CANTA ISSUE 4, 2023

CANTA CANTA CANTA

Editorial Editorial

Kia ora wounders,

We have all just come off of a well needed mid semester break, some of us would have stayed in the garden city and some would have gone home for free food, laundry, and a smothering from our parents.

As per usual, I made a wee trip up to the mighty Blenheim smack bang in the middle of harvest. Christchurch’s hustle and bustle was quickly replaced by gondolas, harvesters, and a whole lotta grapes. Enough wine to fuel many years of BYO’s.

Looking forward to the final half of semester one can be overwhelming, and pretty scary. We are officially over a quarter of the way through the year, which for some is edging closer to graduating and having no bloody clue what to do next. It is also a reminder though, that if we can get through this first quarter, we can do the rest of the year. You have to do the mahi to get the treats.

Winter is also fast approaching along with ski season, as well as some pretty cool issues of Canta. We have some sick videos planned for “Canta can Canta does” as well as our new radio show “Canta Banta” starting up on RDU every Thursday 12-2. Love it, live it, breathe it.

There have also been some pretty crazy things that have happened over the break in the news. There were tornadoes in both the North and South Islands, Kane Williamson is injured and out for the upcoming world cup, NZ has finally realised the school system needs a face lift, and Donald Trump got charged with 34 felonies, shame brother.

To kick off this chunk of the semester though, what better way than a drugs issue. Having a smoke, snort, or swallow has become pretty common and the conversation should follow suit. ‘Drugs’ shouldn’t be a hush hush topic like sex, we need to have a bant about it, share the bad and the great, and be open.

Drugs are almost always seen as bad, but a lot of the time drugs actually have a pretty cool purpose. Panadol, Ibuprofen, the morning after pill to name a few can be lifesavers after a night out. Whilst antidepressants and other prescribed medication can help people feel a little bit lighter each day. Everyone uses drugs in different ways for different reasons, who are we to judge?

As you flick through these beautiful, handcrafted, pages made of sweat, tears, and paper (obvs), you will find a whole heap of brilliant content; from binge battles between Dunners and Christchurch, interviews with drug testing legends “Know Your Stuff”, the much-anticipated Canta annual drug survey, and a whole heap more.

That being said, join us on the mad trip that is this issue, snort up the news, inhale the vocab, and smoke the proverbial word bong. Green out and start pinging on Canta.

Get amongst it you good things.

Go hard or go home, Your 2023 Managing Editor, Maddy Croad

CANTA-lendar

CANTA-lendar CANTA-lendar

Presidents Piece Presidents Piece

Kia ora koutou,

Welcome back for term 2. I hope you all had a great break and are feeling rested and ready for the rest of the semester. There will be a lot going on over the coming weeks, so make sure you keep an eye out. ANZAC Day is soon, 25th of April, and a rememberence service will be held on the Oakover Lawn from 10am. I encourage you to come along if you are able. On the 27th of April, Mono is back with Old Mervs. This is going to be a major term for Mono, and all I’ll say now is you do not want to miss out.

It is the annual Canta drugs issue, and what a great issue it is. Obviously we all know that there are risks with taking substances. And that the best way to deal with these risks is to reduce harm where you can – this looks like knowing what you are taking, making sure you get substances tested, and ensuring that you are aware of how much you are dosing. Mixing substances also poses risks, in particular stimulants and depressants. Education and harm reduction is key.

Prohibition is not helpful. In fact, prohibition is an active barrier to harm reduction – keeping drug testing less accessible, creating a black market that is insentivised by profit, and maintaining the stigma around substance use which in itself disincentivises open conversations with friends, testers, and health professionals. I am not arguing that drugs are good. But they are not bad either. It is a far more nuanced conversation than a crude assessment of good and bad.

If a legal recreational substance, such as alcohol, was treated by the same standard as illegal substances, it would be outlawed in a second. Now, I do like a few beers every now and then. However, I also readily accept the harms that can come from alcohol, both personal and societal. The same nuances exist with most illegal drugs. Prohibition is not the answer, whether it is alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, or MDMA.

As a mature society we should be able to have open discussion around risk, harm, and autonomy. Not be guided by the expeidence and populism of closed minded politicians who only view drug policy reform or the idea of liberalisation as a means to stir up concern amongst voters before an election, or to fear-monger about a supposed drug-induced societal degridation. We saw it during the Cannabis Referendum, and it was discourse that was so far detached from reality that you almost thought it was a joke. But it worked. Cannabis is still illegal, and drug reform discussions were shelved by most political parties.

This isn’t good enough. We should expect more from our political class, and as students and/or young people we need to be asking the tough questions – why are they willing to be complicit in an oppresive system? Why are you ignoring the evidence that prohibition has been a resounding failure? Why aren’t you brave enough to stand by your personal convictions against the grain of politics?

Criminalisation of drugs does not help addicts. It is a crude measure that fills our prisons, and pushes the problems of addiction on to future generations, or back into the communities that desperately need a common sense approach. Treatment above punishment, and decriminalisation above prohibition. It is 2023, and it is time to call for a definitive end to the war on drugs, and regulate recreational substances.

Tumuaki Piece Tumuaki Piece

Whatungarongaro he tangata, toitū te whenua. -a land disappears from sight, the land remains

Mauri Ora e te iwi,

With this month's theme on “Drugs”, I would like to take an opportunity to talk about Rongoā and the ‘Therapeutic Products Bill’ that has been put out by the Government recently.

Rongoā Māori is traditional Māori healing that encompasses herbal remedies, physical therapy and spiritual healing and practices. Rongoā is heavily utilised and managed by Tohunga to ensure a balance of sustainability and healing of one’s hauora and wairua. Many Māori whānau also have Rongoā in their māra which they can use at times to heal wounds, treat illnesses and body pains.

Here below is a list of how different Rongoā can help in regards to pain:

• stomach aches: the shoot of the koromiko plant (hebe) is chewed

• eye pain: the bark of houhere (lacebark) is soaked in cold water to form a jelly which is applied to the eyes

• sore eyes: leaves of the makomako (wineberry) are boiled and also can be applied directly over the eyes

• aches and pains: a compress of the leaves of karamū (coprosma) is applied to the painful area

• joint aches: an infusion of the leaves of the māhoe (whiteywood) or the bark of makomako is bathed in

• muscle aches, sprains, swollen joints: the leaves or all parts of the tutu/tūpākihi (Coriaria arborea) are boiled and applied to wounds as a poultice or the liquid used to soak in. More commonly, these days, a towel maybe soaked in the hot infusion then applied to the painful area

• bladdWer and kidney pain: the shoot of the karamū (coprosma) is boiled in water or an infusion is made of the leaves of the mānuka (red) or kānuka (white tī/tea tree) to drink

• toothache: kawakawa (Māori pepper tree) leaves chewed to relieve toothaches and swelling associated or the liquid from boiled leaves of the matipo (māpau) is also effective.

If you haven’t heard or read about it yet, the Government has put forth the ‘Therapeutic Products Bill’ to introduce a new way to modernise the way medicines, medicinal devices and natural health products are regulated. This has left a lot of practitioners of Ronogā concerned about how Rongoā Māori is included with other health products. Hemaima Wiremu, a Rongoā expert states, “We want a clause in that bill that Rongoā should not be in there because it is its own matauranga, it is its own whare”.

Many have concerns of this Bill becoming similar to the Tohunga Suppression Act, which was an Act in 1907 by the Government to stop Māori from using Rongoā that wasn’t very effective. This bill would categorise Rongoā away from its own mātauranga and it’s protection from Māori and Tohunga.

The Bills submissions had closed in March and has not been officially passed through government but I would definitely recommend reading up on it yourself and stay tuned for updates to come.

Update from Te Akatoki

Kapa Haka is weekly on Tuesdays in Ernest Rutherford 141

Te Huinga Tauira is the annual conference between all the Māori Students Associations across the motu. It consists of a weekend of workshops, Kapa haka, sports and whanaungatanga. Te Akatoki is hosting this year alongside Te Mana Ākonga this September, which is the first time in 3 years it has been hosted in person due to COVID-19.

More information to come soon so stay tuned on our socials for more! :)

Ngā manaakitanga, Anna

Canta news.

Canta news.

Roadside drug driving testing hits roadblock

Matteo Zhang (he/him)

Roadside drug testing meant to be introduced in March, has not been rolled out as testing kits that meet the criteria required don’t yet exist.

The roadside drug testing regime was a key part of the governments "Road to Zero" campaign. The testing was supposed to be used alongside new infringements and tougher penalties for drivers caught drug driving.

Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan said that the police had advised the government that there was no device available to meet the criteria and intent of the legislation.

The Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act still came into force on the 11th of March without the testing kits being available to police.

National Party’s Transport Spokesperson Simeon Brown said that the government was putting lives at risk.

“The legislation required to introduce randomised roadside drug testing was passed almost a year ago, giving the Government more than enough time to set up random roadside drug testing in line with its targets,” he said.

“But it has since been revealed that the Government has failed to get the necessary test kits for this drug testing program to begin. It is simply not good enough and it is Kiwis that will suffer the consequences of this failed rollout.”

Drug driving was attributed to a third of road fatalities in 2021. In 2019 a petition calling for roadside drug testing was handed to parliament by the mother of Matthew Dow, who was killed

by a driver high on methamphetamine and cannabis.

There are some roadside saliva test kits available. However, the criteria in the new laws for what can be used is extremely specific and likely the cause of the roadblock.

New Zealand Police Association President Chris Cahill said that he was disappointed with the outcome.

"It's pretty hard to understand why you'd introduce legislation if there wasn't actually technology that goes along with it.”

"It's certainly not going to be the game-changer we thought this legislation would be."

In a statement, Assistant Commissioner Bruce O’Brien said that they would continue to enforce the law by using the current practice of compulsory impairment tests (CIT) and other options were being explored.

“Random roadside drug driving testing will still be implemented following amendments made to the legislation, which is likely to include a confirmatory evidential laboratory test similar to how devices are used in other jurisdictions including Australia.”

“Partnering agencies are working together on implementing the Road to Zero strategy and ultimately, we want to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries that happens on our roads causing devastation to families and whanau.”

Break-ins prompt students to beef up security

UC third-year journalism students

The start of the university year is often a busy time for burglaries and, already, UC students are being forced to tighten security after reported break-ins.

Some say more support is needed from landlords to make flats more secure in the first place.

UC student Cassie Gray is more than $6000 out of pocket after her flat was robbed over summer. Gray, who was in Auckland with family at the time, says windows were smashed and many of her belongings stolen, including a debit card that was later used in a supermarket spending spree.

“They took my hair straighteners, my hair dryer, three puffer jackets, three pairs of shoes and all of my expensive uni gear, like my calculator.”

After the break-in, the flatmates asked their property manager to install better security - the flat’s alarm had been disconnected at the time – but Gray says, “our landlord said if we wanted more security measures, we'd have to sort it out ourselves”.

The window latches on her room also did not close properly, which has been an issue for other students too.

Second-year student Sofia Scales says the window latches in her flat were broken when she first moved in. However, after checking the Tenancy Services and Healthy Homes standards

and seeing working window latches were required, the flatmates were able to get the landlord to repair them.

Police Crime Snapshot data shows reported property crimes (burglary and theft) increased more than 40% last year, up from 21,794 reported crimes in 2021 to 31,120 in 2022 – and Riccarton was the 4th-highest suburb for reported victimisations (behind only Cathedral Square, Sydenham and Bromley).

Student-related claims data by State Insurance shows frequently stolen items include bikes (22.7% of claims), cell phones (16%) and laptops (10.7%).

Michael Hyman, who flats in Riccarton, says his flatmates had their bikes stolen from their flat garage, while Callum Nimmo says he and his flatmates are taking extra care after a visitor’s truck was smashed and robbed at his Ilam flat last month.

They hadn’t worried about security before then -- they had left cars unlocked in the driveway – but have since been more considerate about how they secure their property. The flat do so by parking their cars away from street view and locked, keeping their valuables hidden in their rooms and ensuring the flat is locked when left unattended.

Third-year student William Head says he and his flatmates make sure they don’t leave windows open facing the road, and don't leave anything valuable in view of the street.

Christchurch CEO Recognized at New Zealander of the Year awards

Anisha Satya (she/her)

Change, creation, and justice were the common themes between winners of the 2023 New Zealander of the Year Ngā Tohu Pou Kōhure o Aotearoa awards.

Emily Blythe, Cantabrian and CEO of Pyper Vision, took home Innovator of the Year Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau for creating an award-winning fog-dispersal system.

Pyper Vision uses drones to clear fog from airport runways in a matter of minutes.

As a teenager, Blythe had pitched the concept of fog-dispersal to the Lions Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme who suggested she “pick something easier”.

Now, six years after its formation, Pyper Vision plans to operate nationwide and save airports millions of dollars in delayed flights.

New Zealander of the Year Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa went to Professor Rangi Mātāmua (Ngāi Tūhoe). Professor Mātāmua helped designate a public holiday to recognize Matariki, and has been heavily involved in public education around Mātauranga Māori.

He sees Mātauranga Māori and Western science as two different ways of understanding the world, not adversaries. “You don’t traverse the greatest expanse of ocean on the planet... on spirituality, you do it on science”.

Young New Zealander of the Year Te Mātātahi o te Tau of the Year went to Shaneel Lal, who fronted the Ban Conversion Therapy movement.

Lal, a survivor of conversion therapy, encouraged others to fight against queer discrimination in their communities. Their comments come after Posie Parker’s visit to New Zealand saw an increase in anti-trans sentiment increases online.

“I exist. Trans people exist. And my people, they are human.”

Environmental Hero of the Year Te Toa Taiao o te Tau, first awarded in 2022, went to Camden Howitt.

His efforts as co-founder of charity Sustainable Coastlines saw over 1.7 million liters of rubbish removed from our oceans, and over 330,000 trees planted near waterways.

Howitt wrapped up work with Sustainable Coastlines last November, 14 years since its creation, but will continue his work in the conservation sector. “My love for our oceans, and my drive to protect them, is stronger than ever.”

Local Hero of the year Te Pou Toko o te Tau was Dr Ellen Nelson, who brought 563 Afghans escape to New Zealand after the Taliban reoccupied Afghanistan.

The Kindness Collective, a charity who do everything from make meals, provide clothing and plant gardens, took out Community of the Year Ngā Pou Whirinaki o te Tau.

Senior New Zealander of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau was awarded to Sir Mark Dunajtschik, a concentration camp survivor who pours his wealth into creating better hospitals and health services.

Students heartbroken at the tragic loss of Blossom the cat

Matteo Zhang (he/him)

Blossom the cat, who spent much of her day greeting students as they commuted to campus past the Roundtree Street and Ilam Road shops, lost her life in March after being hit by a car. Canta understands that Blossom was hit by a car on Ilam Road late at night in mid-March.

Blossom was a familiar presence who would come up to students whether they were waiting at Captain Bens, getting a snack from the Campus Corner Dairy, or just walking to the library late at night.

Her owner, Charlotte Merrall a student at the University of Canterbury said that Blossom was so well loved by the student community.

University of Canterbury Student Association (UCSA) President Pierce Crowley said that Blossom was a social cat that always loved a cuddle.

“I know she lived a great life during her time here in Ilam, she was so well cared for by her owner, and the community at large. She brightened the day of everyone who came across her wanders, and she will be missed immensely".

“She’s great, and she loves to meet people and get some pats, but she’s conning you! She will try to convince you she’s hungry. Do not believe her! She is well fed and loved at home, please don’t call paw patrol,” the Facebook post said.

Crowley told Canta that students would be feeling the loss, “It is heartbreaking to know that Blossom is no longer with us".

“She was a familiar face that brightened up the day of anyone who came across her on Ilam Road, Captain Ben’s, or even if she just turned up at your flat for a few scratches and a snack. She will be so missed".

Ilam Road has undergone major safety improvements over the last decade, post-quake saw the road transformed with a separated bike lane, dual school crossing, landscaping, and a 40kmh speed zone.

However, despite the 40kmh limit, speeding drivers are a common site along the road. “The message is simple - be careful, be aware of your surroundings, and keep to a safe speed,” Crowley said.

“There are flats, families, and Ilam School in a short stretch, and safe driving means looking out for all these people, pets, and the wider community". the up University Noticeboard, Blossom’s owner would have to warn students

Blossom would frequent the local shops, accept pats, and cuddle up to anyone who showed her attention.

In posts to the University of Canterbury Student Association Noticeboard, Blossom’s owner would have to warn students against feeding Blossom as she was ‘scamming’ them.

“You may know Blossom from the corner of Ilam Road and Rountree St, or the bench in Captain Bens."

The Recap

The Recap

Matteo Zhang (he/him)

IPCC report delivers urgent ʻfinal warning’ on the climate crisis

The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its sixth assessment report on the climate crisis and the challenges facing the world.

The multi-year report is likely to be the last assessment published where the world still has a chance to keep global temperatures below 1.5°C of pre-industrial levels. The report states that human activity has “unequivocally caused global warming,” and that without urgent intervention, the threat to life and the environment will be devastating.

The current temperature is 1.1°C warmer than preindustrial levels, and while remaining below a 1.5°C rise is achievable according to the report, global emissions are still not at sustainable levels.

Extreme weather events like the recent Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle are predicated to increase in frequency if targets are not reached. The report highlights that climate policy this decade is going to shape whether the environment and human life can be protected from the climate crisis.

The report comes as the UN has agreed to Vanuatu’s proposal for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to assess the legal obligations nations have in addressing the climate crisis.

Former US President Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 34 felony charges

Making history as the first former president to be charged with a crime, in a New York courthouse Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to the 34 charges that allege he used hush money payments to influence the outcome of the 2016 US election.

Trump denies the charges of falsifying business records to hide his role in hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The Manhattan district attorney alleged that the payments were part of a concerted plan to suppress negative information that could damage the Trump 2016 campaign.

In 2018, Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen who made the hush payments to Daniels on behalf of Trump, pled guilty and was convicted for the campaign finance violations.

The charges are not the only legal issues facing the former president.

In the US State of Georgia he faces an election tampering probe, and the US Department of Justice is also investigating his actions during January 6th as

well as his handling of classified documents found in his Mar-a-Lago resort.

Spring offensive expected as war in Ukraine continues to rage

Bitter fighting through the Ukrainian winter has seen the war reach a grim stalemate of artillery and trench warfare.

A failed Russian winter offensive was held off by the Ukrainians and now, as promised western tanks arrive in Ukraine, its military is gearing for an offensive of its own.

The spring offensive will be a test of the Ukrainians ability to pull off the complex combined arms manoeuvres needed to cut through Russian defensive lines.

In Europe, following a yearlong process, formerly neutral Finland became the newest nation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personally working with NATO partners in the UK have continued to provide training to thousands of Ukrainian recruits. The newly trained soldiers are expected to be vital for the upcoming offensive.

NZDF continues to contribute to the intelligence and logistical effort supporting Ukraine. In April, New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta met with NATO Foreign Ministers in a meeting in Brussels.

Napier MP Stuart Nash sacked from all ministerial portfolios after cabinet leak

Former Minister Stuart Nash was sacked after it was revealed he had shared confidential cabinet information with donors.

Recently Nash had only just resigned as police minister, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins having placed him on his ‘final warning’ for previous breaches of the Cabinet manual, the document governing conduct of Cabinet Ministers.

Nash now loses his remaining ministerial portfolios of economic development, forestry, and fisheries.

The MP apologised to his ministerial colleagues, staff, and constituents for ‘getting it wrong’ and later announced he would not contest his electorate seat in Napier at the next election.

Nash will remain in his seat up until the election in October to avoid triggering a by-election.

W ho is ‘‘ ’’

Know Your Stuff

If you’ve been at any kind of music festival in the past few years, chances are you’ve seen a little marquee with a yellow smiley face on it - that’s Know Your Stuff NZ. They’re keeping drug users safe one festival at a time, by creating a safe space for people to get their drugs checked, focusing on harm reduction, not confiscation. Their services are completely legal and don’t worry - they’re not undercover cops.

Christchurch Regional Co-Lead of Know Your Stuff, Jason Middlemiss, speaks about the legalities Know Your Stuff has faced, the process of getting your drugs checked and Know Your Stuffs’ goals moving forward.

In a nutshell, what does Know Your Stuff do?

We provide drug checking services, it’s quite important to make the distinction between drug testing and drug checking. We're checking people's drugs for them; we're not testing them. We are a drug checking service, primarily for festivals and events. We started at Kiwiburn and then expanded out to several other festivals and then similar types of things like that.

We also provide drug checking monthly for clinics around the country, so Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton - they’re on a more regular basis. Also, there's a bit of an advocacy element around harm reduction and why that's important because that's what we do primarily, the drug checking is how we do that.

What's the process like from the perspective of someone getting their drugs checked? What can they expect when they come in at a festival or clinic?

So essentially, you’ll either rock up to a static clinic, that’s what we call our pop-up kind of thing so that’s generally in the same place every month. Let’s use a festival example - you’ll bring a sample of something that you have to our marquee or tent and there'll be someone there greeting you just letting you know how the process works. You know, how long you might have to wait, just a bit of a brief to give a bit of an explanation, and then from there, you'll be taken into the marquee. We have some sectioned-off areas for a bit of privacy, and you'll tell one of our volunteers what you think you've got.

Then we will record that information, we don't take any identifying information from you, but just information about the substance, then we’ll ask a few other prompting questions about it. We document it down on a tablet, so what they thought they had and then if there are any other

useful bits of information that comes from that general conversation, like “my mates took it last weekend and they felt a bit weird and it wasn't what they expected” or “we've never taken it before".

From that point, we'll take a little sample, like a couple of matchsticks worth, put it in a bag and give you a sample number. Then you can essentially leave, hang around, come back later, depending on how big the queue is, which we’ll give you an idea of, and then when you come back we will have results for you.

So generally, we have another area and we'll have someone who's giving harm reduction information and the results who will then explain what the results were of the sample you brought in. So whether it was MDMA or something else that you presumed it was. Then we just ask a few questions around people's knowledge on the particular substance that they might have, how they might use it, and then we provide some suggestions on some things they can do to reduce the potential harm.

So someone might have been planning to snort some MDMA or something, and we ask how they are going to do that and give advice like, “well, definitely don't use banknotes because they're horrifically dirty and you can get infections,” or it might be that “hey, it's the first time they've ever done it, they don’t know how to dose it safely or how much pay for what the effects will be.”

So then we'll give them some information on what they can expect in that scenario, it varies slightly differently depending on the individual coming, but basically, we tell them what it is that they’ve got and then some tips and tricks they can use to minimise the risk of anything going awry.

On the Know Your Stuff website, it notes that the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Act changed in 2021 to allow you to openly check substances at events without fear of prosecution. Before this change, what kind of legalities did you face? What did this look like in practice?

When I started in 2020, the legislation was very vague, because it was a case of if you're at a venue, and then they [the New Zealand Police] know there's going to be drugs there, then we are potentially liable under the law for allowing drug use.So it was a somewhat challenging legislative environment because it was vague and it wasn't clear.

Beccy Arnold (she/her)

Now from a practical perspective, there was quite a bit of support for what we were doing and it really didn't feel like the police were going to storm in and put us all in handcuffs, take us away and shut the venue down. But that was something which could have happened because of the vagueness [of the law]. To try and minimise the risks there, we weren't allowed to handle substances so we literally had to have a spectrometer there, which was what we used to check drugs, and we would get a client to take it out of the bag and put it in.

We would just do everything other than handle the substance and that could slow things down a bit. The number of people that were willing to volunteer to do the work was a lot lower because obviously if there's a potential legal risk that puts a lot of people off. Now, functionally, there isn’t a significant amount of change in terms of how we could operate, but it's just the reporting and the requirements [that we have to do].

Were people receptive of Know Your Stuff before the law change?

Having the service available, people that were using it and showing up were really happy to have it there, which was, I think, the general feedback when we first started the service back in 2015.

So there was that crowd, but then obviously if something's illegal, there's a lot of people out there who don't like that. It wasn’t the type of thing that you would be talking about at your normal day job or anything like that, especially when it was illegal. It wasn’t something that the people who were volunteering would share widely because of the stigma that can come with doing something illegal, whether it has a net positive effect or not. There was a little bit of discomfort around that for some people, but once it became legalised, people’s views can change quite quickly.

When Know Your Stuff started, what kind of goals did you have? What are your goals now compared to when you first started?

The goal at the start was to help our own community, Kiwiburn’s quite a tight-knit community, very niche, and the goal at that point was just to keep the users of Kiwiburn safer. The other goals were to prove that drug checking works and that by doing it with drugs before they use them, we end up with less people in hospital and less harm than if you just say, “no, that's illegal, you can't do any of those things".

We wanted to start the national conversation around harm reduction. So stopping that whole idea of ‘we can't just pretend this is not happening’ and punishing people for doing it. Because they're going to regardless, and by doing that, you potentially increase the amount of harm that can occur because of it.

From there, it's moved on to making sure that drug checking is available to everyone. There are a bunch of different communities of drug users out there and generally the predominantly middle class, white festival going community isn't necessarily going to be the right people to provide drug checking to other communities that don't relate or trust that particular group. So it's about building up the infrastructure, knowledge, and providing our resources and findings to other organisations to be able to provide that support to a wider audience.

We want to help people understand that harm reduction isn't just drug checking. Harm reduction can mean

decoupling ‘use’ from ‘harm’ and focusing on harm as the thing we're trying to stop regardless of the type of drug use or the intervention.

What's one of the most common misconceptions that people have about Know Your Stuff that you want to dispel?

That we’re undercover cops! That we’re a government department that’s gathering information, which obviously isn’t the case. We sometimes get people who think we're all a bunch of hippies or something along those lines, which is kind of just general stereotypes, but we've got an amazingly broad group of volunteers and team members with an amazing array of different professional and other skill sets.

If people are on the fence about getting their drugs checked, what would you say? Why should people be getting the drugs checked?

A common position that we hear from people is, “I trust the person that I'm getting my drugs from.” But that’s not really good enough, because it's just a diffusion of responsibility the whole way up. At worst, get a reagent from either The Hemp Store, which you can buy online or go into Cosmic and get something.

That's kind of the lowest level of what you could do, you can’t eyeball things, you can’t smell things, you can’t use any kind of visual or taste cues to determine whether something is safe or not.

Between us, the New Zealand Drug Foundation, and the New Zealand Needle Exchange, there's at least one clinic a month in every major centre now and we are starting to move out into the regions as well. So it's available, you just need to chuck it into Google and you'll find something in your region generally.

Any final things you want people to know about Know Your Stuff?

Previously, we were funded by anonymous donations and people called philanthropic donors who just think you're doing some decent work and will give you some money. When it became legal, there was then some funding allocated to spread between the providers like NZ Drug Foundation and the NZ Needle exchange. But we're still running more or less on the smell of an oily rag, I guess you could say. We're primarily a volunteer led model with some paid work being done by leads like myself, but we are still really badly underfunded.

We’re continuing that conversation about telling people, “This is what we're doing, and this is the value that is providing to our country and to the people.” We need to make sure that we're funding it properly. Because there's a lot of demanding work that goes on over the summer and when people are balancing that and regular jobs as well, it can be really challenging to keep hold of people.

So it's just that ongoing challenge around funding that is something we need to keep highlighting to people because now, we're getting funding for the equivalent of three full time people to run the whole organisation across the country, which isn't a hell of a lot for the amount of work being done. So the government is getting an absolute bargain at the moment for what we're doing, but for it to be sustainable long term, it can't stay that way.

Battle of Battle of

vs Christchurch

Students! Ooh, shudder. Aotearoa universities have long been associated with binge drinking and drug use, but there’s one university in particular which has had this party culture embedded into its reputation – the University of Otago. Known for couch fires and decrepit student housing, Ōtepoti Dunedin has garnered a reputation as… messy. Ōtautahi Christchurch doesn’t spark quite as much outrage, but there’s certainly plenty of nightlife, if those street-interview TikTok’s with DnB audiences are anything to go by. So… which party scene is messier?

Let’s start by looking at popular culture. Director Robert Sarkies immortalized Dunedin’s reputation in his 1999 film Scarfies, about a group of UoO students who discover a cannabis crop in the basement of their flat – of course, hilarity ensues. But don’t worry, Otago doesn’t get all the cinematic fun the University of Canterbury has a major film set on its grounds. It’s Peter Jackson’s 1994 crime drama Heavenly Creatures, which tells the true story of a 1952 murder-by-bludgeoning. Hm. Okay, so not as much hilarity ensued.

Okay, what about news coverage? When searching ‘Dunedin student’ on Stuff, the headlines don’t disappoint; "Student party in public toilet flushed out by police", "Authorities visit flat after 800-person student party shutdown", "Southern gatecrashers start fight". Results for ‘Christchurch student’ turn up coverage of the meningococcal cases (remember to get your shots) and a large student party in March last year causing Covid concerns (remember those shots too). Along with a recent article about UC halls accommodation being at capacity because Christchurch is the ‘place to be’. But these journalists aren’t going to these parties themselves, and many aren’t based in the South Island. To find out the truth, once and for all, we need some double agents.

Fine, not ‘double agents’ as in ‘spies’. But people who have experience with the social scenes at both universities. That isn’t me – while I adore The Clean and look more Scottish than probably any other living person (trust me), I’ve never actually lived in Dunedin. I spoke to three double agents: masters student Alex Carter, who spent a few months at UoO in 2016 before switching to UC; BSc undergrad Seraphine Ruch, who spent her first year at UoO before moving to UC for her second; and Bonnie Bonnar, a UC graduate who’s spent time in the UoO party scene while visiting family. Alex says that while the drinking culture contributed to her decision to study at UoO, it was also a major factor in her decision to withdraw: “I moved back up to Christchurch because [Otago’s party culture] was too much for me… when I was there, it wasn’t as controlled as it is up here".

Alex, Seraphine, and Bonnie all say that the most major difference in drinking culture was Dunedin’s abundance of street parties, compared to Christchurch’s preference for house parties and UCSA-run events. In their experience, partying in Otago is louder, rowdier, and busier. Seraphine shares, “there were just larger crowds of people… a lot less chatting with mates, a lot of doing things out on the streets.” And when they weren’t in the

the binge the binge

Charlotte Thornton (she/her) Thornton (she/her)

streets, it was normal to go to a stranger’s place; “Whenever we did go into house parties, there was more of that whole openinvite thing”, Seraphine says.

Alex says that this ‘free-for-all’ quality can make things less safe. “There always is a slight dangerous culture when it comes to drinking and doing drugs, because you are inebriated, and you don’t really know what’s going on.” She thinks that having organized events like MONO can supply a stronger support system than just having events on private property run by students. “Everyone will still do drugs and they will drink, but it is in a controlled environment… there is always that risk that something could happen, but having these direct spaces is really important.”

Bonnie believes there’s an upside to Dunedin’s party culture. At UoO, orientation week is finished before classes begin, and Bonnie thinks this choice can help students. She comments that in addition to studies, “the social aspect is also really important, and I think that’s where Dunedin does do somewhat better [...] you feel like you are joining the community because they’re putting in this effort for this week where you’re all being introduced to the university.” She thinks that UC could benefit from “looking into ways to make students want to come to uni for not only study… at those events there might be drinking but you also have opportunities to meet new people there, new friends.”

There is certainly a balance that needs to be found, for both universities and in Aotearoa as a whole. While binge culture is often discussed within a university context, it is a much wider problem throughout the country. I spoke to a Christchurchbased researcher for Otago University, Dr. Rose Crossin, who works in drug policy advocacy. Dr Crossin says that “alcohol use is still really prevalent, and somewhat celebrated” in Aotearoa.

Dr Crossin stresses the importance of looking after one another, “It’s really important to stay safe, and to keep each other safe by keeping an eye on your own, and also other people’s moods.” I hear this from my double agents as well with Alex saying “make sure you’ve got friends with you, that you know and trust… and if you are uncomfortable, know that it is okay to remove yourself from that situation.”

Who is messier? It may seem like Christchurch is the sensible sibling to Dunedin’s wild child vibe, but both cities have intense and often dangerous party cultures. In 2023 at least, it is the structures of these universities which define their differing reputations. Dunedin’s layout lends itself more easily to street parties, while UC’s Ilam campus is further from the city centre of nightlife – and I suspect Christchurch residents are more likely to issue noise complaints. But wherever there’s alcohol and drug use, there needs to be judgment-free support. It's not really a matter of ‘who’s messier’. We might just need to remind ourselves that we’re all a little messy sometimes. What’s most important is that we check in with ourselves and check in with each other. Maybe we can tidy up the mess together.

I am so thrilled with the state of hip hop in Aotearoa right now, particularly the Auckland scene where artists such as Diggy Dupé and MELODOWNZ have bounded from strength to strength with every passing year.

Amongst the wealth of rising talent, at the heart of this blossoming community, stands proud Avondale local Tom Scott. A man of many acts, Scott has been a key contributor towards the growth of kiwi hip hop for a long time now, having made his debut with Home Brew in 2006 on their EP Vintage. Since then, Scott has made a name for himself with the evolution of his politicised, polyrhythmic flows and seems to have hit a new stride with his newest and most ambitious endeavour, Avantdale Bowling Club.

Despite being the first “solo” project of his career, Avantdale Bowling Club features Scott’s most collaborative credit lists yet. Working with a talented crop of kiwi musicians, Scott and the crew produced two LPs worth of hip hop tracks that truly capture the dichotomy of sporadicity and relaxed fluidity emblematic of jazz.

I urge you to give the first Avantdale record a spin. It’s such a rewarding listen and wholly earns the inclusion of “jazz” in “jazz rap.” Scurrying along, I’m dying to move on to the main topic of this article, Avantdale’s most recent record, TREES.

Released in September of last year, Scott describes TREES as a self-help book addressed to himself. Thematically, this record hits familiar tones to his past work but does so with a matured penmanship which results in a captivating, creative expression of kiwi drug culture.

Scott holds a magnifying glass of cynicism over Aotearoa, introducing us to what I’d like to call new-age Kiwiana. The buzzy bee and gumboot icons of times past are tossed into the background as Scott paints a brutally honest picture of the kiwi iconography we shove under the rug, that being the correlation between the rising cost of living and substance use. In a prologue packaged with the vinyl, Scott sums up the kiwi dilemma as being forced to choose between what is legal and what is necessary in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.

The Tom Scott Essentials: Going Through It - Avantdale Bowling Club

For me, this is his Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst. This sixminute cut sees Scott confront his relationship with marijuana with effortless delivery. It’s addictive how seamlessly he bounces from syllable to syllable over such a mellowed-out beat. Sit back and soak up the introspection.

F(r)iends - Avantdale Bowling Club

A tribute track to a friend who passed away suddenly, F(r)iends is infused with passion. The production is nuanced, featuring so many moving pieces that are expertly mixed. With every listen, I can’t get over how cold the initial “What’s he gonna do??” is.

Friday Night @ The Liquor Store - Avantdale Bowling Club

Infectious, Friday Night is utterly infectious! Many artists have dipped their toes into making songs about binge drinking but none have captured kiwi culture quite like Tom. With its surmounting energy and explosive instrumentation, it is simultaneously groovy and harrowing.

To Live and Die in AD - choicevaughan

Coming from the EP Deuce, a collaboration between Scott and producer choicevaughan, To Live and Die in AD was my first impression of Scott. It was a good one. Scott and fellow Avondale local MELODOWNZ trade bars, evoking a feeling of communal pride. In an interview with Flava, Scott said that they wanted to try to make an anthem for Avondale and I think they succeeded in doing that.

Years Gone By - Avantdale Bowling Club

If you’re a fan of storytelling, this is the song for you. Years Gone By commits to its jazz roots as Scott year-by-year recites his upbringing. It’s a great introduction to Scott, not only does it showcase his delivery style & stellar instrumentation but it also demonstrates how his personal life influences his artistry.

Home - @Peace

The pinnacle of @Peace’s discography, Home sees Scott and Lui Tuiasau preach on how grateful they are to call New Zealand home. It’s a fun, chill track, and an enjoyable diversion from the heavier tracks of the Avantdale Bowling Club era.

Kentucky Gold - choicevaughan

I don’t know what choicevaughan threw in this mix but Kentucky Gold exudes nostalgia. My mate James is the one who introduced me to Scott, and this track is one of his certified Tom Scott bangers so shout out to him. Also, the “Feel like Abercrombie reminiscin’ on his best game at Westlake” bar makes this track an immediate inclusion.

Bad Bad Whiskey - Home Brew

One of Scott’s earliest hits off Home Brew’s debut EP, Bad Bad Whiskey features a catchy chorus and some hilarious character work. As expected, it’s a bit rough around the edges but the track features the juvenile tongue-in-cheek humour Scott made a brand out of in the initial stages of his career.

Tim Smith (he/him)

Spirituality via Unconventional Methods Spirituality via Unconventional Methods

Isabella Brake (she/her)

In recent years, the global conversation on psychedelic and psychoactive drugs has shifted completely. There has been a steadily growing, global support amongst younger generations in favor of enhancement drugs; with some consumers looking to partake recreationally and others wishing to take advantage of proven therapeutic or medicinal benefits. This renewed attitude toward organic stimulants has earned them support in the most unlikely of places… the world of religion.

Factions of Christian groups have begun experimenting with enhancement substances as an aid in spiritual practice, take the Sisters of the Valley for example. The Sisters of the Valley is a new-age, Christianbased, spiritual institution with an already infamous reputation. For their public advocacy of organic stimulants, the Sisters of the Valley have been awarded the nickname “weed nuns” in pop-culture. Seeking to take advantage of plant-based stimulants, specifically mushrooms and cannabis, these “weed nuns” are just one example of the increasing popularity of mind-altering drugs in modern spirituality. However, undertakings to explore the spiritual advantages of psychedelics and cannabis have been criticized and questioned by many. A question of legitimacy often follows; whether or not people are using religion as an excuse to abuse substances. In examining the correlation between psychedelic exploration and spirituality, we look to the experts to fill in the blanks.

Dr. Christian Greer, a postdoctoral lecturer at Harvard University, is an expert on religion and psychedelic culture. In a recent airing of the Harvard Religion Beat podcast, Greer outlines a brief history of drug usage in religion and the validity of contemporary practices. When asked to comment on the present-day outlook on psychedelics, Greer explained that “this particular moment [in history] is the psychedelic Renaissance''. Greer believes that culturally, we are in a time of exploring the vast spiritual benefits of mind-altering substances; however, in no way are we the first to

do so. In fact, spiritual refinement by way of organic enhancement drugs, is a long-observed tradition within an abundance of cultures and religions from around the world.

In looking to highlight drug usage in religion, search no further than the holy “roller” (pun intended) himself, Jesus. Sister Kate, the founder of the Sisters of the Valley, stated on the order’s website that they “believe cannabis oil was the other holy oil of the Bible," and that if Jesus lived, "he probably smoked weed." The Sisters of the Valley are not the only ones to speculate about substance use in the time of Jesus and before. Accounts taken from the Tanakh in the Jewish faith, describe ceremonies where ancient Hebrews would anoint their priestly class with a holy oil. This holy oil was said to elevate and enhance spiritual experiences. Today, some who practice Judaism believe the holy, anointing oil to be a natural enhancement drug.

Even in one of the strictest, oldest religions, Hinduism: psychedelics and cannabis are frequently present in the culture. Some branches of Hinduism believe that the God Shiva would regularly consume Bhang Lassi, a drink that contains marijuana. Today, as a religious rite, some Hindu-based groups drink Bhang Lassi to cleanse themselves of sin and reunite their spirits with the God Shiva.

According to Dr. Greer, the validity of modern, “alternative” ways of worship via organic stimulants cannot be questioned. These drugs are birthing new religions and modeling the worldly perspectives of an entire generation. In theory, if Jesus took part in any mind-altering stimulants, who's to say that Christianity was not molded off of a tradition in the Jewish faith experienced by a man under the influence of LSD or Marijuana? The usage of drugs is not only embedded in the history and the fundamental beliefs of prominent religions but is actively creating and inspiring new faith every day. Therefore we cannot claim one religion or spirituality is more valid than the other, nor can we doubt the legitimacy of spiritual communities (especially those who are not breaking the law).

Substances such as Marijuana, LSD, and “magic mushrooms”, are quickly becoming the cornerstone of modern spirituality. Today, we find ourselves in a confusing time of both exploring the history and relationship between substances and spirituality, while presently observing modernday endeavors to include organic stimulants in regular exercises of faith. For now, our job, as the future leaders of tomorrow, is to keep an open mind as to the faith-based choices of others. And eventually to establish an opinion about how we would like to experience spirituality and substances.

and

already prominent religious teaching

Drink SpikinG

Why is nobody talking about it?

Beccy Arnold (she/her)

Drink spiking. It feels like it's everywhere, but nobody wants to talk about it. Most people will know of someone who’s been spiked, particularly if you’ve been at uni for a few years, but reports of minor incidents are nowhere to be found.

Spiking is when someone deliberately adds alcohol or drugs to another persons’ drink without their knowledge and a lot of the time, people don’t realise that they’ve been spiked. With many putting it down to having a few too many drinks as the symptoms can feel like drunkenness. The Evening Report NZ says some warning signs that you've consumed a spiked drink are feeling lightheaded or faint, feeling drunk having only consumed a small amount of alcohol, or having memory blanks about what happened the previous night.

The Egalitarian, a UK-based magazine challenging gender inequality and injustice through community journalism, started a “community-led spiking database” called SPIKE REPORT, aimed at empowering victims of drug spiking. SPIKE REPORT collects a few confidential personal details, and the incident details including venue name, location, date of incident, method of spiking and a description of the incident. Since its creation in October 2021, they have received over 300 reports, with their data showing 71% of spiking occurs

via drinks, 24% via injections and 5% via ‘other’ forms of spiking.

An anonymous report from SPIKE REPORT in August 2022 states that a man kept asking to buy the victim a drink even after she told him multiple times that she didn’t want it. He proceeded to spill her drink and came back with a new drink for her that was “overflowing with alcohol and the venue didn’t serve drinks to the top of the cup,” which she only realised as a warning sign later the next day. Eventually, she gave in to his pestering and sipped her drink which was so strong she couldn’t finish it. She then recounts her experience, “I literally remember myself walking towards the bathroom… I fell into the sink and just let my body fly… I was being lifted out of the venue as I was unresponsive, I couldn’t sit up or communicate with my friends or the people trying to help me.” There was no comment on the repercussions of the incident, so the state of her physical and mental health as well as the consequences for the guy who brought her the drink, the venue, and security staff are unknown.

Other reports commented on the confusion associated with spiking incidents, “I’m not really sure what happened but one minute I was fine and the next I couldn't see, my eyes were rolling to the back of my head and I couldn’t walk or talk,” (December 2022). Another from December of the same

year says they, “began to be very confused, time was warped… I woke up with big memory black outs.” A continuing theme from these reports is the speed at which their state changed, with most using the words “suddenly” or “one minute I was fine and the next…”, to describe their experience.

On a more national scale, drink spiking data in New Zealand is limited at best. It’s rare to see spiking stories in mainstream media and there is nothing like SPIKE REPORT here. So, to get around this, I trolled the deep crevices of the wide web, going down Reddit rabbit holes and endlessly scrolling down UCSA Noticeboard to try and find people speaking about their experiences.

And honestly? I didn't find much.

I expected UCSA Noticeboard to be a treasure trove of spiking testimonials and PSAs but a keyword search revealed a singular spiking incident back in 2019. The post warned UCSA Noticeboard members of going to Baretta as they and their two friends had their drinks spiked by a pair of men who had been caught and escorted out. But since Baretta closed in 2020 and this post was pre-covid, it didn’t feel particularly relevant.

I continued my search.

Sticking with user-generated Facebook pages, I cycled through Dunedin’s’ UoO: Meaningful Confessions and Castle 22 pages, coming up with nothing. To be fair, I could only scroll back until February 2022 on the Meaningful Confessions page before I gave up as I couldn’t

search within the page like in Castle 22 or UCSA Noticeboard. Still, I couldn’t find any reports of spiking.

No internet deep dive is complete without delving into Reddit, so of course, that’s where I went to next. And finally! A recent and relevant report of spiking! In r/ Chch, a thread emerged absolutely blasting Electric Ave this year and the odd things people witnessed at the festival. Amongst some honestly top-tier puns (“praise the Lorde”) and reviews ranging from “quite tame” to “absolute dogshit”, I found someone reporting that there was “drink spiking as well, afterwards at bars.”

I went through all the biggest mainstream media outlets in the country - Stuff, NZ Herald, Newshub, RNZ, The Spinoff - and of those, there were only three articles on drink spiking since January 2022. One was a spiking testimonial from a police officer, and the remaining two were about Mama Hooch, the Christchurch bar that faced 88 charges of drink spiking and sexual assault in 2018, which is only now going to trial.

It appears from these meagre internet reports that most instances of drink spiking occur in bars rather than festivals or flat parties. When approached for comment on what they’re doing to mitigate drink spiking, seven of Christchurch’s’ major bars and clubs did not respond. Though one former employee at Rockpool says that in her two years working for the company in a waitressing and bartending capacity, she never experienced any issues with drink spiking. Having lived in Christchurch since 2018, she finds it “surprising” that she has never come into contact with drink spiking, nor have any of her friends.

UC Honours Law student, Kezia Milne, comments on drink spiking in Christchurch bars, saying, “from my (admittedly limited) perspective, I haven’t really noticed anything, but I do think it’s a huge problem, and from word of mouth I have heard of [drink spiking]

happening to lots of people.”

The lack of spiking reports in mainstream and social media is concerning. It feels as though drink spiking is still prevalent but nobody is talking about it, especially the more minor incidents. Even though spiking is illegal, it takes prompt reporting and action from both healthcare workers, and the police to be able to penalise spiking offenders.

Colour changing nail polishes are being developed that are a more discrete version of the dipstick testing like Testi. An innovative nail polish line from Undercover Colour can detect the three most common date rape drugs; rohypnol, ketamine and GHB. Their Facebook page proudly claims they are the “first fashion company working to prevent sexual assault.”

But these innovations have not come without criticism.

However, there are innovators out there working to make drink spiking less common. Five of Wellington East Girls’ College students gained more than 1.5 million views on TikTok in late 2021 for their stick testing product called Testi in an effort to prevent drink spiking. It’s a small paper stick which has potassium hydroxide and 1,3-dinitrobenzene which reacts with rohypnol, a drug also known as roofies, as well as any other benzodiazepines present. The stick then changes colour, letting the user know their drink has been tampered with. They say, “we all know someone close to us who has been a victim of drink spiking and we believe that the frequency of this needs to stop.” This product has yet to hit the market as the group discovered they would need $20,000 to develop it and make it ready for customers. Though, they have received several offers to donate so hopefully, we could one day see this product in stores.

A more common form of drink spiking prevention are drink covers like Nightcaps. It’s a cover that goes on top of your cup with a little hole for a straw in the hopes that it will deter people from spiking your drink. There are plenty of drink covers to be found online that ship to NZ, and there’s even ones that hide inside hair scrunchies, so you can be safe and look cute.

Katie Russell from Rape Crisis England Wales says her charity will not support products like Undercover Colour, explaining that it “implies that it’s the woman’s fault and assumes responsibility on her behalf and detracts from the real issues that arise from sexual violence.” In response, Tyler Confrey-Maloney, co-founder of Undercover Colours, said they “hope this future product will be able to shift the fear from the victims to the perpetrators, creating a risk that they might actually start to get caught.”

At the end of the day, if it makes you feel safer, then there are products out there to relieve some of the anxiety around drink spiking. Not everybody agrees with these products and that’s ok. When both the system and the nature of drink spiking makes it difficult to penalise offenders, vigilance, and products that enable that can give people peace of mind. It sucks that we must be so careful when we just want a good time, but hopefully through people speaking out with their stories, it will spread more awareness of what’s really going on.

“We all know someone close to us who has been a victim of drink spiking and we believe that the frequency of this needs to stop”

Late-2000s infomercials are oddly nostalgic to me. From watching new-spangled vacuum cleaners slowly but surely clean carpets to being berated over the screen about my supposed need for the Optimus Prime of all ladders, infomercials made for the most boring yet bizarre corner of broadcast television.

Amongst all the redundant junk, the one infomercial that always stood out to me was for the e-cigarette. A new-age combatant against smoking, e-cigarettes presented an interesting solution compared to other daytime TV products. I remember these models looking more cylindrical and pen-like than modern-day vapes, replicating the look and feel of cigarettes.

Fifteen-ish years on, for better or worse, vaping has become a cultural pillar of the 2010s and 2020s. They aren’t just another tool in the common uni student’s toolbox, but a mainstay in day-to-day kiwi life. Over time, the pitch has dramatically shifted from weaning smokers off cigs to being the outright replacement for them from the jump. Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall claims that vaping is becoming increasingly prominent among young kiwis, with many taking up vaping without having smoked in the first place. You could call it kiwi ingenuity, efficiently skipping the middleman… or you could call it a concerning mis development.

From 2020 to 2022, a NZ survey found that smoking among year 10 students fell to 1.3% from 2%, while vaping had risen from 3.1% to 9.6%. Some academics and local government candidates have gone as far as to cite current vaping trends as being culturally reminiscent of the rise of smoking.

In a study from the New Zealand Medical Journal, researchers noticed that NZ hospitals routinely acquire information on tobacco use but not vaping. They saw this as the perfect chance to collect some info on youth vaping and try to draw some

conclusions about its appeal within the public consciousness. While adults tended to ground their use in reducing tobacco use, teenagers were found to be mostly driven by curiosity, which has only been further aided by escalating accessibility.

In September of last year, Christchurch boasted fifty specialist vape stores, not including dairies or whatnot that also sell vapes. By November, that number vaulted to sixty-four registered stores and it’s fair to assume that this figure has since grown. Over the same period, the nationwide number ballooned from 869 to 1051. That’s some seriously rapid growth in such a short amount of time!

Speaking of all these statistics, it’s interesting that this year’s census had no questions regarding vaping when that would’ve been the perfect opportunity to start collecting data on such a hot topic en masse.

In a government statement, Dr Verrall doubled down on the Government’s intention for vaping regulations to redirect the product’s purpose back to its intended use. She went over several methods in the Government’s proposed plan such as restricting cheaper single-use products and dulling the glitz and glam of advertising flavours. The most interesting takeaway from this though is their focus on striking the balance between regulating vapes to protect young, vulnerable kiwis while also providing them as an option for smokers looking to quit.

At the end of the day, I personally don’t care too much whether my mates vape or not – it’s not my call. What does matter though, is understanding the speed at which the vape industry is growing throughout New Zealand. Even if you don’t care about the politics behind it, it's interesting how seamlessly vapes have filled the same social niche as cigarettes and have unintentionally been culturally repurposed in a way that has opened the floodgates for a now ever-expanding industry.

Tim Smith (he/him)

Canta Drug Survey results

How many standards do you consume in an average week?

DO YOU TAKE MEDICALLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS REGULARLY?

How often do you use recreational drugs?

Have you taken drugs other than alcohol, if so what?

HOW DID YOU GET INTO TAKING DRUGS?

65.4% Friends

26.4% Personal curiosity

2.3% Family

5.2% Never taken drugs

>1% Snoop Dogg

any Fun stories/ experiences?

`

Any advice for the new, unexperienced, and curious?

Get your shit tested

Make sure you do it with people you know and try small amounts first to understand what it does to you

Grass before beer you’re in the clear, beer before grass you’re on your ass

Don’t mix psychedelics with weed

Don’t start with edibles, it’s the devils nectar

WHY DO YOU USE DRUGS?

Took a tab of acid, ran through a for sale sign, hit my head on the road, had to have work off for four months

Did acid and thought I was in Minecraft

When I was drunk, I asked a cop if I could legally cross the road A boy I had just started seeing got out of bed after a night out and pissed in the bin in the corner of my room

Woke up in a bush with only a cowboy hat on

I once got so high in England that I sincerely believed I was hearing a live concert in the town centre. It was an arborist cutting down a tree, it sounded great ngl

Takes the edge off

Fun, grounding, enlightenment

It is cheaper than alcohol for festivals To pull

Goes hard as fuck To Buzz

Makes me feel carefree and silly

Just For the vibes

For funsies

University of Canterbury Forestry Society

Gidday everyone,

My name is Tessa, I am a third-year Forestry Science student and the 2023 FORSOC president.

Tell us a bit about FORSOC!

FORSOC is the University of Canterbury Forestry Society. We have been choppin’ it since 1924 which makes us one of the oldest clubs at UC. I sat at my computer pondering for a while on how to best describe FORSOC. The only definition I could really think of was that FORSOC is the best munter of a club there is. The club originated as a way for Forestry Science and Forestry Engineering students to connect outside of university life. However, all degrees are welcome to join us. We are slightly chaotic but are never short of a good time. Over the years we have evolved into a tight-knit club where everyone knows everyone, and if you don’t you will soon meet new people.

What are some of the events or activities you have planned for this year?

FORSOC has mostly forestry students. However, those who venture into the club from outside forestry always have an absolute blast. What I love most about FORSOC is how friendly and inclusive the club is. When I was a fresher, the older years made sure I felt welcomed at all events. I soon made friends and the transition into university life was made that bit easier. This is the atmosphere I am striving to maintain this year.

We have a busy term coming up, with our annual quiz night, 2nd BBQ, and bus party. At the quiz night all the lecturers, postgrads and undergrads get together, drink a bit too much and battle it out for first place. Our 2nd BBQ is where tunes and sub-par chat will fly with copious amounts of Uncle Kennys sweet pine nectar being consumed. The bus party in my eyes, is the best event of the year. We hire out party buses with banging tunes and stripper poles, dress up to a theme and hit four different bars. By the end of the night, we roll into Mono and continue on the horn. A dusty Friday is guaranteed.

Our other events also include BBQ 3&4, the FORSOC ball and Cass restoration planting. The ball is another highlight of the year. This will be run in term 3 and is open for every UC student to attend. Our Cass restoration planting involves travelling to the Cass Basin and restoring the land back to native forest. This is an amazing opportunity to make a difference to the environment.

Promote your club to a newbie. How would you sell it?

We have a lot going on this year, but I have an amazing exec supporting me and we will ensure every event is a banger. If you are a first year and are unsure about your degree, or an engineer deciding their discipline, join FORSOC and get a taste of what it means to be a forester. We have a $15 sign-up fee or $35 for sign up and our awesome singlets. All are welcome.

How can people get involved?

If you are keen to join scan the QR code and fill out the form. Follow us on Instagram @uc_forsoc or Facebook @forsoc canterbury

Keep choppin’ it, Tessa

LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS THE BEATLES

IT'S NOT LIVING THE 1975

XANNY BILLY EILISH

CAN'T FEEL MY FACE THE WEEKND

DRUNK IN LOVE BEYONCE

defi nitely

You

Be honest: you’re on the Ilam Fields right now. You’re a student by day, artist by night, so you sleep pretty much never. Maybe grab

spend way too much of your paycheck

10pm

a

nap sometime. Shine on, you crazy diamond.

on

the

concert tickets. It’s all worth it, though –you’ve become one

world’s leading experts on the Taylor Swift Ticketmaster drama. Just save a bit for, you know, bread and stuff.

of

If you made it to the end of this quiz you almost defi nitely have a coffee in your hand. You’re basically nocturnal, but your late night poetry is unmatched. Google Calendar is your best friend –and tune into those Echo recordings.

You’re the life of the party even when you’re the only one there. You’re easily overwhelmed but you have eight thousand photos of your cat which are eating up all the space on your phone. Let’s grab you a USB drive.

Your Instagram stories never quite make sense and your Spotify playlists are utter chaos, but no one does brunch like you. Have some water before bed. And set a few more alarms than you think you’ll need.

Ft: UCSA Vice-President Bryant McIntyre

What would you like baby Bryant to know?

NO TO THE BLACK BOX DYE, and you are not smart enough nor have the motivation to watch lectures the night before an exam.

Tell us a bit about your fresher self

I spent more time studying Speights caps than studying for exams. I can also prove to you how to get a negative GPA.

What was your biggest fresher fail?

One night losing my wallet and all the cards, keys, half an eyebrow, a shoe (I want to specify a singular shoe), and dignity because my licence today still has the photo of me missing half an eyebrow and I'm stuck with that for a while. Also, longshot if in 2020 you found the maroon brown dress shoe brand lost monarchy size 7 UK. Can I have it back? I liked that shoe and I still have the other one.

Describe your best first year memory

Hitting rock bottom and having friends there to pick me up and encourage me to be a better person.

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Sign-up to The Conversation and receive regular emails with lots of chances to win prizes, helpful wellbeing tips and life hacks, along with personal and financial health.

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FLAT FAMOUS

Cameron

Nickname: 2 canoe

Flat Role: Toilet painter

Dustiest Moment: Throwing human faeces at Sloppy

Ben

Nickname: Sloppy

Flat Role: Arsonist

Dustiest Moment: Pissing on the couch

Lewis

Nickname: Lulu

Flat Role: Accountant

Dustiest Moment: Putting the flat rent on the dogs at the TAB

Max

Nickname: Millions

Flat Role: Wannabe tradie

Dustiest Moment: Buying two spa pools that didn't work

Drew

Nickname: D Root

Flat Role: Demolition Specialist

Sheltered a

Dustiest Moment: homeless man in the flat for 6 days

Shea

Nickname: Shealess

Flat Role: Tradie

Dustiest Moment: skid in his falcon and smoking out the whole street

Ripping a

Canterbury Rams gear up for big season

After a quiet start to the free agency period, the Canterbury Rams ended March with a flurry of player announcements, quickly vaulting them into contender status ahead of the new season.

With a returning core featuring Taylor Britt, Walter Brown, and Max Darling, the 2023 Rams side is stacked with homegrown talent from top to bottom.

Canterbury bolstered their frontcourt with the addition of one of the better Kiwi bigs on the market in 6’10” Tai Wynyard, who should provide Canterbury with a competitive edge on the interior. Wynyard has put up averages of 14.5 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game over the past two seasons with Taranaki.

Where Canterbury looks to stand out is in their talented crop of imports headlined by sharpshooter Tevin Brown. After a decorated collegiate career which included leading Murray State to a 31-3 record in his final year, Brown spent this past season in the NBA G League and has already been appointed an MVP favourite by former NZNBL General Manager Justin Nelson. Brown is also joined by fellow former G Leaguer, uber-athletic forward Troy Baxter Jr and three-point specialist Jared Wilson-Frame, who is set to fill in before the arrival of the internationally experienced Kendrick Ray.

By the time this issue is out, we should be a couple weeks into the new season and have a fair idea of whether Canterbury are on track to win it all for the first time since 1992.

Over 150 former athletes join lawsuit

Over 150 former rugby union, rugby league, and football players have joined a class-action lawsuit against their sports’ governing bodies, bringing the total claimants to 380 players.

This class-action lawsuit contends that the governing bodies of rugby and football are continually failing to protect players from injuries that result in neurological impairments. As RNZ lists, disorders such as early onset dementia, epilepsy, and motor neurone disease are just a handful of many more conditions that the claimants actively face as former players.

NZ Rugby launches 10-year plan to boost women’s game

Amid an “extraordinary wave of excitement and engagement with women’s rugby”, as NZR Chair Patsy Reddy put it, NZ Rugby has launched a 10-year plan to further guide and develop the women’s game.

Under the New Zealand Women and Girls in Rugby System Strategy, NZ Rugby is set to invest $21 million this year into women’s rugby initiatives, with hopes of improving existing

systems and subsequently boosting participation and performance.

Provincial rugby unions are also set to produce their own plans detailing how they’ll contribute to the growth of the game. There is a goal to increase the number of women playing rugby by 2500 with every passing year, eventually eclipsing 50,000 players by 2033.

UFC and WWE join forces

Sports and entertainment giant Endeavor are set to take a 51% stake in the WWE, further establishing a monopoly over fighting-based sports entertainment.

With the UFC already under their belt, this powerhouse merger will transform Endeavour into a company worth a projected $21 billion. As a combined entity, WWE founder Vince McMahon states that the company will focus on maximising shared media rights.

Before signing the WWE away to Endeavour, McMahon considered selling the company to ESPN or Amazon.

Charlisse Leger-Walker leads Cougs to Pac-12 Title

There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and Charlisse Leger-Walker being very, very good at basketball.

In what is one of my personal favourite sporting stories of the year so far, Leger-Walker led the seventh-seeded Washington State University Cougars to a Pac-12 title – the first Pac-12 championship for any women’s sport in school history.

After scoring 23 points against UCLA in the final, and a tournament record 76 points in total, Leger-Walker was rightfully named Most Outstanding Player of the final.

Unfortunately, Washington State were upset by twelfthseeded Florida Gulf Coast University in the first round of the national tournament.

Tim Smith (he/him)

and a bud

Should NZ be taking a leaf out of Portugals book?

Ella Jenkins (she/her)

In 2020, New Zealand held a referendum on the legalisation of cannabis. The options for the referendum were a simple “yes” or “no.” The “no” vote won with 51.17% of the vote. There was one option that was missing, the middle ground. That of not full legalisation but decriminalisation.

Portugal, contrary to widely held belief did not legalise drugs, rather decriminalise personal possession and use.

Those who are caught with a small number of illegal drugs (ten days of supply), will have the drugs confiscated. However, instead of being arrested and sent to prison the Portuguese legal system takes an alternative approach.

Instead of court, those caught with drugs are referred to the Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction, made up of a social worker, psychologist, and an attorney. They are tasked with discussing the case of the individual.

These laws shift possession of drugs from one that is criminal in nature to one of health and reintegration. Police and the legal system are not being used to punish people for a crime, but rather help them keep individuals healthy. Another way this is made apparent is the fact that the organisation in charge has dissuasion in its name.

If a person is addicted to drugs, they may be given community service or admitted into a rehab facility if it is believed by the commission to be the best way to keep the person out of trouble. However, they cannot force someone into rehab. If the individual is not deemed to be addicted to drugs, or refuses treatment, there are punishments that can be issued.

The punishments issued do not involve incarceration, but instead employ other methods. Fines can range from €25-150 euros which is about $43-260 New Zealand dollars. Community service can also be ordered as well as in some cases bans on visiting certain people or places, like nightclubs. For someone who is in a position of influence such as a teacher or someone who is in a profession that requires high degrees of safety like drivers and doctors, these people can have their professional licenses suspended.

The commission does have the power to suspend sanctions upon an individual's entrance into a rehab facility, further encouraging people to seek treatment. Whilst possession for personal use is not considered a criminal matter, possession for supply as well as production is still very much illegal in Portugal, with even possessing cannabis seeds being enough to land you in legal hot water.

As well as the commission, Portugal has other means of reducing harm caused by drugs, such as needle and syringe exchange programs, substitution of drugs with low opiate substitutes as well as better drop-in centres, outpatient treatment units, and drug checking programs.

Now the question is, does it work better than other means of treating drug related issues? Short answer is yes, for Portugal it worked. Whilst drug deaths are not zero, Portugal has seen a decrease in drug related death and illnesses. As well as a drop in related crimes and use in general.

Portugal’s illicit drug use is below the European Union average. The rate of mortality caused by drugs is only 4.5 per million compared to the European average of 19.2 per million.

As well as a drop in mortality, between 2007 and 2012 Portugal saw an estimated 40% drop in the use of injected drugs.

Part of the reason Portugal introduced the laws regarding drugs in the early 2000s was the result of high rates of HIV being contracted through needles. In the year 2000, 1482 people caught HIV by injecting drugs. In 2014, only 40 people caught the disease, a significant decrease.

Portugal also saw an increase of people seeking treatment for drug addictions, a notable sign not only of the impact of the law changes, but also a change in how society treated people who used drugs. People went from calling those with addiction issues ‘junkies’ to ‘people with addiction disorders.’

Portugal’s experiment can be seen as a success as it achieved what it set out to do; reduce harm and stigma caused by drugs in the community.

But the world seems to have not yet followed suit, and most countries including New Zealand treat drugs as a criminal matter as opposed to a health matter. According to the New Zealand Drug Foundation, in 2020 there were 913 drug related youth justice referrals, 90% of which were for possession and use.

Financially in New Zealand, $351 million is used in addressing the harm caused by drugs, with Police and the Justice system spending $103 million and $171 million respectively. The Ministry of Health spent the remaining $78 million.

Is it time for New Zealanders to ask, “what can we do better?” To perhaps look at alternative means of reducing drug harm, such as the methods used in Portugal.

ve a safe trip Have a safe trip Ha

What actually are New Zealand's drug laws?

Aotearoa is at a bit of a crossroads when it comes to debating substance regulations. While there’s a national binge drinking culture – as of 2019, New Zealand outranks Australia and the United States in alcohol consumption per capita, it can look like drug use is obscure. But it may be a well-kept national secret. According to the Drug Foundation, almost half of adult Kiwis have used a recreational drug other than alcohol at some point in their lives.

I spoke to Phil Glaser, the Drug Foundation’s Harm Reduction Manager, to hear his thoughts on the topic and to gather some advice for Canta’s readers.

Phil, who has also been a helpline operator and a support worker feels that Aotearoa’s current substance laws need revision. “Our drug laws don’t match the research or what we know to be the most effective ways to reduce harm. Here in New Zealand, the Misuse of Drugs Act is almost 50 years old and is well overdue for an update.”

Substances are currently separated into classes, stated to be according to ‘risk of harm they pose to people misusing them’. Class A, ‘very high risk’, includes heroin, LSD, cocaine, methamphetamine, and magic mushrooms; Class B is ‘high risk’ and includes cannabis oil, opium, morphine, and MDMA; finally, Class C, ‘moderate risk’, includes codeine and cannabis plant (and cannabis seed).

Phil explained that, “LSD causes relatively low harm compared to drugs like heroin and alcohol, but is class A.” He states that synthetic cannabinoids, also known as synnies, “have been related to much more harm in the community”, including deaths, but most synnies are under the Psychoactive Substances Act and result in a maximum of two years in prison when someone is caught for supply or manufacture. LSD, meanwhile, can result in a maximum of life imprisonment.

It can be tricky to gauge public knowledge and opinion of these

Charlotte Thornton (she/her)

regulations. The 2020 cannabis referendum resulted in an extremely narrow rejection: the successful ‘no’ response made up 50.7% of votes, keeping recreational cannabis illegal. I’m ancient enough (a very tired twenty-two) to have voted in that election, and at least in my view, the debate was far more intense for the cannabis referendum than it was for the End of Life Choice Bill. I expected significant pushback on that one, which was put to referendum at the same time and proposed legalizing voluntary euthanasia. It ended up being voted in with 65.9% support.

Clearly, drugs are a very, very hot topic. Sometimes they’re too hot to even get discussed. The Spinoff reported in June last year that many Kiwis were still unaware that, “smokable, dried cannabis flower are now verified for prescription use in New Zealand.”

you can make it safer, to maximise the fun and minimise the shitty experiences.” Phil said.

A great way to do this is by having a look at the Drug Foundation’s harm reduction site, TheLevel.org.nz. They have excellent information about every drug you might encounter, with practical advice and the latest research. Plus, the graphic design is pretty fab.

“If you feel that you may have taken too much,” Phil explained, “tell a friend or call Healthline on 0800 611 116. If you think you’re in danger, call 111 for an ambulance. You won’t be in trouble with the law if an ambulance comes to help you.” This is so important. When you’re afraid of legal repercussions, it can feel like the better choice is not to get your drugs checked and not to seek medical assistance. But you won’t get in hot water for doing either; and getting help can save lives.

There can be some serious risks when taking drugs, especially when you haven’t had them checked. In present-day Aotearoa, party drugs are some of the popular recreational substances. Know Your Stuff is a publicly funded organisation who provide free, discreet drug checking; their 2022-23 results reported that more than half of all substances they tested at events were MDMA. Sometimes, drugs thought to be MDMA were cut with something else or were actually another drug entirely. In Know Your Stuff’s 202021 client survey, 76% of respondents stated that they have had past experiences with drugs that were not what they were thought to be.

These statistics can look scary, but there’s a lot you can do to protect yourself. “If you choose to take drugs, have a think about how

Phil has some helpful tips for staying safe: “Use drug checking services to find out what you have. Avoid mixing [drugs] with other drugs, including alcohol, drink water, and make sure you’re in the right environment and frame of mind beforehand, have someone with you who can get help if needed.” And if you’re with others who are taking drugs or drinking, Phil has some more advice, “If you notice someone who is unresponsive, is breathing slowly or not at all, or who is a danger to themselves or others, call 111, they can talk you through what to do next.”

It's also chill not to take anything at all. “There can be a lot of social pressure to use drugs. It can be worth checking in with yourself when you’re offered something to see if that’s what you’re in the mood for. It’s okay to say no!”

Aotearoa needs to discuss substances more openly. Wherever the country is with legislation, it’s always best to stay informed and open-minded. As Phil says, “Everyone has some kind of interaction with substances in their life and all deserve a society that cares about them and doesn’t judge them.”

“Everyone has some kind of interaction with substances in their life and all deserve a society that cares about them and doesn’t judge them.”

Lucky Dip Lucky Dip

As Canta’s longest running segment we play matchmaker and pair up two lucky UC students to hopefully hit it off on a blind date and record their experiences. Sign yourself or a mate up on our website for some free Rollickin and lovin’.

Here are the raw unedited results of this week’s lucky dippers…

After one too many “if he only wants to see you after 10pm he probably doesn’t want a relationship with you” interventions from my friends, and my love life being likened to that of Bridget Jones’ a few too many times, I decided it was time to let the higher power of the Canta Editor intervene. When I got the call up from said Canta Editor, surprisingly she wouldn’t tell me anything about my prospective date no matter how much I pestered for some form of information about what I’d gotten myself in for, something about it ruining the whole point??? Shocked and confused??? Regardless, when the big night arrived I set out with an open mind and a few jokes up my sleeve in case the conversation required.

I left my friends’ flat obscenely early and listened to Taylor Swift’s Enchanted the whole way there. As I parked, I shuffle played her lesser known hit ‘you are in love’ — do with that what you will. I am hoping my love life doesn’t fall the same way as Dr Swift’s considering the recent demise of her six year relationship which has me convinced that love is a lie. I arrived maybe 20 minutes early and whiled away the time by playing Candy Crush, finally beating level 2, 493. I was lucky enough to earn 2 fifteen-minute power ups, half of which I had to give up to make the date on time.

I walked inside just in time to see the back of his blonde head ascending the stairs like Lord JC en route to heaven following his recent Easter escapades. After introductions we went downstairs to order. He chivalrously pushed in front of me and ordered first, putting me in the uncomfortable position of deciding whether to follow his lead and get one scoop, or enjoy my life and get the desired two. Like Taylor, my life was a willow and it bent right to your wind, and I got the single scoop of yogi bear. I had originally planned for us to order a scoop of everything and take advantage of the CANTA tab, and had starved myself all day accordingly.

Once we got to conversation, I found out he was a civil engineer from Auckland, surfed, and was an active CUBA member, which is a description I could apply to absolutely any man riding a longboard through Engcore at 1:30am on a Wednesday. The surfing was a green flag and CUBA was an orange one, being from Auckland was as red as trying to drive a new Maserati down a dead end street. The conversation flowed freely and, happily for me, I left without the all too familiar sore shoulders from carrying a conversation. Once we eventually looked up, we realised the Rollickin staff were violently throwing us out, and by throwing us out I mean loudly putting up chairs and sighing while wiping tables.

When he finally turned his phone back on (it had been off the whole date — mature) he asked for my number and not my snapchat, which means this is the most serious relationship I’ve been in all year. We hugged twice (hoe era) and left me to await his write up or eventual text, whichever comes first. Reserving my final judgement until I know whether he has a crush on me. Whilst I wait, I will tend to my wedding board on Pinterest.

The Other Side The Other Side

I've always wanted to go on lucky dip, sit down, eat icecream and chat shit with someone cool. Sounds perfect to me. So after about ten seconds of convincing myself to sign up, I did just that. Then one day a message popped up saying I was chosen for a lucky dip and I was excited until I remembered everyone on it seems to have a grudge against dudes who do eng…… Oh no, I’m a dude that does eng.

The day came round and after looking in the mirror I realised I look homeless. With help from a shower using my 3 in 1 body wash, a shave, and some Lynx Africa I managed to upgrade from a hobo to a bootleg Ryan Gosling. Then I looked at my phone, fuck. Should've left 10 mins ago so I chucked on some filthy techno, redlined the corolla, and headed off. After miraculously arriving early I was told to go upstairs and wait for my date.

Soon enough my date walks around the corner, she's cute and blonde, Canta has done me well. After the normal hug, exchange of names, and small talk, we go downstairs to order. We had an open tab so you think we’d be racking up a huge bill. But we both just got a single scoop, honestly what were we thinking!!! Should have abused it when we had the chance.

After heading back upstairs we started yarning. Turns out she's doing a law degree and is a 5th year (Mommy?). As a third year this was a little intimidating but I grew a pair and soldiered on.

We kept on talking, and it turns out we both love the UC clubs scene, flat crawls, and music events. She started talking about how she went to see this small underground artist in Auckland. Well, turns out this was Harry styles. I mean I can’t judge too much, I’m sure she and the thousands of 16 year old girls there had a mean time listening to Harry. But then I had a thought…. Oh god, I tentatively ask if she was a OneD fangirl and yep sure enough, she was, to the point where she cried when they broke up. Big red flag, maybe Canta hasn't done me well after all.

Then, just as I was about to pull out my punishing weather chat we were told to leave. Such a shame, I'd been practising it all day. We then walked out, thanked the staff, exchanged numbers, hugged and after I asked what her name was again and we went our separate ways. Romantic asf. Overall jokes aside, that was an awesome experience. Shot Canta

WE TRIED THE WE TRIED THE COCKTAILS

Three Legged Monkey

Rum, Lemon, Pineapple, Passionfruit, Orgeat Very sweet and a bit sour

• Tastes like peach rings

• Good drink to start off your night!

Espresso Martini

Vodka, Cold Brew, Butterscotch, Kahlua

• Standard espresso presentation

• Not overly coffee-y, so good for novice coffee drinkers

• Great aftertaste

Lychee Bliss

Tequila, Lychee, Lime, Lemonade

On an Island

• If you love sugary drinks this is for you

• Very sweet

• Lime Cruiser pelican

Sherbert Martini

Gin, Raspberry, Lime, Ginger Ale

• Very sweet, perfect for RTD munchers

• Pretty colour

• Fuzzy tongue

Vodka, Passionfruit, Lemon, Mango

• Presentation was noice

• Tastes like Just Juice

• Refreshing

• Yummy yummy yummy yummy

Strawberry Daiquiri

Rum, Strawberry, Lime

• Pretty sunset vibes

• Sour and citrussy

• Generous with the rum

Colouring C o l o u r i n g

Puzzle Time P u z z l e T i m e

How many words (at least three letters) can you make with the word...

KETAMINE

HORODOPES HORODOPES HORODOPES

Taurus

Apr 20 May 20

Sorry to say it but you’ll never be the life of any party. However, you know do know how to have fun, just not in the typical ‘uni student’ way. You are always the one to let your mates know where the best food places are.

Leo

Jul 23 Aug 22

One minute you’re there, the next you’re not. Now, you may be in the bathroom throwing up everything you’ve consumed within the last two hours, or you’re getting lucky. I’m doubting you’re getting lucky.

Scorpio

Oct 23 Nov 21

You guys are genuinely almost always the least likely to survive after a night out. Like seriously, between the mixing and jumping off random shit I have no idea how you have all your limbs intact. Everyone wishes they were you.

Aquarius

Jan 20 Feb 18

Take it easy, try not to do everything all at once when out having fun. You can’t turn into a sloppy mess while also being a therapist at the same time. Give advice later and just have fun, live in the moment. The tequila isn’t going to drink itself.

Gemini

May 21 Jun 20

Everyone always wants to go out with a Gemini. No matter what crazy shit you’ve got planned everyone is usually down if you are. You are always going to be the one invited to all the events because your presence is always needed.

Virgo

Aug 23 Sep 22

You are a hot mess sweetie, it’s okay I support it honestly. You still somehow manage to get your butt to every piss-up no matter what. Although, you have some issues with commitment when it comes to people, you obviously don’t with other things.

Sagittarius

Nov 22 Dec 21

Look, you always say, “nah I’ll just have one”, “I’ll be good tonight” but who is always passed out on the floor at the end of the night. You’re usually lucky if you haven’t vomited after a night out. Let’s be real, every time it’s full-send, don’t lie.

Pisces

Feb 19 March 20

I have a bone to pick with you, so I’ll be brief. You’re cool on a night out, but that’s as far as it’ll ever go, mwah.

Cancer

Jun 21 Jul 22

Oh hello, didn’t see you there, ever. Get out of your room more, study less and do other things. I dare you, the next party you get invited to, say yes and do not chicken out. Come on, I believe in you!

Libra

Sep 23 Oct 22

Good on you! You my friend are the responsible yet still off-theirface one. The one true alpha when it comes to partying. Everyone aspires to be you. Not only that, but everyone wants to know how you wake up in the morning as if nothing has happened – fresh as a daisy.

Capricorn

Dec 22 Jan 19

Good on you for thinking you’re the life of the party. I respect the fact that you give it 100% each time. You and your other Capricorn mates know how to have a party go super-fast. Between all the stuff you’re drinking and taking, you do pretty well.

Aries

March 21 April 19

Congratulations, you got through your month of celebration. I know you guys too well so maybe stay away from everything you took during your b-day month. Detox and good old fashion R&R are what you need. Oh, and catch up on those lectures too.

Meet the Team

Made by students for students since 1930

2023 Meet the Team

If you wish to make a complaint or offer some feedback, please email ‘editor@canta.co.nz.’

Hariklia Nicola Print Editor print@canta.co.nz

Matteo Zhang News Editor news@canta.co.nz

Imy Rice Digital Editor

Tessa Birch Video Creative Editor

Amelia Ware Video & Digital Asst.

Beccy Arnold Feature Writer

Ella Jenkins Feature Writer

Tim Smith Feature Writer

Charlotte Thornton Feature Writer Contributors Pierce Crowley UCSA President

Pohatu Tumuaki

McIntyre UCSA Vice-President

Satya Guest Writer

Brake Guest Writer

Natasha George Guest Artist Jaimie Mulholland Guest Artist UC third-year journalism students Guest Writer FORSOC Exec