Salient Issue 05 - Volume 87

Don't Do Drugs If you want your DICK to work

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Our magazine, Salient, is run by students for students. Without the involvement of students, we wouldn't be able to operate. Every year, we welcome pitches and inquiries from individuals who are interested in writing for us. For more information, please email editor@salient. org.nz or visit our website at salient.org.nz.

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Complaints regarding the material published in Salient should first be brought to Matt Tucker in writing (ceo@vuwsa.org. nz). If not satisfied with the response, complaints should be directed to the Media Council (info@ mediacouncil.org.nz).

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Salient is published by, but remains editorially independent from, the Victoria University of Wellington Student's Association (VUWSA). Salient is funded in part by VUWSA through 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 Editor, VUWSA, or the University.

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EDITORIAL DRUGS

Welcome to this week's Drugs issue of Salient. Whether you’re a first-year who lit their first cigarette outside a bar or an experienced drug user, we hope there is something for everyone in this magazine.

It is important to note that drugs are illegal and can greatly impact and harm individuals' lives, regardless of personal opinions. In this publication our goal is in part to confront the glorification of drugs, and present various perspectives. We have included insights from those who distribute drugs, former users, and volunteers at community organizations, in order to provide diverse viewpoints on the topic of drugs.

If you or someone you know is concerned about their relationship with drugs, please refer to the support links provided.

Phoebe Robertson

Editor in Chief

bird of the week

Tarapirohe

Need help? Reach out to these resources:

For immediate support text 1737, or call the free Alcohol & Drug helpline at 0800 787 797. They are available 24/7 and offer free services.

Visit addictionshelp.org.nz for a comprehensive list of drugs and their risks. You can also call 1737, or use the text service at 8681.

Looking for specific support for alcohol addiction? Call the Māori helpline at 0800 787 798 or the Pasifika helpline at 0800 787 799. The text service remains the same, at 8681.

AA (alcoholics anonymous) offers support through their website aa.org.nz. You can find a local meeting using your location, contact them through their helpline at 0800 229 6757, or email help@aa.org.nz. Their website also has stories in various formats for people to relate to and hopefully seek support.

For narcotics addiction, visit nzna.org for resources and meetings, or call the helpline at 0800 NA TODAY (0800 628 632).

You can also head to TheLevel.org.nz, where you can find helplines and guides to testing your drugs.

The Tarapirohe, or Black-fronted tern, adorns New Zealand's waterways with its stunning appearance. The contrast between its glossy black cap and pure white feathers makes for a captivating sight. These birds have made their home on the gravel beds of the South Island's braided rivers, where they expertly hunt for insects and small fish. However, threats such as changes to their habitat and human disturbances put this adaptable species at risk. As an integral part of New Zealand's aquatic ecosystems, it is crucial to prioritize conservation efforts to protect the unique role of the Tarapirohe in the diverse web of biodiversity within the country.

LOVE

letters xo

Boulcott Street

Kia ora kōrua,

I cannot believe the news piece published this week on the explosion that happened on Boulcott Street recently made it through to publication. Not only are the "eye witness" accounts unsubstantiated, as demonstrated by phrases like "he felt", the overall tone and message of the piece further perpetuates the negative portrayal of Kāinga Ora housing and tenants in the media. If you can't actually fact-check what you're saying (i.e., that it was a suicide attempt or a meth lab), then don't publish it.

Do better.

Sincerely, Someone who lives on Boulcott Street

Big Things

Dear Editor

I fear you have missed an important NZ's Biggest Thing from your list. The Big Colin Meads in Te Kuiti.

Regards, Rugby Fan

Bird of the Week Haiku

This is a haiku

There are eight Karure (yay)

Love from Emily

Share your thoughts

Got some strong opinions on Salient or just want to stir the pot? Send your love letters to letters@salient.org.nz to have them published every week.

WED | Meow | 7pm

Good Habits

Good Habits (Bonnie Schwarz: cello + vocals, Pete Shaw: accordion) are making a return to Aoteroa, having played frequently across the motu in the past and spent the pandemic here. Since their 2020 debut LP ‘Going for Broke’, Good Habits have garnered international attention and awards, further releases going on to refine their genrebending, indie folk sound. Expect all the folksy cosiness and warmth ‘indie folk’ suggests, but rest assured the range and creativity of Good Habits guarantees a fresh and invigorating set.

Tickets $30

THUR | MOON | 8pm

protest calendar gig guide

Dateline

Dateline, the infectious, indie-pop/ rock project of Pōnke-based Katie Everingham, is entering 2024 with a new live band and a new single, ‘Choose Me’. Joining Everingham onstage will be some incredible talent: Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa (of Ebony Lamb, French For Rabbits, and Glass Vaults), Phoebe Johnson (of Ebony Lamb and Revulva), and Reuben McDonald. I love these guys! I think you will too! Dateline will be supported by noise-pop newcomers Feshh (who are excellent!), and Welly locals Nootropica

Tickets $15

Enjoy our small, lovingly curated selection of gigs.

WED | San Fran | 8pm

Eyegum (Free!) Wednesdays

It’s Eyegum time! If you’ve read the gig guide before, you know the drill. I’m assuming nobody has, so here we go: Eyegum’s on at San Fran every week! It’s free! The beer is cheap and plentiful! There are two bands and a DJ! There’s cool graffiti in the bathrooms! It’ll probably smell a bit! (grunge=good). Wowing the mosh-pit this week will be art rock/noise pop three piece Mudgoose at 8:30, Wellys coolest post-gender rock band Maiden Name at 9:15, and, taking the night home on the decks, experimental DJ EMPRESS OLI at 10:00.

Free!

SAT | Valhalla | 8pm

Kicking Up a FUS @ Valhalla

Are you ready to continue Kicking Up a FUS? Pōneke’s stripper activist group Fired up Stilettos have teamed up with Valhalla to host a strip-club takeover. There will be strippers, a night of expertly choreographed stage sets, and the option to take your favourite dancer for a lap dance!

All ticket sales go directly to Fired Up Stilettos, and tipping is greatly encouraged. So gather your friends/ colleagues/flatmates etc, and join FUS for an exciting and tantalising night. Tickets via eventfinda.

Tickets $50

THUR | Taita Rock - Kilbirnie Mosque | 6am-7pm

Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage Wellington

THUR | San Fran | 8pm

Wiri Donna, Sure Boy, Maiden Name

Indie/alt rockers Wiri Donna have a new LP ready to go, and they need YOUR help. Come on down to San Fran, they’ll play their new album, and you’ll help fund the pressing! Joining them will be the punchy rhythms and pop-rock grit of Welly favourites Sure Boy, alongside the “teeth-clenching, sapphic-raging, post-gender ethereal rock” of Maiden Name. A triple header of indie goodness this Thursday at San Fran.

Tickets $16.50 (or more! It’s a fundraiser gig)

SAT | Meow | 8pm

Salt Water Criminals & Mall Goth

This weekend Ōtepoti rockers Salt Water Criminals are making their maiden voyage to Te Whanganui-aTara, eager to share their debut album “House of Highs”, alongside other releases. They’ve spent the summer charming audiences at Others Way Festival and the Laneway Afterparty— let their live show transport you this Saturday at Meow. Joining them for support are the brand new Welly outfit Mall Goth: loud, brooding, evil, incredibly fun, and celebrating the release of their debut single ‘I Hate it Here’.

Tickets $10

This Thursday Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage is walking the length of the Gaza Strip, 41 km, “mirroring the walk Gazans are being forced to take as they flee bombardment”, as part of actions occurring in more than 100 countries. The Pilgrimage will begin at Taita Rock at 6am, and conclude at 7pm at the Kilbirnie Mosque. It is split into sections, and the organisers encourage people to attend parts that they can. These include a lunchtime peace picnic at Parliament (12:30-2pm), and a walk to Freyberg Beach via the Israeli embassy (~23pm), both of which are highlighted as student friendly. The ‘core convictions’ of the Pilgrimage can be found online, including a welcome from the organisers toward people of non-Christian faiths/no faith.

IT’S THE FUCKING NEWS kawepūrongo

25.03.2024

Motion Accepted: VUWSA Agrees To Do A Bunch Of Things

ETHAN ROGACION (HE/HIm)

Last Wednesday, VUWSA Te Aka Tauira held its AGM which, unfortunately, does not stand for A lot of Gold and Money. Instead, it refers to an Annual General Meeting, in which VUWSA does a lot of Procedural Stuff. An AGM also allows student members—who VUWSA represent—to ask questions of its executive, and to pass motions.

It took over 20 minutes for the AGM to get started, as VUWSA struggled to pull together its minimum quorum of one hundred students—the organisation’s constitution states that if it fails to reach this number in 30 minutes of the scheduled start time, the meeting lapses and no business is able to take place.

Nonetheless, the meeting did begin shortly after quorum was met. Marcail Parkinson, current VUWSA President, went on to outline what she saw as the big targets for VUWSA this year, including a campaign on renting that offers practical advice and more “politically angled” actions, new campaigns and clubs grants, and pushing for the University to become a living wage organisation. This is despite VUWSA itself not paying its executive a living wage (page 8).

Sterling Maxwell from Ngāi Tauira also spoke at the AGM, appearing alongside Parkinson to discuss the VUWSA/Ngāi Tauira work plan which, they say, includes pressing for NT to get a service level agreement with the University, and for the establishment of remuneration for Ngāi Tauira. Currently, VUWSA is the only student advocacy group on campus that is paid.

There was only one piece of general business raised

at the meeting—a motion by Salient Editor Phoebe Robertson to “adopt a shark through the Sustainable Oceans Society, and to name it Nic ‘Salient’ Smith.” She argued that, “By supporting this project, VUWSA can contribute to valuable research efforts while promoting public safety and environmental stewardship.” Prior to the meeting, Robertson said that she was feeling “excited”, and “felt confident about her motion.”

This confidence, it turns out, was unfounded—the motion failed dramatically after questions were raised about whether money to fund the shark adoption could be better used to fund other projects. Robertson revealed that the shark would cost VUWSA $4,000. After failing to adopt the motion, and also the shark, she told Salient that, “You know what, I participated in democracy, so I’m still really excited.”

The final business of the meeting was the declaration of the winners of the VUWSA by-election. From 265 votes cast, Pierson Palmer was elected to the Academic Vice-President position, and Lupeoaunuu Vaai was elected Clubs and Activities officer. The Postgraduate Rep (a role created by VUWSA in 2023) was also vacant, but no nominees stood for the position and it thus remains empty.

Palmer said that he is, “very excited to get stuck in and get some real work done at VUWSA,” aiming to focus on “quality of education.” Vaai told Salient she is especially grateful to Pasifika students who backed up her campaign, and said that she hopes to help bring about a campus that is “pulsing with energy, diversity and [inclusivity].”

PICTURED: VUWSA President, Marcail & Salient Editor, Phoebe at the VUWSA AGM; Photographed by Ethan Rogacion.

Gordon Wilson is Dead: Long Live Affordable Housing

DARCY LAWRY (HE/HIm)

Last Thursday, Wellington City Council passed what Councillor Nīkau Wi Neera described as “the most pro-housing, ambitious set of amendments that we could”, as the council voted on changes to the District Plan.

The meeting saw the council’s biggest break from the NIMBY-ism which has defined housing policy in the city for decades. W after W for affordable housing flashed onto the council’s voting screens.

So overwhelming were the wins for affordable housing that Councillor Nicola Young may have been left with a mild case of amnesia, saying “I’m so numb about the district plan I can barely remember what [the amendments] are.”

Notably, the council has defined the Johnsonville rail line as mass rapid transit, ending speculation on whether a train is indeed a train, and allowing for countless new homes to be built along the line. Some opposition to the decision came from Young, who said she thinks the line is like the Thomas the Tank Engine books she used to read to her son. Young: “It’s a little chugalug-chugalug”. She was, however, quick to clarify that she “loves trains”.

If carried through by Minister of Housing Chris Bishop, the changes to the plan are going to redefine Wellington’s housing situation.

Despite this long list of transformational changes for housing, it was a smaller change that will have caught many Wellingtonians’ eyes. At last, a longabandoned former social housing development—the Gordon Wilson Flats—has had its heritage protection revoked.

Thanks to a lawsuit brought by Wellington Architectural Centre against VUW and WCC in the Environment Court, since 2017 only graffiti artists have been able to touch the building, which stands on ideal land for the University.

At the council meeting, Councillor Ben McNulty put forward an amendment to remove heritage protection for a variety of properties, including Gordon Wilson, which passed 16-2.

Tina Wakefield, the University’s chief operating officer said that VUW was “delighted” with the council’s decision, pending minister Bishop’s approval.

A neighbour of the flats on The Terrace described the news as “the best thing to ever happen”, and suggested that the University should “tear them down”.

While the University is currently pretty far from being able to afford a massive teardown and redevelopment of the site, a previous proposal, Te Huanui, looked at transforming it into the University’s ‘front door’ to the city, with new teaching facilities and easier access to the Kelburn campus.

Although Te Huanui would not include any student housing, Wakefield says that VUW is intending to provide more accommodation, and a more diverse range of options, in the future.

There is much more work to be done when it comes to affordable housing in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, but things might be looking up. Mayor Tory Whanau, at last week’s council meeting: “Give us a bit of time, and we’ll get some affordable homes for you all”.

PICTURED: The abandonned Gordon Wilson Flats sitting pretty on a blue skied day in Te Whanganui-a-Tara; Photographed by Darcy Lawry.

VUWSA’s Wage Gap

pHOEbE RObERTsON (sHE/HER)

According to the Living Wage Movement Aoteraroa's website, Victoria University Students Association (VUWSA) is a living wage employer. This means that all of its employees, including those on the Salient team, are paid a living wage.

VUWSA Executives are not employees, as they are elected into their positions and paid through honoraria. As such, they do not receive the same protections under employment law and must have their rights and benefits voted on and included in the VUWSA constitution. Currently, the constitution states that Executives will be paid minimum wage for a specific number of hours, with the President receiving a living wage for 40 hours per week.

In response to questions about the ethicality of advertising VUWSA as a living wage employer while the Executives do not receive a living wage, CEO Matthew Tucker explains that they are transparent about this issue and all funding decisions can be found online. He also mentions that the minimum wage can potentially be changed through a proposal brought forward by an Executive and voted on at the next VUWSA Annual General Meeting (AGM). Which would need to be approved by 2/3rds of students in attendance.

However, he warns that any change would come at a cost and could impact the organization's ability to provide other services to students.

Environmentally Conscious Large-Scale Proft? Consumer NZ Investigates Oxymoron

DAN mOsKOVITZ (HE/HIm)

Consumer NZ is establishing which corporations are frequently lying to consumers by exaggerating their eco-friendly credentials, and holding them to account. You (yes, you!) can help.

Kiwis from across the country are encouraged to send examples of potential greenwashing to Consumer NZ, who will examine whether said claims are true on the customer's behalf.

Greenwashing is where a product is made to appear more environmentally friendly than it is. This can take many forms; misuse of the words “green” and “eco", packaging which looks more sustainable than it is, and much more.

“What we’ve seen in Australia, the UK, and the EU is that 40-50% of sustainable claims were found either unsubstantiated or misleading,” says Gemma Rasmussen, Consumer NZ’s head of advocacy and research.

As Rasmussen explains, people will pay a premium for sustainable products. Yet actually discerning between what’s eco-friendly and not is nigh impossible. According to Consumer NZ, while 44% of Kiwis will

switch to a greener brand to be more sustainable, 47% of Kiwis cannot tell whether a product’s green claims are truthful or not, and three-quarters of us have never checked.

Misleading consumers is illegal, but the Commerce Commission is reliant on citizens reporting companies who break the rules.

With the government uninterested and the Commerce Commission toothless, Consumer NZ took matters into its own hands.

“Our investigators will spend hours trying to unpick sustainable claims,” says Rasmussen. “They’ll look at what’s on the product, check the website, and try to touch base with the producer. It takes a lot of time. So for any person trying to figure out what's genuinely environmentally friendly is really difficult.”

You can report potential greenwashing to Consumer NZ on their website.

The Girlies are Fightinggg

WILL IRVINE (HE/HIm)

Readers who were disappointed by this year’s musical adaptation of Mean Girls will be excited to know that an even pettier drama is playing out on the free-toair Parliament TV channel. The ad hoc government assembled by Christopher Luxon (appropriately referred to as the “coalition of chaos” by his detractors) is beginning to experience its first big rifts.

The drama began with Winston Peters’ State of the Nation address in Palmerston North this weekend. The tone of Peter’s speech was gloomy, focusing more on the apparently decrepit state of things than on Peter’s efforts to fix them. It felt as if he had momentarily forgotten that he was now in government—perhaps the result of a career marked by continually shifting allegiances.

A particular target was “co-governance”, or the amorphous idea of anything Māori that Peters has scapegoated to win votes off racist retirees. Peters

compared co-governance to the Nazi caste system that was used to perpetrate the murder of six million Jews during the Second World War. When confronted, Peters doubled down on his comments, prompting Luxon to refer to them as “divisive”, whilst condemning Te Pati Maori in the same breath.

At time of publication, Peters is now claiming that Luxon is being misled by the media, a particularly infantilising depiction of someone who is, in fact, his boss.

However, Peters’ inflammatory and race-baiting remarks overshadow an even bigger risk to the Coalition’s stability—his acceptance of the Post’s analysis that the government’s economic plan has a 5.6 billion dollar fiscal hole. If the governing parties cannot agree on basic fiscal concerns, can the already-fragile Coalition make it past Budget day?

Opinion: Five Years On From March 15, Has Our Nation Changed?

WILL IRVINE (HE/HIm)

Before March 15, 2019, it was considered a proud point in Aotearoa’s cultural identity that we did not experience gun violence on any notable scale. It was commonplace to poke fun at Americans for their gun-obsessed culture. To this day, we still ridicule them whenever a disgruntled teenager has a rifle

the basic gun control protections introduced in the wake of the massacre are being rolled back. It is unmistakable what is occurring here. By destroying initiatives designed to protect the most vulnerable in our communities, we are making a very dangerous tradeoff. For every gun-owner that is now slightly more able to manage wildlife, we increase the chance

Unfortunately, this is a government that relies on the oversaturation of outrage. With the systematic destruction of Māori services, the vicious attacks on transgender teenagers, and the gutting of social welfare and disability projects, very little political energy is left for gun control. Regardless, it’s abundantly clear that this Government is neglecting its responsibilities to protect New Zealanders from another such massacre.

Auckland Football Club Name Dropped:

Auckland Football Club

DAN mOsKOVITZ (HE/HIm)

Last Saturday the Wellington Phoenix men downed Sydney FC 2-1 at Eden Park, in one of the ‘home’ games the Nix bring to Auckland each year. That win was the last time Auckland will be ‘home’ for Wellington: a couple of days earlier saw the unveiling of Auckland FC, the latest addition to the A-League, and a rival to the table-topping Phoenix.

Auckland FC’s announcement cleared up one of the biggest pieces of speculation surrounding the club: the name. When the bid was announced, billionaire owner Bill Foley’s clear preference was for ‘Auckland Black Knights’; Foley’s sporting empire is named Black Knight Entertainment, and he’d previously named his hockey team the ‘Las Vegas Black Knights’.

Yet ironically, the name Knights is the singular name an Auckland-based football side cannot have. Between 2005 and 2007 the New Zealand Knights were Auckland’s A-League team. They won six out of their 47 matches and finished last both seasons before disbanding, sparking the rise of the Wellington Phoenix from their ashes.

Consequently, Foley’s preferred name was the only name which wouldn’t work in the specific sporting code in the specific city he chose to invest in. Instead, Auckland’s nickname will be the Black Knights, while playing under the official banner of Auckland FC.

Auckland FC’s name announcement comes after Foley signed Sydney FC’s former manager Steve Corica, and former Sydney FC player Terry McFlynn as Director of Football. Imitation is clearly the sincerest form of flattery.

The team will play in a blue and black pinstripe kit, which has generally been positively received. The

badge, however, has received more mixed reviews, appearing overly crowded to some. We’ll present them here without comment.

With Auckland FC’s inception, the Wellington Phoenix are Aoteroa’s sole A-League-rep no more. What’s more, the Nix finally have a bona fide rival. Auckland won’t even join the League until next season, yet already competition is heating up: Wellington’s win over Sydney was interrupted by a pitch invader wearing the Auckland kit. How he got the kit remains a mystery, given Auckland’s attire has not been commercially released.

Newshub reported “a source” claiming the stunt was planned by Auckland FC, with Eden Park’s consent—only for said source to retract their story five minutes later.

On Wellington’s side, the Phoenix (before the pitch invasion) launched a change.org petition to include Tāmaki Makarau in Greater Wellington’s borders, allowing Auckland-based Phoenix fans to continue to cheer on their ‘local’ team.

PICTURED: Auckland Football Club uniform and logo; Images supplied by Auckland FC.

THE WEEK IN review

Whaikaha Narrows Access to Disability Services, via Facebook Post

words by HENRY BROADBENT (he/him) and PHOEBE ROBERTSON (she/her)

On Wednesday 20th Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People, revealed their intention to decrease funding for disability support via a troublingly dismissive medium: a Facebook post. While the post mentioned immediate implementation, it did not specify the exact changes being made, or how they would be carried out. The decision was justified on the monetary basis of “increased demand”. Earlier this year, the Government gave landlords a $2.9 billion-dollar tax break.

Not surprisingly there was immediate backlash, including a petition garnering over 14,000 signatures*. Whaikaha claims funding is not being reduced; how disabled people can use their support payments is simply being “clarified”. Advocates like Labour's Disability Issues spokesperson Priyanca Radhakrishnan are emphatic in describing the change as a “cut”. And it is a change that, in “clarifying”, severely narrows the support disabled people can access, including to equipment, carers and transport.

Criticism was swift, and compounded by the absence of a grace period, a lack of community input, and remarkably indifferent communication. Many individuals who rely on disability services are now uncertain about their future support from the government. One commentator stated: “This is poorly thought out and targeting, yet again, a vulnerable group. As the Ministry of Disabled people it is shocking that you haven’t been more cognisant of these issues, nor communicated earlier.”

Whaikaha later issued an apology for not giving enough notice before implementing the changes, but they have not reversed their harmful policy change.

*on the date of publication, 21/03

Large-Scale Famine Looms in Gaza

words by HENRY BROADBENT (hem/him)

A UN-backed IPC report has warned “famine is imminent” in Gaza. It states the “entire population in the Gaza Strip (2.2 million) is facing high levels of acute food insecurity”, and 1.1 million people face “catastrophic” food supply conditions. According to Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF, the level of food insecurity for children in Gaza as “isn’t just trauma, [if they survive] this is [physically] stunting them for life”. In maternity wards “babies don’t even have the energy to cry … It’s a painful, painful death for children.”

Melanie Ward, from Medical Aid for Palestinians told CNN "This is the fastest decline in a population's nutrition status ever recorded. That means children are being starved at the fastest rate the world has ever seen." From Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Chief: “This man-made starvation under our watch is a stain on our collective humanity. Too much time was wasted, all land crossings must open now. Famine can be averted with political will.”

As starvation spreads across the territory, we must understand the famine is not an unintended consequence of war. It has been intentionally manufactured by Israel. In the week prior to this publication, more than 100 workers involved in distributing aid were killed by the IDF, in eight separate attacks. OXFAM has reported Israel is “actively preventing the delivery of international aid into Gaza”, halting each aid truck for an average of 20 days.

Recognition of Israel’s genocidal intent by world governments has been unforgivably sluggish, though recent events may mark a shift: Joseph Borrell, the E.U’s representative for foreign affairs and security policy, described it as unacceptable that “starvation is [being] used as a weapon of war.” By preventing humanitarian support from entering Gaza “Israel is provoking famine”. In this context, New Zealanders must demand our government does everything in it’s power to condemn the genocide in it’s strongest terms, end our own military participation, seek a permanent ceasefire, and save the Palestinian people from certain death.

CONFESSIONS OF AN EXJUNKIE

drug use, sexual themes.

words by some guy called Snickety Fastwolf (he/him)

I did cocaine for the first time when I was roughly 15 years old. (Holy shit!, you might think, What the fuck? And looking back, I think that, too). I was depressed, anxious, had no friends and no life, except for going to visit my brother in the city every few weeks. He was studying at uni at the time, and every weekend I would be at his place, he would be throwing a party. Not uncommon behaviour for a uni student, as I’m sure everyone reading is aware.

I was desperate for attention, craving adoration from figures I could turn into parental placeholders, I did everything I could to make his cool, older friends like me, and that included trying drugs. As it turns out, those friends of his didn’t actually know him at all. It hadn’t occurred to me that people just showed up at parties, and seeing as I was in my brother’s flat, stranger danger didn’t apply in my mind.

I thought those young adults adored me. In reality, they were taking advantage of my naivety. I did everything they asked. I drank, I danced, I had sex, and ultimately, I did drugs. A lot of drugs. By the time I found out they didn’t know my brother I didn’t care—these people liked me, and from what I could tell, they were taking care of me.

visiting my brother, my brother thought I was safe at home with my parents. Meanwhile, I was in the middle of nowhere Ponsonby, my hands shaking as I tapped out another bump.

A few years ago, I was sat on a couch in a place I’d never been before. I was surrounded by people I’d never met, high as fuck on cocaine, and having the time of my life.

People were having sex in the corner of the room, some were shooting up, and others, like myself, were engaged in both conversation and observation. Mostly, though, we were just high. I don’t remember what happened after that. Because of the sheer amounts of drugs I was on, I can’t remember a lot of the time I wasted when I was younger. There are chunks from my memory which are left blank now, things I’ll never get back, and I just hope that in those times, I was safe.

Things started to change when my grades began to fall. In between my weekend expeditions I was still going to school, only now I was going to school on comedowns.

Now, I’m sure you all know what happens on a comedown: you shake, you get depressed, you cry, you vomit, you crave and crave and crave until your next high. Imagine that, but at high school.

No, I was not doing well.

I had always been a student with high grades. I took calculus and music and every science you could think of. When I was six months into my addiction, though, my grades had fallen from Excellences to Achieves, (and that was on good days.) My school reached out to my family, asked them what was going on, and when eyes turned to me, I simply said that I was depressed, and started hiding it more.

I knew I had to get my grades up, and how do you do that when you’re catatonic with depression? You do more drugs.

comedowns were getting worse and worse. Worse even, though, is that people noticed. I was carrying boxes of tissues in my backpack to stuff up my nose at least twice a day. My body trembled with every breath, and I was paranoid beyond belief, drawing further into myself than before. If it seemed like I didn’t have a support system, now I really wouldn’t.

It seems insignificant, but the main reason I realised I had to stop doing drugs was not because of the method of payment, or the depression, or even the migraines. I stopped because one day, my nose bled without my realising, and I stained my favourite shirt.

I cried. I cried until my head hurt so badly that I couldn’t breathe. I stayed in bed for days and days. And then I just knew.

My first step was getting rid of those “friends.” Easily done- I blocked them all online. They would never see me again. My second step was actually not taking drugs anymore- and that was a little more difficult. I decided that in order to have the temptation truly out of my grasp, I needed to throw out everything I had left, and quit cold turkey.

I cannot stress this enough: DO NOT QUIT HARD DRUGS COLD TURKEY.

Multiple times over the next month I nearly died.

When I finally regained consciousness, eg: could think for myself again, I decided to try something else. Narcotics Anonymous is not an organisation that is spoken about in Aotearoa. In fact, I’ve heard more jokes made about rehab in my 20+ years of living than I’ve heard instructions on how to get help. A quick google, though, told me that I could get in touch with people online, or find a meeting in person. I figured that getting in touch online would be no use, they wouldn’t believe me because of my age. So, I set out to where the nearest meeting centre was on a day stated on the website, and entered the meeting alone.

be careful."

NA doesn’t look the same as it does in movies. I mean, where I went, there was still a circle of plastic chairs, and everyone still said their name, and if they wanted to speak, they could. But real NA is different because the people there are real. Meetings are started with the Serenity Prayer—which also closes out the meeting. Then there’s the introduction round—and again, it’s completely okay if you don’t have anything to say. There are reading cards on a few of the chairs; if you don’t want to speak, don’t choose one of those chairs (best to arrive early, really). The meetings I went to, everyone was asked if they were clean that day. Some said yes, some said yes and gave the amount of time they’d been clean. Some passed. Some said no.

Going to NA extremely young raised a few eyebrows, but nobody said anything. The chairperson asked me, alone, if things were okay at home, if they needed to contact someone. The group provided me with support I didn’t know I needed as badly as I did.

I only went to NA a few times. I was already mostly clean by the time I got there, and with their gentle pushing, I was able to move forward.

I lost my sense of smell for a long time, but thankfully, it’s come back. I used to shake when people mentioned using hard drugs around me, but nowadays, I can calmly exit the conversation. I can even smoke weed with friends now, (WOW!), but I would never do it alone. I’m safer, and I’m happier, and I’m a lot less risky with myself.

Here’s the thing: I’m not saying you shouldn’t do drugs. What I am saying is that the way young people in Aotearoa take drugs is dangerous. I’m saying that the culture of taking drugs is dangerous. I’m saying

that you might not realise that doing drugs at every party you go to can cause you to fall into a rabbit hole you can’t dig yourself out of. Sure, I was a kid, but many of the people I met at NA were in their 20’s—their early 20’s.

I see my peers using weed as a crutch and brushing it off as something not serious because it’s “only weed.” I see my friends coming down from MD and crumbling because they feel like they've been hit by a truck, their serotonin levels non-existent. Not to mention my friends who are into psychedelics. The fear I feel when I hear they’ve had a bad trip consumes me until I know they’re alright again.

If you’re going to do drugs, because let’s be honest, you probably will, be careful

Buy drug testing kits from Cosmic. They’re never more than $30, they’re easy to use, and you’ll know what’s in your shit. Take drugs with your friends, and then take care of each other—try to have a sober friend that can take someone to the hospital if you need it. And finally, get help when you need it. It’s terrifying at first (I know!), but there are people all over the country who are going through, or have gone through, exactly what you’re going through right now. These people can help you. You’re not alone.

Have fun, but have fun safely. Take care of yourself and others. Don’t be a fuckwit.

COFFEE IS YOU (PROBABLY) DON'T KNOW WHAT

Sarah Mckerrow; @surreal_cerealz

As pretentious as I have been about coffee for most of my ‘career’ as a barista, only recently have I felt confident enough to explain the ethics, origin and composition of that brown bean we hold most dear. Salient issue, but I just started working for the infamous People’s Coffee. After years of working for places like Maccas and Mojo, I’m relieved to contribute to a company with strong ethics.

In an age of late stage capitalism and globalisation, we have never before been so far removed from the origins of what we eat and drink. It’s common knowledge that coffee is grown around the equator, all across the world, and spread from Ethiopia. Roasteries boast myriads of origins, but rarely explain to you as the

A long history of slave labour, exploitation and colonisation awaits when you delve into the origins of the coffee trade. Today, as always, everywhere is different and has varied levels of government interaction with its trade.

There is a world of difference between Fair Trade Organic coffee and your bog standard. Typically, coffee distributors are brokered for beans of ambiguous beginnings. In order to get their coffee to port, small lot farmers that grow coffee rely on middle men sometimes referred to as Coyotes (specifically in Central and South America). These middle men notoriously

process end up in your cup. The main concern with non-organic pesticides and fertilisers is that they pollute the land both in their production and use.

In contrast, organic fertilisation is basically wizardlevel composting. Instead of in neat rows in full sun, coffee is grown under the canopy in forests, where it naturally thrives. Organic coffee is far more expensive to produce, because without the artificial fertilisers to beef up the plants their yield is lower. However, the environmental payoff is huge. Monocultures destroy the ground they are grown in, take nutrients away from the soil, and rely on artificial chemicals like pesticides. Coffee producers know the impact of pollutants firsthand, and many want to avoid poisoning their waterways, killing their animals, and making themselves sick from its use.

Coffee is therefore organic ‘for’ those

Trade aid is staffed by volunteers, so no comment here on the living wage front.

Good Fortune (fair trade certified, organic certified, roasted locally in Petone, living wage).

• You’ll find Good Fortune in cafes all over Pōneke, from out in the Hutt to deep into the CBD.

• Where Good Fortune is served good vibes are abound. They have loads of different coffees for you to gulp down and pretend you can taste the notes of.

Karamu Coffee (FTO, organic, roasted locally in Gracefield)

• Not super common in Wellington city, but certainly in the Hutt. If you happen to wander north, look out for their light blue house symbol and know you’re in for an ethical treat.

I used to serve Karamu in a wee spot out in Alicetown, and their Deluxe blend would probably

VOLUNTEERING FOR

KNOW YOUR STUFF

KNOW YOUR STUFF

I started checking people’s drugs when I was eighteen and naive. A friend of mine joined KnowYourStuffNZ (KYSNZ) a bit before me, said something along the lines of “Hey Luquin, check this out, I think it’d interest you”. And it did. I went along to the first training session with a couple of friends, but they both dipped soon afterwards. At my first “clinic” for drug-checking I felt underqualified, in my shiny yellow shirt. The hardest thing that I’d taken was alcohol—would I be expected to provide advice to people on cocaine? Fortunately, all the more experienced volunteers had my back when there were unusual results.

KnowYourStuffNZ started 2015. By bringing drugchecking equipment into raves in the middle of nowhere, KYSNZ filled a niche. Drug-checking organisations are not new, however most of them previously have operated in a legal grey area, with volunteers at festivals risking arrest to keep people safe. KYSNZ operated like this until 2020, when they were permitted to check people’s drugs for festival season. This was then extended with the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Act 2021, meaning KYSNZ and other drug-checking agencies such as the Needle Exchange could operate year-round. This act permanently legalised drug-checking in New Zealand, a world first.

A couple of summers ago I had the privilege of going to Taniwha’s Den, a music festival in the Wairarapa, to check people’s drugs. I got a lift with a generous fellow volunteer and threw myself into a festival full of people I didn’t know, headlining artists whose music I hadn’t heard. It truly was an experience. Because it was my first overnight music festival, I came heinously underprepared in terms of food and booze. Fortunately, I brought a bunch of cash to buy food, but no alcohol was sold on site. At night, I felt like the only non-drinking person in a mass of swaying people. Swirling visuals were projected onto the bare rockface, and loud music thickened the air. During the day weather was sweltering, and the most activity I could muster was walking from under the trees to the river, and back again. Checking drugs in a tent was so different from the controlled environment of the indoor 'clinic'. The tent was musty, the specs were set up on trestle tables and powered by car batteries. A sign outside the tent proclaimed: “Ask us about nangs!” Everyone seemed more easy-going.

The substance Wellington KnowYourStuffNZ checks most is MDMA, also known as ecstasy, a stimulant which makes people more euphoric and affectionate. Other things commonly brought to us include cocaine, ketamine, and acid. We have to reagent test acid—for other substances we put them on the

‘spec’ (a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer if you want the exact details). This is a piece of equipment which shoots a beam of infrared light into a substance, captures its spectrum (a kind of chemical fingerprint), and sends it to a laptop. The computer has databases filled with the spectra of thousands of substances, from MDMA to caffeine to sucrose to compare the spectra of the substance which has been scanned to the database, and find the closest matches. Sometimes it’s what people assume, and the client leaves relieved and satisfied. Other times it’s just filler, another drug, or something entirely new.

After a drug has been checked, the results are communicated back to the client, plus advice on the safest method of taking the drug. I find this one of the trickiest parts of volunteering, especially if the result is something rare like 2C-I. Then, if the drug is what the client expected, KYSNZ volunteers will return it to the client. If it’s something that the client didn’t expect, they can choose to either keep or destroy it. When something new and potentially dangerous comes up, KnowYourStuffNZ can send it to Environmental Science Research (ESR), a research lab which has more sophisticated equipment. ESR can find out more information about a new substance such as its toxicology.

Last year I did shift lead training, although it might be a while before I become a shift lead proper. Shift leads deal with setting up the spectrometer, any unusual substances that come up, as well as difficult conversations with clients. I’m not quite confident on that last part, although I’m trying (you may have seen me on the stall at O-Week). I’ve really enjoyed volunteering at KYSNZ at its allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, do chemistry, and talk to new people. If you’re out partying, I’d hugely recommend getting your drugs checked. It’s free, confidential and lessens the likelihood of having an unpleasant time.

DON'T DO DRUGS IF YOU WANT YOUR

that 40% of men can’t get an erection while on the drug. Cocaine is debatably the one of the worst drugs for funny business. You’ve heard of “coke dick”—it's very likely you won’t be able to get hard or stay hard while the drug is in your bloodstream. Long term use of coke can cause permanent damage vascular damage which affects your blood circulation, including to your lil buddy. Heroin gets even worse, with a reported 74% of users struggling to climax and 65% having difficulty to get hard. Alcohol (like the infamous whiskey dick) and nicotine can also

your ability to get jiggy. The most commonly used recreational drugs in New Zealand are cannabis, methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and heroin. Each has different effects downstairs. Weed is the least risky of the common use drugs when it comes to pillow talk time, though it has been linked to erectile dysfunction and a struggle to orgasm.

Methamphetamine is a silent hard-on murderer, as short term effects are less common and often are reported to increase sex drive; long term it does the opposite, and due to the drugs addictive nature it’s easy to become dependent on it. While MDMA

Drugs in both the short and long term have physical effects which cause lack of blood to your chub—and alongside previously mentioned vascular issues and spinal reflex issues, long term effects can include a drop in libido, from reduced dopamine and testosterone. There is also a mental aspect to drug use and an unlaunched pocket rocket: consistent use of drugs to heighten your

About this week's Artist

This week's centrefold is designed by Shekinah Mudaliar Heya! I’m Shekinah, one of Vic’s finest Communication Design graduates. I started my creative journey through photography, since then I’ve broadened my horizon to graphic design and art. I dabble in a bit of mixed media purely because I like the chaos and it’s just fun tbh. I hope this poster shows the true chaos of drugs-the good, the bad, and the ugly. Drugs aren’t always so glamorous kids. Lowkey not ready for an office job so currently I’m starting a business called ‘Reloved Oddities’ with my bestie! We’re all about sustainable quirky clothes and designs. Stay tuned on Insta @shekinah._.designz to get an inside scoop.

Aries Taurus Gemini

Okay little Mx popular, you’ve got people clamouring for your attention this week. It can be exhausting being the life of the party. Have some time to yourself, you’ve earned it.

New week, new you. Green juice is your current fixation and you’re making sure everybody knows about it. It’s giving Boss Babe lifestyle vlogger.

There is a choice ahead of you, you must decide to become more kind or more evil. No fence sitting allowed, make a decision and stick by it.

Cancer Leo Virgo

You’re about to meet someone who just gets you. Someone with a shared sense of humor. They also like to point and laugh at the people still wearing lanyards this far into the year.

Libra

Don’t let others pressure you into doing stuff you’re not ready for. As a Libra you know a thing or two about taking your time with big decisions.

Capricorn

Your charity shines through. People love being around you for what you give others. Always helping those in need. Whenever someone needs a vape hit, they know who to ask.

You are the man with the plan, the one responsible for getting things sorted. Events happen because you make them. Be aware of the amount of emotion labour you providing though.

Scorpio

If something isn’t working for you, don’t be afraid to make changes. Whether it’s the antidepressants you’re on or the degree you’re studying. Do your research, weigh your options.

Aquarius

Maybe being able to down a bottle of rosé in twenty minutes isn’t the flex you think it is. You should find a new fun fact to share.

You are so close to unlocking your higher being and reaching self realisation. You need a final push. Hot chips at three am after a night of dancing might do the trick.

Sagittarius

Forgiveness is virtue. Don’t let small grievances poison your friendships. In short it sucks that your flatmate used the last of the milk but you can move past it.

Pisces

After hustling and grinding, your efforts have turned into reward. You found that super obscure book in the uni library that perfectly supports your closing argument which you just bullshitted.

WELLINGTON'S VERY OWN SILKROAD

an Unexpected Thriving Community

In my first year of University, I remember sitting in the dining hall talking to some newly found friends in between dry mouthfuls of Sunday dinner. An idea sparked at the other end of the table, “Should we try and score some weed tonight?” Nods and murmurs of agreement led us to ponder on the next step of our fresher excursions. Our contact list of potential drug dealers was practically blank, and the plan started to fizzle out.

My friend “Barry” said “What about the servers?” Seeing the group confused, he turned his phone around to the group. He is on the encrypted messaging app Discord, more popularly used for online gaming forums and chatting, but instead of gaming channels the left side of his screen was lined with subtitles such as “Powders, Flowers, Trips and Pharmies”.

It was like online shopping. But for drugs. Clicking into the “Flowers” chat he scrolled through dozens of pictures of oddly named strains of weed. Within minutes he sent us all invitations to the ironically named server, ‘Vic Deals’.

Later that night tucked into bed, I pull my phone out to investigate the server. Curiosity takes over. I dive into every tab, investigating the sheer quantity and variety of drugs that fill my screen. As I do, my mother’s warnings about drug use become faint and distant as I click on the next tab. What I found next was both surprising and comforting: the tab was labelled ‘Vouches’.

This sub-chat had hundreds of testimonials from buyers and sellers, warnings against under weighers, weak drugs and sketchy sellers. The admin, who we will call ‘Sass’, oversaw the group approving and verifying new members and allocating badges to help buyers distinguish trusted sellers. Scrolling up I noticed in this chat he posted a link to a sub-server named ‘Good Trips’. The link led me to a harm prevention forum within ‘Vic Deals’, where ‘Sassy’ posted regularly about warnings of synthetic and laced drugs currently circulating.

investigated by KP (she/her) page designed by Sarah Mckerrow; @surreal_cerealz

"With nearly half the New Zealand population having used recreational drugs (...) it's not hard to come to terms with the idea that anyone could be a drug user."

In the golden age of Discord servers, ‘Vic Deals’ was over two thousand members strong, and a tight-knit community. The servers were constantly adapting to avoid police and app admins' detection. To further avoid text detection dealers used images with text to market their product; after that it really did feel like online shopping. Never before were you able to source such a variety of drugs so easily. The option of being able to compare different price points, strains and vouches made drugs feel incredibly less daunting and, ironically, less illegal.

It is important to note the cultural influences that inspired the easy-to-use, Drugs-to-go service. This mode of goods transaction and vouches is reminiscent of the late dark web site Silk Road, an online black market where buyers and sellers engaged in anonymous illegal trade. Trades involved cryptocurrency, making it even harder to trace, Vic Deal’s ‘Vouch’ forum has roots back to Silk Road’s very own feedback system used to weed out fraudulent sellers.

In my investigation, I was able to meet with someone I will refer to as ‘the Moderator’, previously involved in the Wellington drug server community . They are also a former admin of one of the since deleted Discord servers.

After considering the potential awkwardness of meeting in a public café, the Moderator and I agreed to have the interview at my student flat. I don’t know quite what I was expecting them to look like, but something along the lines of shady, hooded and potentially patched may have sprung to mind. But the knock on the door was quiet and respectful and the figure through the stained glass was leaner than I had pictured. I opened the door and was met by a tall shaggy haired boy, no older than me. He had a kind smile and a warm “Hey!”. My ‘scary drug dealer interview’ anxieties melted away. Leading him through my uni flat, I was suddenly hyperconscious of the

dozens of street signs that line our hallway and the stacks of dishes that hide the kitchen bench as we took a seat in the living room.

I assured the Moderator that he would be able to retain his anonymity in this article. As I did, I watched his shoulders relax and his posture slump slightly, as if the big time drug server admin was just as nervous about this encounter as I was.

The Moderator remembers a time where there was nothing but bath salts and synthetic cannabis being distributed in Wellington. He explained he was “sick of seeing people getting ripped off”, recalling the time he himself bought over two pounds of PGR-laced weed. PGR stands for Plant Growth Hormone: the presence of this growth hormone produces small dense flowers and if smoked can cause headaches, nausea, and vomiting, as well having cancerous effects. Its orange appearance and inflamed pistons are easy to spot, but usually passed off as a strain called “Orange Ruffie”. This, alongside the rise of dangerous cathinones, caused an increase in distrust within the community. Due to the abundance of synthetic and harmful drugs, dealers like the Moderator went to extra lengths to market their products as safe.

With nearly half the New Zealand population (49.0%) having used recreational drugs at some point in their lives, it’s not hard to come to terms with the idea that just anyone could be a drug user. The Moderator said that he “couldn’t believe the range of different people who were involved in the servers”.

“Welly’s new drug dealing community is educated and evolving”

The Moderator agrees—helped along by new modes of buying and selling drugs that

don’t involve a dodgy alleyway. The new Wellington drug dealers care more about what they are putting out in the community and care about the people they sell to. To a degree.

The Moderator was among the first sellers to start including testing samples in their pictures. This practice became increasingly more common between servers, with sellers going the extra mile and including dates, phone timers and their usernames tagged on the test to prove the purity and potency of their product. This quickly became the bare minimum for sellers on the servers, restoring a sense of trust between buyer and seller.

A friend of mine, ‘Laney’, spoke to me about her experiences of being ripped off when buying MDMA at the Northern Bass Festival. She recalled how standing in a big yellow tent that had ‘KNOW YOUR STUFF’ written on it kind of felt like wearing a flashing neon sign saying, “I DO DRUGS”.

After having a pretty average night of the festival, ‘Laney’, who had scored 2 grams of MDMA from a friend, decided she should test it. Thinking it was just a bit weak or she hadn’t taken enough, she started to doubt her dealer who assured her that it was “good stuff”. While amongst other recreational drug takers she remembered waiting until her number was called, then following a young girl with a clipboard into a private area of the tent. The worker sat her and her friend down and paused to read the contents of the clipboard.

a bold sad face on it with big block letters that read “So you got Eutylone”. As she recounted the story, a blush crept up her cheeks. She described how they left the place feeling humiliated and embarrassed, with an overwhelming amount of knowledge about the potential risks of the white substance they had spent their holiday money on.

It's funny how one day you realise that your parents were once young too, and they probably experimented with drugs as well. My realisation came on my biannual Facetime call with my Dad and he asked if I was going to be doing MDMA at the festival I was going to next week. After spouting a few quick tips I realised he was no stranger to the world of narcotics. Turning instantly from a father figure into a fun uncle role, he retold stories of pure pressed pills that would put the average MDMA user into a coma.

Gone was the presence of cathinone, but not the presence of capitalisation. Dad told me about a ‘pressie’ manufacturer in Auckland who would pump out thousands of pure MDMA pills a year. This guy would import multiple dye colours, quickly to be associated with his reputation of high-quality pills. My dad fondly mentioned his favourite, dubbed “White Doves”. Although this man could be viewed as a saviour for not diluting his drugs with fillers, he was ultimately driven by profit like any other businessman.

The young girl looked up and said “What substance were you under the impression you brought in today?” Sharing a quick glance they both responded “MDMA”. She promptly follows that up with “Well what you have brought in today is zero percent MDMA and 100% Eutylone”. She remembers thinking, “What the hell is that?”.

In the last couple of years, ‘Laney’ had stumbled across her MDMA being cut with other cathinones such as bath salts, BK-MDMA or just straight-up gelatine, but had never been completely ripped off with a substance that she could barely remember the name of. She was handed a small booklet that had

After distributing his entire supply of a pill, he would then sell the imported coloured dye for someone else to produce their own pressed pills, with half the potency. Within the drug community there are typically very few loyalties, but the rise of the internet and the digitization of our daily processes means there is pressure for dealers to have to gain trust in order to retain customers, and retain a reputation.

‘Vic Deals’ in all its glory did not make it past 2020, police and app moderators shutting down multiple servers in late 2020, much like its inspiration Silk Road. This still did not stop dealers from using the internet to sell drugs, with apps such as Key Base and Wickr all used by Wellingtonians to avoid police detection. Each server would only last a few months before being shut down and all members banned from the app. The introduction of the Wellington drug servers provided users with options and security when purchasing drugs, aided by vigilant moderators who responded to the pressing epidemic of cathinones and synthetics that cause harm and distrust between buyers and sellers. While ‘Vic Deals’ is gone and any other servers have long since died out, I still hope it has opened up a conversation about harm prevention in the Wellington drug community.

MUSIC

RETROSPECTIVE

listened by Ethan Wolfe (he/him)

From the Days of Black and White: Modern American Roots

The 1960s were a socially, politically and artistically tumultuous period for America. The Civil Rights movement swept the country, the Cold War heated up, second-wave feminism gained momentum, anti-war protesters rallied against the war in Vietnam, and early gayrights pioneers begun to build a movement. Inextricably tied to these political movements was a broader social discourse of changing norms surrounding drugs, dress, and sexuality. Welcome to the counterculture decade.

While the current perception of these movements may be marred by the brutal responses that sometimes ensued, it is important to remember that they were instrumental in bringing about significant change, and dismantling cruel establishments. I believe that a key ingredient to their success was joy. Joy inspired through the collective experience of visual art, poetry infused into speeches, and, most memorably and effectively, through music. There were concerts that contained political messages or were directly tied to political action, songs that were sung at marches and protests, and other musical messages of change were broadcasted and distributed all over the world. Music brought together young and old, men and women, Black and White, into an experience of collective joy that the things they were fighting against would soon end. The musical movements that emerged would also go on to provide the groundwork for the music to come over the next fifty years, and which we are still hearing today.

Folk Revival:

The Folk Revival was a rediscovery of music that had originally been brought to America largely by Irish and Scottish migrants, and which had taken on a distinct style in its new home. The revival actually began in the 40s but experienced limited commercial success, and as many of the key figures of the movement such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger had a strongly socialist bent, it was repressed by Cold War paranoia and McCarthy era censorship. In the 60s the movement gained steam as more artists embraced it, the most notable of which were Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. They were a sort of juxtaposition within the movement: Bob Dylan was known for his incredible songwriting, and a voice that many found grating—Joan Baez for her beautiful, shockingly clear soprano voice and mostly performed covers. Another important figure is Doc Watson, a blind folk guitarist from the Appalachian mountains in North Carolina, whose encyclopedic knowledge of folk music allowed many songs to be preserved.

RETROSPECTIVE

Country-Western:

Country music in the 50s and 60s really didn’t exist as we know it today. A majority of it sounded closer to 50s pop, the ‘country’ part limited to rural themes in the lyrics, and acoustic guitar. There were, however, a few outliers who began to build the sound of country as we know it today. Townes Van Zandt created a kind of lonesome cowboy sound, with finger-style guitar, poetic lyrics that feel reminiscent of Bob Dylan, and a nostalgic, melancholy singing style. If you listen to modern indie folk, particularly artists like Sufjan Stevens, you can pretty strongly hear the influence. Johnny Cash became the most famous of his peers, known for his soulful voice and his great musical story-telling, but he produced such a mountain of records he can be hard to get into. I recommend starting with Orange Blossom Special and Hello, I’m Johnny Cash, or if you're looking for his 50s stuff, Sings the Songs that Made Him Famous (feat. The Tennessee Two) has some great songs as well. Dolly Parton didn’t start making her best stuff until the 70s, but she started off in the 60s singing duets with Porter Wagoner. Predictably she sounds fantastic, and she also began to introduce more of an Appalachian sound (particularly through the steel guitar) into a genre that had traditionally been dominated by sounds hailing from west of the Mississippi.

Rock n’ Roll:

To Beat The Devil Johnny Cash | Please Don’t Stop Loving Me Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton

American Rock didn’t really come of age until the 70s, and the 60s rock scene was largely dominated by bands from the UK. However, the late 60s began to produce some pioneering voices in the American rock scene. The most well known (and deservedly so) is Jimi Hendrix, but there were some other, slightly less known voices who helped create the sound of American rock to come. Janis Joplin was an early example of what would evolve into the hard rock sound, with her incredible stage presence and one-of a kind vocal style. The Velvet Underground laid the foundations for the more alternative New York City sound, and The Allman Brothers Band paved the way for the Southern rock scene.

Summertime Janis Joplin, Big Brother & The Holding Company |

Ball and Chain Janis Joplin, Big Brother & The Holding Company | Sweet Jane The Velvet Underground |

Candy Says The Velvet Underground | Ramblin’ Man The Allman Brothers Band

Velvet Voices Townes Van Zandt | I’ll Be Here in the Morning Townes Van Zandt | Danny Boy Johnny Cash |

Blues Revival:

The Blues Revival was spurred on largely by White college students who discovered the blues through recordings made in the 30s. These recordings inspired folk record labels like Arhoolie to track down the musicians in them to press new records, many of whom had returned to lives of sharecropping and playing at parties and church gatherings. As the blues existed primarily as a live act, there aren’t really particular albums that stand out, nor were there particular performers that towered over the rest, as each brought their own particular skill set and quirks. The sound was also highly regional, so I’ve tried to provide a sample of the different ‘blues’ across America: Lightnin’ Hopkins represents ‘Country Blues’, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee the ‘Piedmont sound’, Howlin’ Wolf for ‘Chicago Blues’, R.L. Burnside for ‘Hill Country Blues’, and Mississippi John Hurt for ‘Delta Blues’, where it all began.

Lonesome Graveyard Lightnin’ Hopkins | Big Wind (Is a’ Comin’) Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee |

Spoonful Howlin’ Wolf | Jumper On The Line R.L. Burnside | Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me Mississippi John Hurt

Motown:

Motown is technically considered a regional style of soul music, but it experienced such individual success and was so distinctive I decided to make it its own category. The name comes from its home in Detroit, which at the time was the heart of the booming American auto industry, earning it the nickname ‘Motor City’, then abbreviated to the simpler ‘Motown’. Compared to other soul variants, Motown sounded a lot closer to the pop created by all-White groups of the era, and produced many of the first Black superstars. Stevie Wonder went on to become an industry giant. The Isley Brothers experienced major success in their time, and a later reprise through their music being sampled in hip-hop tracks such as “It Was A Good Day” by Ice Cube and “Big Poppa” by Biggie Smalls. The Impressions was the Motown group of Curtis Mayfield, a major voice in soul who knew how to fully utilize the orchestral arrangements commonly found in the genre. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles just made great pop songs and made hit after hit in their golden age. Edwin Starr didn’t manage to last outside of his era, but “Twenty Five Miles” is just a damn good song.

Soulsville:

Superstition Stevie Wonder | This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) The Isley Brothers | Choice of Colors The Impressions | The Tracks of My Tears Smokey Robinson & The Miracles |

Twenty Five Miles Edwin Starr

In the 60s both “Soul” and “R&B” were kind of used as catch-all terms for Black music, encompassing sounds tied to folk, psychedelic, gospel, pop, and what would come of age as true soul music in the 70s. As such I’ve decided to list a range of different artists in order to try to cover the range of Black music at the time. The Chambers Brothers were an integrated band with a White drummer, who got famous through the folk circuit and were known for their rich harmony. Sly and The Family Stone were a fully integrated group including both men and women, Black and White, who pioneered the psychedelic soul sound in the 60s and funk in the 70s. The Ed Hawkins Singers are really a gospel group, but I’ve included them anyway because they absolutely kick ass, and a gospel cover of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In the Wind” is something I never knew I needed but fell in love with on first listen. James Brown is considered “the godfather of soul”, and though much of his most remembered work emerged in the 70s he was still packin’ some hits in the 60s when he started out. Curtis Mayfield is another leading soul figure, who blended insightful and strongly political lyrics with simply beautiful orchestral arrangements and instrumentation in a way no artist has matched before or since.

So Tired The Chambers Brothers | Everyday People Sly and The Family Stone |

Blowin’ In the Wind The Ed Hawkins Singers | It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World James Brown |

Move On Up Curtis Mayfield

Ethan Wolfe (he/him) | Design Nathan Russell (he/him)

This column is a selection of five movies, each perfect for a lazy night at home.

Human Traffic (1999) Music, Welsh

A comedy about five friends in Cardiff, Wales, set over one weekend out. It’s a great window into the music scene of the time, featuring great late 90s early 2000s fashion, and the best film depiction of MDMA I’ve ever seen. It uses each character to tell touchingly human stories. Jip and Lulu struggle with sexual hang-ups, Koop tries to sort out relationship jealousy, and Moff begins to deal with the consequences of his aimless, drug-fueled lifestyle. The real star though is the soundtrack, a showcase of the many moods of UK electronic music.

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022) Documentary, Independent

A documentary by photographer Nan Goldin, that covers both her personal life and career, as well as her current activist efforts against the Sackler family, the creators of OxyContin. The part covering her career delves into the pain of her personal life and the impact of it on her work, which covers queer subculture and her personal relationships. The part on her activism shows her efforts against pushing the Sackler family name out of the art world, a tactic they used to give themselves a positive image, and her staggeringly effective results.

Half Baked (1998) Comedy, Cult

A great stoner comedy co-written by and starring Dave Chappelle, with cameos including Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, John Stewart, and more. Dave Chappelle definitely carries the movie with witty writing and great comedic timing, and he also managed to work in narration in a way that doesn’t come off as obnoxious or lazy. When you want to get stoned and watch a movie, you want something that’s entertaining and simple enough that you can enjoy it without having to pay too much attention, while also including lots of little details and sequences for you to fixate on. Half Baked walks that line perfectly, and unlike a lot of stoner movies, it’s still good if you’re sober.

A Scanner Darkly (2006) Sci-Fi, Animated

A real oddball of a movie, in a good way. Fronted by an all-star cast of Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Robert Downey Jr., and Woody Harrelson, based on a Phillip K. Dick novel of the same name, and covering some pretty heavy topics such as the war on drugs, rehab, and addiction. It’s set in a not-too-distant future, in which the U.S. has lost the war on drugs and is being plagued by a new, ultra-addictive drug called Substance D. It’s a sci-fi thriller that really keeps you guessing and builds to a fantastic pay-off, and is definitely worth a watch.

Trainspotting (1993) Drama, Scottish

A film that seeks to answer questions that hopefully most of us will never find the answers to through our own experience, such as: Why do people do heroin? Why do people continue to do heroin? What is it like to get off of it? And what is it actually like to live as an addict? The film does this while also digging into the everyday relatable issues surrounding friends, relationships, and trying to find your direction in life. It also includes some amazing comic relief and manages to come off as a comedy, gritty crime film, interpersonal drama, and heist movie all rolled into one.

Aunty Vic dear, Q.

What to do about my messy and invasive flatmate's girlfriend wanting to move in?

Having your flatmate's partner constantly around is a situation nobody can prepare you for. However, it’s a reality that nearly every student faces. Sometimes a flatmate's partner can become an unexpected best friend, your favourite person to bump into on a night out, or someone who helps lug the rubbish out late on a Tuesday evening. Other times, they’re like a cyst—unwanted, painful, and ugly.

The ideal starting point is a conversation. However, it's important to understand what is reasonable to bring up, and what isn’t. One thing that never goes down well is telling your flatmate how often their partner is allowed to come over. The truth is, you live in a shared space, and if your flatmate wants their partner over they should be allowed to do so. Remember, it is their home too.

When their presence becomes greater than just a Saturday-sleepover, so should the expectation that they pull their weight and uphold the same standards as other flatmates. It’s basic manners to expect a frequent visitor to clean up after themselves, respect the boundaries of those who live there, and—heaven forbid—if they’re exploiting your $119 Kmart coffee machine each morning, at least run to the FourSquare and grab a new bag of beans?!

If they aren’t already doing this, they probably lack self-awareness and aren’t familiar with the flat expectations. To establish this, try leading by example, keep the bench clean and throw in a passing comment such as “Hey Sarah, next time you’re round do you mind grabbing a bottle of milk on your way?”. It’s as simple as that. You’re not asking them to pay the power bill, just a little courtesy contribution.

If the frequent visitor can’t pick up on these hints, it might be time to have a gentle conversation with your flatmate. Confrontation can be hard, but remember you have every right to discuss how you want to feel in your home. As much as you might feel mean, it is better to discuss these things because nobody wants to be that flatmate.

When it comes to moving in, only someone completely socially inept would ignore their flatmates and allow their partner to move in without prior discussion. If you sense a shift in dynamics, take proactive steps by arranging a flat meeting with your flatmate, excluding their partner. Make this initial conversation just that—a conversation, not a decision. Find out how your flatmate is feeling. They might surprise you and reveal that they aren't keen on their partner moving in either. You never know. Then, when it's your turn to share your thoughts, be honest and kind. Once everyone has aired their views, give everyone some space to reflect on their thoughts and schedule another chat, say, in three days' time.

In this second meeting, set your expectations, give your non-negotiables and spitball ideas. By the sounds of it, you’d be super justified in giving the love-bird a straight no. But again, try to stay open minded—it could lower rent? I mean that sounds like the only upside, but you know, at least try.

Friendships, flatmates, and relationships are a clusterfuck of emotions, financial stress, and people not unloading the dishwasher. So, don’t forget your basics. It's your home, you’re entitled to live how you want, but it’s also their home, and your flatmates are equally entitled to live as they want. If you’re not sure how to approach something, kindness, honesty, and open conversation almost never fail.

Need a hand?

Send your anonymous questions here! e

UNMASKING THE SHADOWS

In the picturesque landscapes of Aotearoa, where the beauty of nature meets the resilience of its people, a silent struggle is unfolding. The nation, celebrated for its progressive ethos, continues to face a pressing crisis—drug addiction. Beyond the captivating scenery lies a shadowy realm that demands immediate attention, as individuals grapple with the chains of dependency. It’s time to confront the shadows and provide the robust addiction support system the nation so desperately needs.

As the sun sets on the rolling hills, the reality of drug addiction casts a long shadow over communities nationwide. We know that this is not a faceless issue but a battle that touches families, colleagues, and friends across the vast landscape. Aotearoa, known for its unwavering spirit, now must face a call to action: to acknowledge the depth of this crisis and provide the support necessary for individuals to break free from the cycle of dependency.

Drug addiction, and its far-reaching consequences, require a multifaceted approach. The absence of accessible rehabilitation programs, counselling services, and community networks leaves a void in the nation's fight against addiction. It's time to bridge this gap and foster an environment where those struggling can find the help they need without fear or judgment.

This isn't just a plea for support; it's a call for a societal shift. Aotearoa can redefine its approach to addiction by creating a culture that emphasizes understanding, empathy, and collective responsibility. Breaking the stigma associated with drug dependency is the first step towards fostering an environment where individuals can feel empowered to seek help without the weight of judgment.

Community involvement is the cornerstone for effective support. Local initiatives, grassroots movements, and educational programs can play a pivotal role in raising awareness, dispelling myths, and providing tangible assistance to those navigating the tumultuous waters of recovery. By nurturing a sense of community, Aotearoa can build a robust support network that spans neighbourhoods, workplaces, and beyond.

In the face of this crisis, it’s well known that as New Zealander’s we tap into our renowned resilience and community Wairua. Learning from successful international models, the nation can adapt and implement progressive addiction support systems that prioritize the well-being of all citizens. This is not merely a challenge; it's an opportunity for Aotearoa to showcase its commitment to compassion, unity, and the overall health of its people. As the country stands at the crossroads of change, it's time to unmask the shadows of drug addiction and illuminate the path towards recovery. By providing comprehensive addiction support, Aotearoa can transform this challenge into a triumph, empowering individuals to reclaim their lives by fostering a society where no one battles addiction alone.

Let’s continue to stand together, as we work towards a society where every individual can overcome the challenges of drug addiction and embrace a life of hope, health, and happiness. Together, we can break the chains.

Noho ora mai,

Shay McEwan (she/they)

Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Ngāti Pāhauwera

Kissing Your Friends At Parties

words by E. Stacy (she/her)

I could wax poetic about the healing powers of platonic affection among queer people. Growing up in a world that treats the way you love as abnormal tends to shape your view of how people can relate to each other in a community. For example, I like to get high as hell and make out with my friends at parties.

There’s much to be wary about the way drugs can affect a person’s boundaries and inhibitions, but if you’re doing it right (testing, safe dosing, etc), it can be a great time. The first time I took MDMA at a party was while surrounded by friends, and I was immediately filled with an overwhelming love for everyone in sight.

So I went around kissing them, with permission of course. I’m naturally a very affectionate person and ecstasy just takes it up to 11, so I try to surround myself with people who want to receive that love. It heals my queer little heart to know that I’m in a safe place with the right people who will let me love them as fully and openly as possible. Explore those feelings. Drugs optional but they are fun.

And now, some poetry:

To have a good night

I take drugs smartly

When I want to kiss my friends at the party

So I pop a cap

To get this starty

Then I can kiss my friends at the party

I’m filled with joy

My soul most hearty

When I kiss my friends at the party.

podcasts.

with Speaker of the House Teddy O'Neill (he/it/ia)

Need some killer listening material for your next sesh? Having a sober night in and want to fill the silent void of your empty flat? Tune in this week to listen to hear the Salient gang talk about taking drugs, Teddy talk to comedians and witches, and learn about student welfare from Liban!

"Do y'all remember when you'd be in the Harold van and they'd gas you with the good smelling shit?"

Salient Unedited This week, our team chats drug testing, crossfading, and Harold the Giraffe!

"Great question, 'can you name a time when you weren't very funny!' Thanks!"

Arts & Culture This week, Teddy talks to Kiwi comedian Ray O'Leary about appearing on Taskmaster and what it's like going from studying at Vic to doing comedy full time, and also to Cassie, Salient's local horoscope heathen!

"I'm at home playing Fornite, (don't know why I'm doing that,) and I get this call from an unknown number... How the fuck did the Green party get my information?"

VUWSA Unedited Teddy and Will talk to VUWSA's welfare VP, Liban, about what he can do for you!

Cross-Fade

rolled-up by Emma

It's intriguing to watch a gambler play the slot machines. They sit in rows of chairs and continuously pull down a lever to watch little pictures spin around. But they don't give up after one loss or the next. They keep playing until all their money is gone, or they've won enough to justify leaving.

If I were in their shoes, I would've left after losing the first time.

"But what if the next one is a win?" I hear you. Maybe the next roll of the dice would've turned in my favour, and I would have won. That is the allure of the slot machine after all—the promise of a big win to the person who is dedicated enough to keep playing. But back then, I was a little more preoccupied with my own game I had going on. Whenever, wherever, and however I could, I was going to master the art of cross-fading.

It takes only two ingredients to cross-fade, technically. Firstly, some form of alcohol, to target the central nervous system and actively decrease the body's processing abilities. Secondly, a joint of marijuana to relax cognitive processing. Together, the ethanol from the alcohol will increase the absorption rate of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the marijuana, resulting in what some have called a "euphoric high".

I said ‘technically’ before as there is a third ingredient required to cross-fade. Like slot machines and coins, the gambler is required to accept the possibility of losing big. It is the same in cross-fading. If you are going to do it, you must accept the possibility that the combination of these two substances will send you on a bad trip.

When I was 19, during a house party, I had finished my third drink and went outside for some fresh air. A couple of my mates were smoking a joint and offered it up. I was excited because it was my first time getting cross-faded. I had witnessed others cross-fading and always felt excluded, left alone to fantasise about the fun they were having. So I took a single hit of the joint, found a comfortable place to sit and waited in anticipation for the good times to come. Suddenly, a strange chill rushed up from my feet and into my head, and I became hyper-conscious of my breathing. Was I being too loud? I closed my mouth, but my nostrils went crazy trying to breathe in air. Just calm down. My heart rate wouldn't listen, and it drummed so hard that my ears became blocked. I didn't want to seem lame in front of these crossfaders. But I was starting to panic.

So I decided to leave the party and go home before I made a fool of myself. I stumbled out of the door, violently vomited on someone's driveway, and blacked out in the Uber. The morning after, I woke up in cold flushes with a hangover like flesh-eating ants were living inside my brain.

I had lost big time, had a bad trip, 'greened-out' as it is called. Mates came to me with stories about how I actually behaved during that night, how I was staggering down Cuba St, trying to enter bars but could barely string a sentence together, acting a little crazy and hammered. I still don't have the entire story,

a bad round. Next time, I'll win big."

I haven't cross-faded for a while now, and I advise people against it. I wish I could have been the rare exception, the gambler who keeps winning. But I couldn't. Instead, I think about all that time I wasted away trying to win, and I mourn. And in that mourning, there is still that little voice tucked away in my mind that I know will come out the next time I'm offered a joint while drinking. And it might succeed in convincing me to take the chance once more, and that is what scares me the most.

In what country would you find Mount Kilimanjaro?

What is a group of pandas known as?

What European country experienced the highest rate of population decline from 2015 - 2020?

How many bones do we have in an ear?

Who famously crossed the Alps with elephants on the way to war with the Romans?

How many birds can you find in this issue? Flick through the magazine, count them all and send your answer to letters@salient.org.nz to win a prize!

Maze

DOWN

2. American thriller TV series launched in 2021 starring Melanie Lynskey (13)

3. Extract files from a compressed folder (5)

4. The first thing weed-heads become (8)*

5. The second thing weed-heads become (4)*

7. US clothing brand with offshoot Aerie (8,5)

8. The third thing weed-heads become (11)*

9. The fourth thing weed-heads become (6)*

10. Appearances of divine or supernatural beings (11)

14. Substance that can be used as a wax, mineral oil or fuel (8)

16. Colouring hair or clothes (6)

20. Capital city of Ecuador (5)

21. Dishonest person (4)

WORD SCRAMBLE

How many words (of three letters or more) can you make from these letters (according to the Scrabble UK dictionary)?

CHANNEL ORANGE

CROSSWORD MADE BY BLAKE

ACROSS

1. Song by the artist at 25-Across warning drug users of becoming the starred answers; phrase encouraging individuality (2,8)

6. Capital city of Azerbaijan (4)

10. Surname of Spanish painter Diego, known for ‘Las Meninas’ (9)

11. One who drinks too much tea (5)

12. Discontinuation, obstruction, brought to a halt (8)

13. Choice, alternative (6)

15. ___ Mahal (3)

16. Break up a group (7)

17. Card with the lowest or highest value in a deck, depending on the game (3)

18. Word that can follow raffle, concert, or parking (6)

19. “It’s just a spring clean for the __ ___” in ‘Stairway to Heaven’ (3,5)

22. Pacific, Indian, or Atlantic, for example (5)

23. Broke laws or conditions (9)

24. Back-talk, impudence (4)

25. Musician whose 2012 album is the title of this crossword (5,5)

Good: 8 | Very Good: 10 | Excellent: 12+

OSCAR SCANDALS

CROSSWORD MADE BY PUCK

puzzles panga

ACROSS

1. Actress whose Oscar envelope caused 'La La Land' to be awarded Best Picture for about four minutes (4,5)

6. Team currently captained by Sam Cane (3,6)

pov: i am the bus stop on courtenay place and i know ur secrets

She watches girls pop the nights like pills cherry wine so cheap it blushes in paper bags

only to be broken and spilled over concrete seeping under the feet of the figures that poke and prod her

She hates the way kids drop night ‘n day vapes down the back of the benches like their disposability might make the cancer a little less permanent

Stiffening at strangers til they pass out softly beside her starving eyes rolling up to the dopamine in the stars hollow heads lolling unbalanced against bus poles and all the dead mosquitos floating around us

won’t say a word, won’t try to wake them so she feels safe staring for just a little too long the walk to Cuba is lonely candles littered unlit down the street

she takes their shadows with her on the bus and wonders if we’ll still be here in the morning

7. There's a lot of it to enjoy on a road trip (7)

11. "You don't have to remind me!" (1,8)

13. Comedian who was slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars (5,4)

DOWN

1. Taylor Swift concert tour that started in Glendale, Arizona (4)

2. B or C of the Spice Girls (3)

3. Shards of wood (9)

4. Happen (5)

5. Like this crossword puzzle, if you know much about the Oscars (4)

8. Say "hooray" (5)

9. It's combined with copper to make brass (4)

10. 'Star ___' (popular franchise) (4)

12. Say "not hooray"? (3)

BONUS QUESTION: Aside from their appearances at the Oscars, what links the two performers in this crossword?

comic artist: @walterzamalisss

poetry by Penelope Scarborough (she/her) ; a nineteen year old psychology, philosophy and poetry student at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University.

Salient 2024

Third Row: Ngan Dang (she/they, Staff Writer Intern) ; Monisha Dahya (she/her, Podcast Intern) ; Darcy Lawrey (he/him, Online & News Intern) ; M&M (Ash's cat) ; Bird of the Week

Second Row: Phoebe Robertson (she/her, Editor) ; Te Huihui Tran (he/him, Te Ao Māori Co-Editor) ; Ashleigh Putt-Fallows (she/her, Te Ao Māori Co-Editor) ; Daphene (Henry's cat) ; Guy van Egmond (he/him, Contributing Writer) ; Jia Sharma (she/her, Staff Writer) ; Mauatua Fa'ara-Reynolds (she/her, Staff Writer) ; Henry Broadbent (he/him, Sub-Editor)

Front Row: Teddy O'Neill (he/it/ia, Speaker of the House) ; Ava O'Brien (she/her, Distributor) ; Ethan Rogacion (he/him, News Co-Editor) ; Dan Moskovitz (he/him, Chief Reporter) ; Will Irvine (he/him, News Co-Editor) ; Kate Seager (she/her, Designer)

This week's comic artist: @cheesin.fm

CHECK IT B4 U NECK IT

Drug checking is free, non-judgemental, and 100% legal in Aotearoa