins of ‘nostalgia’. Nostalgia first became a “widespread concern” around the French Revolution. “[The 17th century was a time of] tremendous social change and upheaval. […] There were recognised epidemic outbreaks of nostalgia. This also was the point where people start to talk about a ‘nostalgia’, not just for a place, but a time—for a world that no longer exists, […] [for] familiar surroundings or a yearning for a past that was a simpler, more secure time,” Charles says.

When we think of nostalgia, we think of youth, particularly coming of age: the initial independence we experience in our teens and 20s. Charles informed me nostalgia was first coined in 1688 by a 19-year-old university student named Johannes Hofer. The word ‘nostalgia’ is derived from the Greek words notos, or homesickness and algos: pain.

“The English phrase ‘homesickness’ had to be invented to translate ‘nostalgia’,” Charles told me. Johannes’ studies examined young, Swiss, working immigrants, and categorised their depressive symptoms—like not being able to “get out of bed”—as nostalgia, which was then considered to be a mental disorder. “Today, we might call them homesick or depressed, but those words hadn’t been invented yet, and doctors weren’t sure if anyone could get this disease, or just Swiss, [but] nostalgia was considered extremely serious, deadly even,” Charles says.

In her article ‘I re-read my teenage diaries hoping for a dose of nostalgia—instead I was horrified’, published in The Guardian, Amelia Tait speaks to the misleading sparkle of coming of age films. “I love to see the magic of girlhood represented in coming-of-age movies such as Lady Bird but [when] I look back at my own adolescent self and see a floundering fish who hurt and was hurt, with little meaning or beauty,” Amelia writes.

Nostalgia has a deceptive lure. Often, we only connect with our memories at surface value. We can get lost in the past and edit out the pain. “My piece didn’t really make me feel nostalgic for being a teenager itself, but more for things like MSN. I suppose I felt a little nostalgic for that teenage excitement of fancying people, but then the diaries were so raw that I could see that overall none of it was especially pleasant. I cried to read my old pain—I didn’t expect to, but I sobbed and sobbed when I got to my eating disorder passages,” Amelia says.

I relate to Amelia’s experience—I’m nostalgic for the innocence and the simplicity of high school life. I miss knowing dinner would be cooked for me, and not worrying about the price of cereal. When I listen to my 2016 Top Songs playlist, I block out the fact that was the year I swapped out meals for iced Americanos.

Nostalgia

The uncanny thing about the Gen Z nostalgic experience is the way the digital age shaped our upbringings. I’ve often described my Instagram as a curated scrapbook. Amelia shared a similar view. “I like to scroll back through my Instagram because it feels like a catalogue of my life,” she says. With computers, phones, social media accounts, and chat history, we can keep time capsules and review how we grew up. Since I was about 6, I’ve kept an inconsistent physical diary, but my childhood imagery is captured on Windows Movie Maker and iMovie. I have Photo Booth compilations from my teens, filled with content of me studying, crying, or hanging out with friends. Watching them feels like I’ve rented a time machine.

For Pōneke author Joy Holley, the sense of anticipatory nostalgia, or being “aware of creating a memory”, was an inspiration for her book of short stories, Dream Girl "Gen Z and late millennials feel this anticipatory nostalgia when we take photos or make playlists. My friends and I have got really into voice messages over the past year, and I think they will be the most insane thing to listen back on in the future,” she says.

I think the 2000s were the perfect time to be a child. Everything was plastic, glossy, and glittery. We were in the first digital age, exploring everything artificial from the unsettling animation in kids’ TV to the highly sweetened and hyper coloured kids’ food. I feel blessed to have experienced the original, sickly sweet, teeth pulling fruit roll ups before they were banned here. I love that Y2K styles are still popular

and that my favourite childhood toy Littlest Pet Shop has popped up on my social media in the form of an affirmation post.

In a time where Gen Z is independent and has a smidgen of their own money, capitalism is profiting off our urge to escape into the secure aspects of our youth. “This isn’t nostalgic escapism—it’s nostalgic capitalism. Companies are trying to pretend they can sell us a feeling; they can’t. If you buy a Sylvanian now, it’s not going to feel the same. […] I think nostalgia is best when it is internal, and the rise of nostalgic movies, trends, and products does worry me. We need to look forward as a society!” Amelia says.

I think that letting our past selves take charge of our wallet to honour self care is sometimes okay. Well, at least VUW Professor of Psychology Karen Salmon reassured me it was. “I can see how that if it was done with an attitude of ‘things were a bit tough with me, for me when I was a child, but now I'm thinking about how I can live my best life’ […] it sounds like quite a positive thing if it was done with a view to the person caring for themselves,” she says.

Since I entered my 20s, I’ve been nicer to myself about embracing things that in my late teens I deemed childish. I have a row of plushies on my bed and I’m currently re-watching Adventure Time I’ve embraced my neurodivergence and bought fidget toys. I feel like my inner child is smiling.

We have to make the call for ourselves, and know we’re allowed to soothe our inner children. Charles reiterates this, “I think nostalgic artifacts which can provide reminders of simpler times can be soothing for all of us, can give us that general sense of feeling ‘at home’. For a generation that uniquely lacks these basic forms of security, it makes sense that there might be a greater demand for that secure feeling.”

We need to acknowledge that when we’re nostalgic, we don’t actually want to go back to the past: we are just looking for comfort. Our inner children are overwhelmed by the unforeseen crises that our generation is bearing.

Karen says looking back in a positive way can help with “developing resourcefulness”. Our generation, unlike any before us, needs resourcefulness and safe distance to consider the challenges we face in the future. We need to remember that we’re capable, and creating a good relationship with our past selves is one way to do this.

For now, I’m stepping off this magic school bus to find my Littlest Pet Shop collection and journal about how little it helped get me where I am today. Maybe it’ll help with my confidence for writing my Master’s application, maybe it will just be a bit of fun.

Words by Kiran Patel (he/they)

“Oi, James’ party is gonna be LIT!”

“Fam, what time should we head to Estab tonight?”

It’s only morning, but the restlessness for Friday night is hanging in the air.

“So baby, pull me closer

In the back seat of your Rover

That I know you can’t afford Bite that tattoo on your shoulder”

It’s the tenth time this week that I’ve heard this song, but I don’t mind. I’m suffering in the Vic Books queue with only five hours of sleep, patiently waiting for my flat white (cow’s milk) in a takeaway cup while pondering whether Harambe truly deserved to be shot. The First Year Panic™ effuses amongst us all, each person avoiding eye contact in fear of being perceived.

I grab my coffee and plug my wired earphones back in, ensuring they’re securely looped under my shirt in case of an accidental and fatally embarrassing door handle catch. Racing past The (OG) LAB with minutes to spare before my lecture starts, I tactically weave in between the crowd of skinny jeans, denim jackets, and man buns that fill up campus. Snippets of conversations float past me in a haze:

I slip into KK203, and, as per usual, my STAT193 lecture has already started. My acne-filled cheeks bubble up with a heat that’s all too familiar, and I’m awkwardly scrambling for a seat among the sea of two hundred other Arts majors. Head empty, no thoughts, I yank my damp notebook from my satchel bag that’s also empty, lacking the reading notes I should have done. But even with $10,000 of student debt on my shoulders, my English Literature degree has never been the main priority at uni. I’m already sending Snapchats of my sweaty face to my Top 3 Best Friends, catching up on Harambe memes in the group chat, and deducing whether anyone has secured a booth for the day.

Tapping my pen aimlessly on the notebook that’ll remain blank for the rest of class, I daydream my way through the entire lecture with the possibilities of this weekend. The climate crisis and Trump’s presidency seem too far away to even think about. The only thing I’m worried about is which Hallensteins flannel shirt I’m wearing to Rowan’s party tonight.

For Jia, a freshly 18 first-year VUW student, her uni day usually follows a similar routine.

“It starts with coffee, which helps with the right-of-passage walk up to the Kelburn campus. Then I go to classes, procrastinate, study back at my hall, procrastinate some more, and then head into town for my part-time job. It’s pretty basic.”

As a Writing Intern at Salient and short film creator, she hopes her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts conjoint will lead to a stable career.

“I’ve always known I wanted to pursue a career in the creative arts, but Law is helpful in giving me skills I’ll probably need in the future. There’s a lot of instability in the arts industry, and it’s a big fear of mine. I definitely want to do something that allows me to be creative, but I also want to have a sense of stability.”

Unlike the 30-second studying montages and raging parties she has seen in her favourite coming of age films, starting university came with the realisation that she’d need to strike a healthy balance between her academic and career pursuits, her part-time job, and having a social life.

“The psychological adjustment from high school to being entirely self-managed was pretty difficult at first, so I definitely had to set aside my expectations of what the university experience would be like. I’m learning to embrace the less fun side of things, like the 2 a.m. Red Bull study sessions, but also try to work in fun things around that.”

Now, sliding into the booth with a comfortable familiarity, I get caught up on the latest goss.

“Did you see that Instagram just introduced a stories thing like Snapchat?”

“Guys, I really don’t wanna go out with this whole clown epidemic going on!”

Like everyone’s favourite passenger princess, or booth bohemith if you will, I love to just sit there and take it all in; the drama, the gossip, the romantic developments in my friends’ lives that feel life-altering in the moment. It’s like I’m experiencing it all from far away, but not in a bad way. There's a vague sense of anticipatory nostalgia bubbling up inside of me, and I have this desperate need to capture these moments, these feelings, our youth, and bottle it for safekeeping.

Five hours later, our laptops idly sitting open and pens yet to be used, the plan for tonight has been cemented. We’ll head to the McDonald’s at Readings for a bit, catch the train back to Hannah’s for pres, and then head to Rowan’s Drummond street flat when we’re all the right amount of tipsy. That same rush of possibility bubbles up again. I link arms with my friend Terena and the seven of us march down Kelburn hill, the cold September sun just beginning to set.

With none of the foresight that Jia has, after class I saunter to the booths on level 2 of the library to “study” with my friends. Ah, the booths. Those nasty, squeaky, mould-coloured seats covered with stains I have no wish to identify. The booths still give me the same rush as when Priyal, formerly a friend-of-a-friend and now best friend, first asked if I wanted to come and study with her group a few months ago. As an awkward introvert in high school, it felt like someone had offered me the winning Lotto ticket. That one question sparked the possibility that finally I might just get to live out the coming of age montage I had always dreamed of having. But of course, I had to play it cool. “Yeah, sure, whatever,” I said nonchalantly, my entire body already humming the tune to ‘Sweet Resistance’ as we headed over to the booths. My life changed forever.

As one of the only people that came from her school in Auckland to VUW, the halls have become the centrepoint of Jia’s life at university. “I came in knowing absolutely no one. I met my friends at my hall on the first day, and my whole floor has become such a community. I can’t compare it to anywhere else.”

Given the structured and close-knit environment, the halls played a big part in helping her find a close group of friends within a pretty short period of time. “I can’t believe we only met six months ago. I can’t imagine any other circumstance where you’d meet a bunch of people, become super close and be set on living with them for the next five years.” However, since then, her friendships have developed far beyond simply sharing the same space. “The forced proximity definitely helped in the first few weeks, but we’ve surpassed all that now.”

Beyond the halls, after a long week stuck in the trenches of their busy first-year lives, her friend group usually find themselves at the Oriental Bay boat sheds during the evenings. “The boatsheds have really defined the main experiences of our friend group. Before we all lived in Wellington, we used to see uni students all sitting on the boat sheds and thinking ‘that’s gonna be us one day’. And now it is us.”

I have that same feeling now, looking back at our reflection in the Ivy mirrors as we’re dragging our feet up the stairs. It’s 4 a.m. and everything’s finally closing, but we’ve all been secretly ready to get food for two hours. The four Smirnoff Ices that I downed while we sprinted for the train six hours ago only gave me a temporary sugar rush and stomach pains, and there was no chance I was spending $7 for a drink at the club. So, like any brave soldier deathly afraid of FOMO and the shame of tapping out early, I pushed the exhaustion down and forced myself to dance to ‘Sorry’ by Justin Bieber like it hadn't been playing for five clubs straight.

We walk 50 metres across the road to the Manners Street Burger King, mid-bitch about our de-facto group leader who we’ve finally figured out is a bit of a narcissist. As per usual, she went home a few hours earlier after saying that town was “d-buzz” and she “wasn’t feeling the vibes”, which we now realised was her covert way of making us feel bad if we were having fun and she wasn’t. But tonight was different. Instead of giving in like the people-pleasers we were, we all decided to stay out without her. And we’re glad we did.

Sitting down at an icky booth for the second time today, our conversations whiplash between how many McDonald’s Monopoly tickets we’ve collected and what life will be like when our parents die. The combination of our manic energy in this grungy Burger King is making me dizzy, and my mental camera tries to capture this exact moment. We eat soggy fries and take 5 a.m. Snapchat group selfies for clout, before finally rock-paper-scissorsing to see who orders the Uber back to Rowan’s.

For the first time, it feels like maybe we don’t need our group leader as the extroverted through line anymore. Maybe we’re actually pretty close on our own.

After returning to uni this year, I find myself looking back a lot more. Even having a narcissistic group leader was kind of great for the plot and our bond in retrospect.

Paradoxically, the more distant I get from 2016, the more vivid those memories of being a first-year are. I’ve always loved being the “remember when…” friend. But since being back on campus, the memories seem to haunt me now more than ever. Like when I go through level 2 of the library and gaze at the area where the booths no longer are, or see the once lively Reading Cinemas stand before me like a decrepit haunted house. I cling even more tightly to these memories, knowing that the physical spaces where they once belonged have long since evaporated.

And yet, somehow, I wish it could all be real again.

I miss the times when things felt complicated but were actually very simple; when the uncertainty was scary but filled with exciting possibilities for the future.

But after listening to Jia, I’m also realising that that’s okay. Perhaps these memories are so significant because they’re happening for the first time, when the puzzle of adulthood is new and shiny and you’re trying to piece it all together. Getting to do it with people you just met, who are also going through the same mindfuck of being independent for the first time, is a unique, onein-a-lifetime experience that can never be repeated.

While it’s easy to feel like I’m someone’s boomer post-graduate-grandpa that’s trying to get in with the kids on campus, I feel grateful for the life I’ve gotten to live beyond being in my first year of university. I’m grateful to see those friendships that I made way back then grow through the years into something even more precious now.

Jia feels that there’s a lot of weight put on being a first-year. Most people in her classes seem to have a “prodigy mindset”, and she feels pressure to be “as successful as possible when you’re young”. On top of that, the expectation for everyone to have a “memorable first year” often makes her debate “whether I’m doing something because I want to do it, or am I just doing it because I feel that I should?’”

She looks back at her high school days with a certain nostalgia, missing the times when “those assignments felt so important” and she could “make mistakes without life-changing consequences”.

However, she also feels like the current period of her life is pretty nostalgic too. Reminiscing on her year so far, she feels she’d had “pretty much all of my coming of age moments this year, rather than high school like I thought. When I think about the year that I’ve had the most life changing experiences, it would definitely be 2023.”

“It’s weird feeling nostalgic for the present. I’m already seeing these experiences as a montage in my brain with David Bowie playing in the background,” she says.

Maybe instead of constantly reminiscing about what my life was at age 18 , it’s time to start being more grateful for what my life is at 25 .

The Iconic , the C ringe , & the T imeless

Why We’re Still Talking About Alexa Chung’s It Ten Years After Its Release

Words by Barbara De La Peña Cuevas (she/her)

After many years living overseas, I finally landed in my teenage room for a few weeks to escape the burnout of my most sincere attempt at adulting and keeping myself together. To my delight, I was surrounded by my old book, CD, and movie collections. I dove deep into my bookshelves and found my hardcover, linen copy of Alexa Chung’s 2013 book The timing of this serendipitous find was perfect: I was fighting jet lag and drowning in homesickness, in the need for teenage nostalgia. I re-read the book in one sitting and it brought up all sorts of feelings.

Here are some of my reflections.

The question ‘What does being cool mean? takes us to a greater philosophical dimension than we imagine; a metaphysical exploration, even. This question holds everything but superficiality. a love letter to Wednesday Addams, French New Wave muse Anna Karina, Jane Birkin, and Chung’s grandfather Kwan, who she recalls being “a skinny Chinese man with serious style[; a] fashion legend”.

For me, It compiles the best and worst of the nostalgic early-2010s Tumblr era that, to this day still, shaped me and millions of other teens. The edgy corners of Tumblr in 2013 consisted of the ‘I was born in the wrong era’ groupies whose inclinations included indie icons such as The Neighborhood, Arctic Monkeys, and Lana del Rey. Our Tumblr feeds fawned over Courier New quotes from Lolita and American Apparel outfits that paired denim jackets with black pleated tennis skirts. This aesthetic was the thing that connected Chung to her readers. We all wanted to escape, grasp what felt timeless, and scream to the top of our lungs:

“I’m not like the other girls. I’m cool… Every night, I pray to Winona Ryder in Heathers!”

Like millions of other teenagers, I came across It via my Tumblr dashboard. I reblogged a few photos of its pink hardcover next to a bottle of blk. water before I got my hands on a copy. My mother got it for me on a business trip to California. I urged her to stop at Urban Outfitters to grab me a copy of It, alongside some Polaroid film (very Alexa of me). The goods came wrapped in an Urban Outfitters bright red felt bag that I opened at 7:50 a.m., before my 8:15 Monday class in year 12. Needless to say, I was late.

Part of the sensorial experience that comes with holding a copy of It is its visual and literary is a book that addresses everything and nothing at the same time. It’s a niche of Chung’s own, filled with snapshots of her youth; a curation of an ambiance of a stylisée that still captures the effortlessness of a woman on the go, tracing her way through the fashion and entertainment industry. Some of the book’s main motifs are photo booth picture strips with no context at all, point-and-shoot images, doodles that occupy one or two pages, and oversaturated photos of writing in the sand that read ‘fuck you’.

We can all agree it has become a silent yet collective effort to trace down affordable and functioning analogue cameras just to capture the trivial and the elevated, ultimately to post online. This is partially thanks to Chung’s continued relevance within today’s ‘cool’.

It’s embrace of 1960s nostalgic, candid, and analogue visual elements have returned in 2023, and have become the aspirational aesthetic, with current teens on TikTok favouring the ‘2014 Tumblr look’. Chung created such a timely text that brought something new to the table at the time: it spoke to the present, the past, and the future.

As is the case with all great pieces of art, It has its own controversy. I mean, who doesn’t love looking back to taste nostalgia through dumb politics? The book stands politically alongside the hegemonic beauty standards and gender politics of its time, as well as an ambivalence that swallows any opportunity to discuss more politically engaged topics such as gender, privilege, and race. There are parts of It that haven’t aged. It has a lack of awareness which makes it seem almost too naive.

Chung highlights and champions icons who look just like her: skinny, white (passing), and glamorised in the spotlight. There are accusations that Chung exacerbated the disordered eating ‘thinspiration’ pipeline that many teenage girls (including myself) looked up to. In the 2010s, Tumblr spoon-fed the ‘I must have a thigh gap’ era, making Chung a questionable source of inspiration for girls who did not fill the criteria.

The book hardly touches on the complexities that come with having, in her case, an Asian last name within a white-dominated industry, especially back in the early and mid-2010s. Chung could have utilised this space to give visibility to the lack of diversity, maybe even condemn it, or show empathy towards her peers with similar experiences (at the very least). Instead, she candidly mentions (as a side note in parenthesis) that her modelling card would hold her name minus the 'Chung' part, "so that clients could project whatever nationality they wanted onto my face.” This is a very subtle moment of enlightenment that she could have pushed even further, potentially questioning and exploring race issues. Instead, Chung describes the dinosaur t-shirt she wore endlessly during her modelling days while all the other models seemed to adhere to “the uniform of skinny jeans, skinny vest, skinny legs.” She chose to focus on being not like the other girls

While rhetoric in the 2020s derives from ever-evolving conversations concerning gender expression, diversity, and representation, Chung still embodies a voice that looks at gender from a traditional scope. The voice within It can’t seem to let go of the outdated gender constructions. There are some moments in the book that portray limited depictions of gender, as well as Chung’s relationship with her femininity and other women.

As the “self-proclaimed groupie” that she is, Chung admits to thinking that “Girl bands can dominate music, but only ever one at a time. That is the rule. Don’t try to change it.”

It’s interesting to note that this statement came right before the #MeToo movement. Back then, it might have slipped under the radar easier than if it was said now; a time where women’s presence and representation is a constant fight in all dimensions.

Another similar moment is when Chung reflects on hairstyles and their potential effect on men. “Boys say they don’t mind how you get your hair done. But then they leave you for someone with really great standard girl hair and the next thing you know you’re alone with a masculine crop crying into your granola.” The problem here is the allusion to this ‘standard girl’ hair she refers to. Today, we might ask who can possibly relate to this? What does a ‘standard girl’ even look like? Would nonwhite women fit into this? From previous evidence in the text, we can assume that no they wouldn’t; this ‘standard girl’ mould looks like Alexa Chung and fits into her Eurocentric beauty standards.

Despite its controversy and weaker moments, re-reading It made me wonder about myself and what types of things I have valued throughout my life. It as a body of text encourages readers to make a mental scrapbook collection of our very own lives. It shows us that ‘cool’ can be fluid (if you ignore things like the ‘standard girl’ mould that is).

‘Cool’ varies. It’s based on our own personal stories and inspirations. proves how works of art and literature can infuse us; how we somewhat become what we consume, and how we can broaden our scope as much as we desire. In this case, we become what we read and what we see, and consider how that makes us think, reflect, and inhabit our space in the world. We become a collection of art that we weave into our beings.

Halloween ere you

Words by Pippi Jean (she/her)

Halloween ere you

Chocolate Fake

Blood

This sort has more of a realistic bloody look. The cocoa powder makes the mixture a dark, gooey red. Meanwhile, the corn syrup base gives it a good thickness. A potential drawback is that its quite sticky.

you'll need:

✦ 2 tablespoons corn syrup

✦ 4 drops of red food colouring

✦ 1 teaspoon cocoa mix

Mix and chill to… serve? To use. To decorate!

non-sticky Fake Blood

washable Fake Blood

This one is a crowd fave in my first responders team because it’s easy to make, use, and clean up. The dishwashing liquid means that the red stains will be much easier to wash out from clothes.

you'll need:

✦ 2/3 parts dish

soap/detergent

✦ 4 drops red

food colouring

✦ 2 drops blue

food colouring

✦ 1 drop yellow

food colouring

Mix and test on a cloth or item of clothing for how well it washes out!

Most fake blood recipes on the internet will suggest you use corn syrup, but this stuff can get super sticky and uncomfortable to wear as part of a costume. Luckily, you can make your final product realistic-looking without using corn syrup.

you'll need:

✦ 1 cup of water

✦ 2 cups of powdered sugar

✦ 2 tablespoons red food colouring

✦ 1 tablespoon

✦ cocoa powder

First, blend your water and powdered sugar in a blender on low, or with a whisk. Then add red food colouring and blend in. Finally, add the cocoa powder and blend the mixture completely. This is another edible recipe, but it will also stain clothing, so watch out!

ODCASTS

A Year of Salient Podcasts

Words by Alex Marinkovich-Josey (he/him)

Is it possible to be nostalgic for something that isn’t quite over yet?

As our year at Salient comes to an end, I’d like to reflect on a year of hard work and celebrate some of the amazing podcasters that have been sharing their work all year.

There’s something about working in an environment that celebrates and encourages creative expression that I feel like will be hard to replicate again. I know this all sounds a bit ridiculous. I mean, how profound can working in a student podcasting studio be?

But I know that once you're reading this article in print, I’ll be looking back on this year and have a lot to smile about.

Podcasting alongside studying is a challenge. I should know, I did it! Unlike popular sentiment, it’s not as easy as just turning on some microphones and recording a conversation. There’s a long process of planning and fine-tuning a concept before trialling it and releasing it to the world. The podcasters at Salient took that challenge and, over this year, released some outstanding work that they should all be proud of.

Governmentality came aboard this year with a singular mission: tell people about the election. Now, countless interviews, policy breakdowns, and budget bashes later, they’ve produced an incredible amount of election coverage for students.

The Smooth Brain Society helped make exciting psychology research accessible, and even became the official science podcast of Europe’s Journal of Psychology!

FOR REAL? launched ‘THE FOR REAL SERIES’: a more serious deep dive that lets hosts Liv and Gabi get real about their own experiences and take the show in new directions.

Piña Colada Town brought us new conversations about our lovely city, including one of my favourites about the rating system that could take developments in Welly to the next level.

FRESHER, a new podcast about the university experience, hit the ground running with episodes about the struggle to make friends and how to ensure you’ll have a great night out.

Stranger at Home wrapped up its run with a four-part series that brought together conversations about citizenship, representation in digital spaces, and the intersections of personal and national identity.

The Salient Unedited Session platformed discussions about this very magazine and the wonderful people who bring it to life every week, as well as in-depth coverage of the staff cuts and conversations with politicians hoping to win the upcoming election.

Salient Podcasts isn’t going anywhere. All these podcasts are still available for your listening, and next year, there’ll be another year of student podcasting for you to enjoy. I hope you’ll tune in.

Over and out!

Alex

Dear Aunty Vic

I have been seeing this guy casually, we’ve hung out sober a couple of times and then asked him if he wanted to get dinner sometime that week. He said, “Oh yeah, maybe,” and then ghosted me. What the fuck. I’m mortified. I feel so fucking stupid, embarrassed, and rejected. How do you handle rejection?

.A.Qdrinking gin and tonics, eating almond croissants, and cooing over my 15-year-old walking corpse of a dog (Sizzles, ILY forever, you are a legend). The point is, even after being rejected, life goes on and there’s plenty to be grateful for. You are still the same gorgeous person you always were. They simply were not into you. I promise you this will not ruin you forever.

I’ll let you in on a little secret—every person on the planet has been rejected.

Whether it be from a job, a friendship group, a netball team, or by our fucking crush, it’s a universal experience; just a universal experience that, unfortunately, sucks.

For extra evidence, here’s my little rejection story. I had been friends with this guy for years, and we'd had our fair few romantic encounters: a couple of dates, and more recently, shared a memorable New Year's Eve together, complete with discussions about baby names and slow-dancing on the front lawn.

A week after that rom-com-esque New Year's Eve, I asked him if he wanted to grab a drink. He came up with a flimsy excuse to avoid meeting up *RED FLAG*. A few days later, I bumped into him at a festival. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to have a great time together, right? I mustered up the courage and asked if he wanted to hang out during the festival. His response, delivered directly to my face, was blunt and awkward, "Ugh... Nah, not really." I simultaneously wanted to hit him and flush myself down a festival portaloo.

To make matters more perplexing, a few weeks later, he attempted to message me as if nothing had ever happened, leaving me anxious, confused, and embarrassed. I had been rejected.

To be real with you, I could write a book listing all the times I’ve been rejected. No matter how many times I’ve been rejected, however, I’m still here: alive, with great friends around me, a roof over my head, buying expensive shoes I cannot afford, witnessing my grandma attempt to become an IG influencer,

Realistically, why the fuck would you want to be with someone who isn’t obssessed with you? Why would you want to be with someone who thinks it’s acceptable to ghost you? Why would you want to be with someone that thinks it's okay to string you along for years, reject you, and then pretend like nothing ever happened? The thing is, you don’t. The last person you need in your life is someone that thinks it’s okay to treat another person that badly.

Now, I am not saying that people who reject others are inherently shit people who should be burned at the stake. What I’m saying is that when you’re the rejected and not the rejecter, you need to take it seriously. It’s a big flashing sign that someone is not interested in entering your life, and therefore is not worth your time. Read the fucking sign and move on. You do not need someone in your life who does not want to be there.

I deal with rejection by being grateful for all the wonderful things that have not rejected me. Whether that be my dog, my Mum, my friends, my body. Remind yourself that you are an authentic, magnetic, and joyous person. It is a privilege to be in your life. If they are not wanting to be in your life— that is their loss. Let them leave.

“You are not a ‘maybe’. You are not a ‘not right now, but maybe one day’. You are worth fighting for. You are worth working for. You are not a ‘we’ll see’. You are a fuck yes. You are not meant to feel constantly anxious and confused about someone. You are meant to feel good and comfortable and secure. So whatever it is—lover, friend, person in your life—making you feel like a second thought or making you super anxious, let that shit go. There is someone out there so excited to make you feel like the first option.”

- Eli Rallo, TikTok Queen

KURU POUNAMU

Words by Ariana Wanoa (she/her/kuīni; Ngāti Porou)

As a kid, whenever I used to stay over at my mate’s house, my nan would send me over with a random bag of kai. A loaf of $1 bread, a can of spaghetti, tomato sauce, onions, chicken stock, or other random stuff from the pantry. I used to get hella embarrassed. Firstly, because no one else ever did this. Secondly, because it was like $7 worth of kai. And thirdly, because it was clear that we didn’t have much. I even shoved the bag into a bush once on the way. Little did I know then that Nan's bag of kai would now sit in the core of my understanding of Tikanga Māori.

My nan has always been home. Whether it's her swearing at the netball games or blasting the house down with The Chase, she has always been a comforting, constant presence. Our clean whare is a testament to the care and attention she pours into all aspects of our lives. The simple stability of a boiling jug, sunlight through the windows, and an impeccable home all carry a warmth that only she can provide.

As the generations roll through, I’ve noticed shifts in the fabric of our whānau, like my nieces and nephews calling my uncles ‘papa’ and aunties ‘nanny’.

I feel a solace when witnessing the echoes of my childhood reverberate through them, yet also a yearning for my own days where an older generation warmed our marae.

In her prime, my nan was a force to be reckoned with, a gun with anything to do with her hands. At a flick of the wrist, she was in mahi mode, conjuring up a feast fit for a marae full of people. She taught us the fruits of giving unconditionally. Harakeke would bend willingly into perfect threads in her touch. Not a single inch of fabric would escape her eyeballs, sewed and utilised with purpose and precision. All in all, she has probably knitted an overflowing closet full of cardigans, beanies, gloves, and boots for our newborns that she has welcomed warmly to this world.

Blessed with beautiful memories, wherever I am in the world, I feel her love stream out to me. My beautiful Grandma, my hands are yours every time I give. My mind is coloured by the shades of your kōrero. To feel beautiful, to feel golden, to feel treasured was first felt within your arms. I hope the later generations feel you through me as you are the greatest gift I’ve known.

StudyLink Approved Meal Steals

Words by Bianca Maria Schioler (she/her)

The glory about Mac’n’Cheese (other than the memories it conjures of movie nights at home and childhood greed-meals) is that you can make it as simple or as fancy as you like. You choose!

For mine, I like to add as many veggies as I can find in the fridge, because I prefer to make meals that are fast and simple yet still give my body all the nutrients and good stuff it needs. Whichever veggies you have going off in the fridge will probably work just fine with this recipe, but that being said, there's ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with just having a simple, classic Mac’n’Cheese and enjoying it on the couch while rewatching How I Met Your Mother for the third time.

Healthy(er) Mac’n’Cheese . You choose!

Makes 6-8 portions

Cost per portion: $2.16 - $4.42

Ingredients

• 500g macaroni, rigatoni, or penne pasta

• 50g butter

• 3 tablespoons flour

• 1L milk

• 1 cup grated edam cheese

• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

• 3 cloves of garlic (sliced)

• ½ head of broccoli

• 8-10 button mushrooms

• 2 large tomatoes (or you can use sundried tomatoes)

• Handful of breadcrumbs and grated parmesan to coat

• Salt and pepper

• (optional) nutmeg, chopped parsley

• (optional) 3 rashers of bacon

I know, it’s a long list of ingredients. This can 100% be adapted to whatever you have in the fridge and whatever your taste prefers—the only essential ingredients are the pasta and the sauce. These are prepared as follows:

Prep:

Begin by chopping up your veggies (and bacon if you’re using it) into less than 1 cm pieces. These need to be as small and measly as your student allowance. Put a large pot of salted water on the stove and bring it to boil. Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake.

Sauce:

While the water boils, get a saucepan at low heat and begin by melting your butter. Then stir in the flour with a whisk until you get a paste. At this point, add the sliced garlic and keep stirring for about a minute, then slowly whisk in the milk, a dash at a time. Bring it to the boil and don’t stop stirring or it will get stuck to the bottom. When it has boiled for 5 minutes, remove it from the heat and whisk in the edam and parmesan cheese. Taste it, and add additional salt, pepper and grated nutmeg to your liking (I‘d say about a teaspoon of each).

Pasta:

Hopefully by now your pasta water is boiling. Add the pasta and cook it for the time it says on the packet minus 6 minutes. It will keep cooking in the oven and the last thing we want is mac’n’mush. While it's cooking, chuck all your veggies (and bacon) on a pan and fry them up for a couple of minutes.

• When time is up, drain the pasta and pour it into a large, deep oven dish. Pour in the sauce and the veggies and mix everything up. Drizzle the top with breadcrumbs, a handful of grated parmesan and some chopped parsley if you’re feeling bougie.

• Cook the Mac’n’Cheese for 25 minutes. Give it a blast on the oven grill function for the last 5 minutes to get it golden and crispy on top.

Serve up a nice big, guilt-free portion, and enjoy the taste of childhood (except now you like, or at least respect, veggies).

senses of you

Words by Angie Johnson (she/her)

I savour your name on my tongue still My mouth salivates as I reminisce on the flavour of how it used to feel The way it would wrap flawlessly around the individual letters Like golden honey dripping down my throat

The taste is not as sweet as it once was There's the presence of a tartness Memories turned slightly sour

Your smell haunts me as the thought of an old friend would Sneaking up my nose releasing a deja vu ache

Let me roll around in your sheets like a child in long grass I want to walk home with a smile smacked to my face

Past the old church and the trees in cages

With you lingering off my neck once more

I've touched another body since yours

My fingers stuttered

Sparks of betrayal whistling in the tips

The landscape was different from the glorious terrain of your skin I would have travelled over you till my legs gave out and buckled beneath me

My final resting place in your embrace

I look for your perfect face in every crowd and down every street My eyes are becoming tired

Reruns of grey buildings and bland expressions

The world has lost its charm since you left me

Bruised on my bedroom floor

Can’t our eyes meet again through a coffee shop window? And dance like birds of paradise

The way you said my name still echoes through my head Leaving trails of clementine sweet kisses down my eardrums

The little gravel notes tickle my heartstrings

Like hearing a song for the first time And knowing you’re never going to grow tired of it

The inflections of your voice in the strawberry blush of the evening sky

Your habit of buying AliExpress novelty stationery is finally being seen for what it is: a cry for help. You won’t find the change you need in Totoro pens that run out after five minutes, or 100 sheets of ‘Kawaii Journaling Glitter Cat’ stickers.

Your friends don’t like the person you’re dating. No joke, all they do is talk shit when you leave the room. I’m sorry, but if all your mates don’t like them, that’s a red flag. Don’t settle.

I can feel your manipulation through the page. I’m honestly a little scared of you, Gemini. You’ve been dating someone who loves all things tarot or astrology, so you message them at 11:11 every day to trick them into thinking you’re the one.

Stop talking about how you’re gonna move out and just do it. We are all sick of the grand declarations that never go anywhere. Where is your follow through? If your flatmate sucks that bad, just move on…

Life is mundane as fuck right now. You miss when you were a kid who thought going to the supermarket was the most fun thing in the world, not a dreaded task that always ends in a declined card and groceries getting left behind.

I hope you haven’t come here looking for answers on why you’re still single, because I literally have none. Even the stars don’t understand. You are literally gorgeous and yet here you are sitting around on your own.

We just love it when our shitty, minimum wage job won’t give us time off! Even when we apply months in advance! This isn’t worth having a crisis over. Time to quit. Shitty low paying jobs aren’t hard to come by, especially for us students :’)

Why are there so many sneaky love manipulators in my horoscopes this week? Well, just you and Gemini, but still! Your approach to love is playing hard to get right now. You’ll take a few hours to reply and won’t view their stories. It’ll work.

Your ChatGPT essay got a B-. Not amazing, but perfectly serviceable. Well, I’m not sure what the uni expected from you. You work so much to afford your studies that you don’t even have the time to study.

You're so consumed with stress because you just don’t know what to do with your summer. Do you stay in Wellington or go back home? Gasp, you really have a tough choice. The world’s relying on you, Cap. Make us proud.

Stop trying to fit an aesthetic. Cottage-core, or Barbie-core, or whatever the fuck your Pinterest boards are filled with, just isn’t you. Not because I’m an advocate for originality, but because the stars have shown me your account balance.

Congrats. You’re the last horoscope I’m writing for the year. Number 240. What an achievement for you, I’m honestly so proud. Now go buy a cat for inner-wellbeing, or whatever it is I usually write for these things. After 240 horoscopes, I’m exhausted.

brain boozled

WORD OF THE WEEK: GOODBYE

NZ Sign Language

haere rā

SALIENT SURGEON

CONFESSIONS

TL;DR: check your fannies

I'm making out with a guy I don't know the name of. He asks if I wanna do it. I'm on my period, but he says he doesn't care. The next morning, my memory is patchy—I do vividly remember him saying "oh my God you're so tight". Come Monday morning, my period is unusually light, and my vagina is starting to smell abnormal. I do some digging on WebMD: I'm veering between chlamydia or gonorrhoea. A week later, my vagina smells FOUL. Panic mode sets in. I’m certain it's an STI. The nurse I speak to on Healthline says otherwise. Distracted at a friend’s party that weekend, I'm Googling my symptoms for the millionth time, unable to take my mind off my fanny. This time, Google suggests: you might have left a tampon in your vagina. I head into my friend's bathroom and lock the door. I rest my feet on a pack of toilet paper and let my fingers do the searching. And out comes a slimy, wet, grey tampon. It had been there a week. I guess that's why he said I was so tight?

ACROSS

1. Protector for a chocolate bar (7)

5. Seasoning that often doesn't have iodine in it (3,4)

9. Heartbeat and respiration, for example (the aliens are killed by water!) (5,2,4)

10. Electric guitar hookup (3)

11. New York newspaper co-founded by the author Norman Mailer (they're actually counselling patients in the present day!) (3,7,5)

13. Sticky notes (4-3)

14. Softer and kinder (7)

16. You might have it with your BFF (Samuel L. Jackson caused the train crash!) (11,4)

20. Big snake; drag queen's accessory (3)

21. Lil Nas X megahit (the beach is being used for pharmaceutical trials!) (3,4,4)

22. Tennis player Andy or Body Shop founder Anita (7)

23. Ghost; 2015 James Bond movie (7)

DOWN

1. "It ____ me!" (5)

2. Major African capital on the Mediterranean coast (7)

3. Chemical used to kill crop-eating insects (9)

4. Competitions in which you buy tickets to win gift baskets and the like (7)

5. Where kids get pushed a lot at the playground (5)

6. Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo (3)

7. 'Space Invaders' company (5)

8. TV show that used to be hosted by Clarkson, Hammond and May (3,4)

12. Punishment in retaliation for something (9)

13. Tradie who might use washers to fix washers (7)

14. Long-armed apes (7)

15. "Be careful!" (4,3)

17. Goatee or Balbo, for example (5)

18. Photography company with a famous yellow-and-red logo (5)

19. Evade; car company that makes the Viper (5)

21. Agreement in French (3)

THANK YOU !

ALL THE CONTRIBUTORS TO SALIENT IN 2023

Ariana Wanoa (she/her/kuīni)

Aimee Norrie (she/her)

Alice Hulland (she/her)

Amal Samaha (she/her)

Amelia Kirkness (she/they)

Angie Johnson (she/her)

Arapera Tapiata (she/her)

Areta Pakinga (she/her/ia)

Aroha Witinitara (they/them)

Ashleigh Putt Fallows (she/her)

Ashley McGregor (she/her)

Bailey Simone (she/her)

Barbara De la Peña Cuevas (she/her)

Ben Kiriolo (he/him)

Bianca Maria Schioler (she/her)

Blake (cross/word)

Brahmasari Zakaria (she/her)

Bridey Newell (they/them)

Bridget Scott (she/her)

Carys Chapman-Vari (she/her)

Cassia Percival-Day (she/her)

Cerys Fletcher (she/her)

Charlie Shirreffs (they/them)

Cileme Venkateswar (she/her)

Charlie Joseph (he/him)

Delilah Brown (she/her)

Éimhín O’Shea (he/him)

Ella Hoogerbrug (she/her)

Elliot Davis (he/him)

Emily Payne (she/her)

Flynn Rodgers (he/they)

Georgia Mae Taylor (she/her)

Georgia Wearing (any/all)

Goose (they/them)

Grace Fakahau (she/her)

Grace Muldrock (she/they)

Grant Buist (he/him)

Guy van Egmond (he/him)

Harris Puanaki Devon (he/him)

Hattie Salmon (she/her)

Hemaima Keana (she/her)

Hesadi Niruthmi Perera (she/her)

Hyphae

Hēmi Daly (he/him)

India Jade Hinewai Grigson (she/her)

Jaime Elliot (she/they)

James Tweddle (he/they)

Jamie Clumpas

Janaye Kiritikar (she/her)

Janicka Tei (she/her)

Jasmine Navala Waleafea (she/her)

Jess Ye (she/her)

Jolénna Deo (she/her)

Kamira Leach (they/them)

Kat Rowan (they/them)

Katelynne Pōtiki-Clune (she/her)

Kelly Mitchell (any/all)

Keying Huo Smith (she/her)

Khai Dye-Brinkman (they/them)

Kirstin Crowe (she/her)

Kritika Sharma (she/her)

Lauren Davies (she/they)

Lauren Pemberton (she/her)

Lu (any/all)

Lucy Manuera Schrader (she/her)

Lucy Watson (she/her)

Madeline Kain (she/her)

Mana Hokianga (he/him)

Matty Maku (he/him)

Mauatua Fa’ara-Reynolds (she/her)

Monqtuya Snary (they/them)

Mounga Vivili (she/her)

Nil J (cross/word)

Phoebe Sullivan (she/her)

Pip Cov (she/they)

Porita Fruean (she/her)

Puck (cross/word)

Rebecca Soloi (she/her)

Reni Broughton (she/they)

Renter’s United

Ruaputahanga Takiari (she/her)

Ruby Millichamp (she/her)

Rīpeka Raihania (she/her)

Sahir Hussain (he/him)

Sarah Bakewell (she/her)

Sarah Burton (she/her)

Sesila Watkins (she/her)

Sibel Atalay (they/she)

Snigdha Mundra (she/her) Snow (they/she)

Stefania Pietkiewicz (she/her)

Stephen Jackson (he/him)

Sterling Jones (they/them)

Takuma Ohashi (he/him)

Taranaki Sam Te Moananui (he/him)

Tarifa Laban (she/her)

Te Huihui o Matariki Chí Huy Tran (he/him)

Te Matahiapo Safari Hynes (he/him)

Te Waikamihi Lambert (she/her)

Teddi (he/she/they)

Tolga Yenilmez (he/him)

Tūheita Young (he/him)

Upu S Lefauaitu (she/her)

Vaetoeifaga Apelu (she/her)

Viliami Folau (he/him)

Wes Brooke-White (he/him)

Whakaahurangi Gallagher (she/her)

William Bell-Purchas (he/him)

Xandi Gobbi (he/him)

Xavier Farrow-Francis (he/she/they)

Zeynep Todd (she/her)

Zia Ravenscroft (they/he)

Zoe Hollier (she/her)

Centerfolds and Covers

Antipodes Sale (she/they)

Calista Cristobal (she/they)

Christoph Pietkiewicz (he/they)

Galena Ilg (she/her)

Grace Kavanagh (she/her)

Jane Dyson (they/she)

Jess Skudder (she/her)

Keelin Bell (he/him)

Kermit Kiki

Mia Rafferty (she/they)

Ren Kishine (he/him)

Ti Ko (they/them)

Wesley Potogi (he/him)

Lillias Ovenden-Carlyle (she/her)

THE TEAM

CO-EDITOR

NEWS

CONTRIBUTORS

Xavier

Ella

Puck (cross/word)

Angie Johnson (she/her)

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Barbara

DESIGNER

PODCAST

Lillias

WRITING

Francesca Pietkiewicz (she/they)

CO-EDITOR

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SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Ethan Manera (he/him)

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NEWS EDITOR

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EDITORIAL SUPPORT

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STAFF WRITER

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STAFF WRITER

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INTERN

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