Nexus 2017 Issue 15

FREE STUDENT MAGAZINE

N.15 / V.49

Missed Opportunity? Morgan Dismissed by National — Page 04 The Diminutive Post — Page 09 Story, Spectacle & Sequel — Page 17

1 EDITORIAL 4 NEWS

Girls and Boys on Film

Missed Opportunity? Morgan Dismissed by National What About the Rest of Them?

Auckland’s Thirst For Knowledge Where Did Gecko Bro Go? Scarfies Wave Goodbye to Their Supply What You Talkin’ Bout, Lewis?

TL;LR News in Numbers The Diminutive Post Top Ten

NEXUS ISSUE 15 24TH - 28TH JULY 2017 CO-EDITORS Bronwyn Laundry Lyam Buchanan editor@nexusmag.co.nz

16 RANDOM AUDIT

17 FEATURE 20 CENTREFOLD

Story, Spectacle & Sequel

Artwork by Eliza Webster

MANAGING EDITOR James Raffan james@nexusmag.co.nz

DESIGN Vincent Owen

22 FULL EXPOSURE 25 STUDENT EXPERIENCE

design@nexusmag.co.nz

Interview with Eliza Webster

DEPUTY EDITOR Jennie-Louise Kendrick jen@nexusmag.co.nz

REVIEWS EDITOR Alexander Nebesky reviews@nexusmag.co.nz

CONTRIBUTORS Alexander Nebesky Conor Maxwell Cameron McRobie Tom Collopy Eliza Webster Moses Simpson Jacqui Swney Tom Featonby Valerie Bianchi Peter Dornauf Troy Anderson Julie Charlton

OFFICES Ground Floor SUB, Gate One University of Waikato Knighton Road Hillcrest Hamilton 3216

DISTRIBUTION Matthew Rae

10

SPORTS

Broscience: an Alamanac of Gym Stereotypes Rising Colt on the Move

13 14 REVIEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

Gig: The Bads, Nirvana Lounge Album: Dear Evan Hansen by Original Broadway Cast Video Game: Slayaway Camp by Blue Wizard Digital Album: Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1

by Calvin Harris

FOMO Puppet Master Politics Club Spotlight: Bikes on Campus

30 COLUMNS

Pass the AUX WUG Life Eco Emporium Arts Yam & Troy the Science Boys The Morning After

37 SNAPPED 38 BLIND DATE 40 PUZZLES

Editorial — Pānui Ētita

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Girls and Boys on Film Film was a crucial part of our lives growing up. It informed pop culture, and made up the Millennial zeitgeist. So much of what we say and do is founded in the films we grew up with, the characters we related to and the media we consumed. We dedicate our youths trying to recreate ‘movie moments’, we make constant references, knowingly or not, sometimes we even base our image on a character (It’s no coincidence Bron dresses suspiciously like Cher from Clueless).

But is film still relevant now?

It seems in the day and age we live in ‘movies’ as we know them are a rare medium, narratives shortened and heightened to the point we can distill one and a half hour of film into a two minute trailer, a six second vine (RIP) and then a two second Boomerang. Arty screenshots of Dazed and Confused are plastered on Instagram and Tumblr, but

few people could recall the movie they come from. People punch their fists in the air for photos but have no need to see The Breakfast Club. The way we tell and consume stories is fast paced, adapting and transparent, and we now have the platform to be constantly broadcasting our own chapters.

So where do movies fit into this changing climate?

Are they a relic of the past, a vast source for aesthetic GIFs or still more relevant than we realise?

Alex Nebesky investigates the cash cow of Blockbuster film in his feature this week and discusses the aesthetics of storytelling much more in depth than this ponderous editorial, and while it may be true that stories will survive us all, storytelling as we knowing is changing beyond recognition.

Say the people who still print a magazine. ♦

— Lyam & Bron

Dear Reader: In the previous issue, we published pieces of artwork without first receiving permission from the artist.

Whilst we had credited the artist both in the magazine and in social media, we understand that this was an oversight on our part. Once brought to our attention, we took several steps to ensure that the artist was happy with our use of her work. At no point in our discussions with Henrietta Harris did she seek a printed retraction in the magazine, however we felt that this was necessary, because we see value in the showcasing of local and national artists, and respect their intellectual property. Should you wish to see more of Henrietta’s work, you can visit henriettaharris.com ♦

01

Uni News — Pitopito Korero

NEXUS MAGAZINE

U N I N E W S Review of Grade 2017 A Semester grades will be ‘final’ on Monday 17 July. Students wishing to apply for a Review of Grade must submit their applications by Monday 31 July to the Student Centre, Hamilton Campus; Tauranga – Cashiers, Information Centre at either Windermere Campus or Bongard Centre. Visit waikato.ac.nz/students/examinations/assessment/review-of-grade for more information.

Summer Research Scholarships Do you want a summer placement that involves real-world research and academic experience?

Check out some of the Summer Research Scholarship projects on offer (worth $5000).

Applications close 31 August. Visit waikato.ac.nz/ scholarships/s/university-of-waikato-summerresearch-scholarship for more information.

Blues Award Nominations Closing Soon!

The Wallace Corporation University of Waikato Blues Awards are held each year. If you or someone you know has achieved at a regional, national or international level in sport or the creative and performing arts, nominate today. Application forms and criteria are available online at waikato. ac.nz/events/blues. Nominations close 21 July.

Māori and Pacific Careers Evening Come along to our Māori and Pacific Careers Evening on Wednesday 26 July for your chance to connect directly with industry organisations and discuss your future career plans with potential employers. Register now by visiting waikato.ac.nz/students/careers Register for Blue2Green Marine Biotech Convention Students are invited to register for Blue2Green, the University’s inaugural Marine Biotechnology convention, 8-10 August at the Tauranga Yacht Club. The cross-disciplinary convention is designed to splice research interests and explore new opportunities. It will feature the latest science and industry updates in Marine Biotech, keynote and plenary presentations by international speakers, an innovation hub and field trips for delegates. For more information or to register visit blue2green.co.nz B Semester Fitness Sorted?

UniRec’s popular B Semester student membership is back! 4 months for only $220 upfront. Be quick offer ends 31 July 2017. Buy online at unirec.co.nz/ memberships or at UniRec reception. T&Cs apply.

Go to iWaikato or Student eNews for more information and other need-to-knows.

03

NEXUS MAGAZINE

News — Pitopito Korero

Missed Opportunity?

Morgan Dismissed by National Bronwyn Laundry Gareth Morgan and The Opportunities Party has recently made a pledge to introduce a youth Unconditional Basic Income to all young people aged 18-23.

The payment of $200 a week would replace the Student Allowance, which is currently tied to parental income, and would be offered to all young people, not just those studying. The policy will cost a projected $3.39 billion a year, but would be funded by savings on the student allowance, cancelling National’s tax cuts and the Budget surplus.

“This is the cohort that has been pretty badly neglected by the political regime for a number of decades. They are subject to a lot of stress - the transition from the nest is not easy,” Morgan said, acknowledging the financial strain young people face from tertiary education, rental and housing costs and a fluctuating job market.

National Party campaign chair and Finance Minister, Steven Joyce, rejected the idea.

“It’s just the wrong message you’re sending to young people that somehow you get a universal income,” Joyce said. Those in favour, however, have likened the policy to the pension for over 65 year olds and have high hopes the added financial stability could bring down the youth suicide statistics.

NZUSA National President, Jonathan Gee, said the proposal was a step in the right direction, stating “Means-testing for student allowances 04

N.15 / V.49

has proven invasive, inefficient and unreflective of the financial independence of many young people. We welcome policies that look toward universality, and TOP’s youth Universal Basic Income policy is a step in the right direction”.

However, Gee was also critical of Morgan’s statements that only 30% of young people were in tertiary education and supporting university students was middle class welfare.

“We know that tertiary education is a powerful social lever which takes many disadvantaged communities out of poverty and reduces inequality. Dismissing it as a middle-class aspiration ignores the public value of education.

We want education to be available for all those currently locked out of tertiary study, not to reject their dreams”, Gee said.

“While this policy is a start, it must acknowledge the rising living costs faced by students and young people and also speak to their lived experiences. For example, while financial security is a significant factor in the mental health crisis and suicide rate of young people, we know from talking to them that there are also a range of other significant factors, such as the trauma and stress they carry with them, or that they are currently facing in other parts of their lives.” ♦

News — Pitopito Korero

NEXUS MAGAZINE

What About the Rest of Them?

Jennie-Louise Kendrick The Labour Party presented their fiscal plan last week, including the announcement of $17 billion extra spending on social policy. Angry man Andrew Little and Labour Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson revealed the extra money would be spent on health, education and family incomes if the Opposition wins the coming election in September.

The proposed spend would be achieved by axing National’s planned tax cuts, higher tax revenue from multi-nationals and property speculators, and paying down debt slower.

Over four years, provided Little’s Labour won the election, the party would spend $8 billion on health, including investing in mental health services, $4 billion on education, including their promise to fund three years of post-secondary school education, and the remaining money smeared over their policies like Best Start and Working for Families.

“We’ve put out our shingle...for other parties we’re all in the same contest for the party vote, they put up their spending plans, but this is our plan, this is our clear signal to New Zealand voters this is how we can do what we’re promising to do,” said Mr Little.

Meanwhile, NZ First leader Winston Peters, who also moonlights as a pair of worn leather shoes, has announced that his party would “repopulate the provinces” and offered students a vague promise of help of loan repayment.

A student who studied for five years would

have their loan wiped if they worked in New Zealand for five years after graduating, he said.

If a student committed to moving to a provincial area following graduation, their loan would be wiped faster - provided they are working in highdemand jobs like doctors, police and teachers.

“We are going to deal to student debt because it’s getting worse and worse. It’s just impossible for young people.”

However, he did not clarify the specifications of his promised policy. It is clear that Winston isn’t really concerned about students in the election, but wants to promise services to the grey-haired biddies in the provinces that vote for him.

The Green Party of Aotearoa have announced the ‘Student Green Card’.

After Greens’ Co-leader Metiria Turei confession of alleged benefit fraud, the party has said they want to lift core benefits by 20%t while axing sanctions, including Student Allowances and Jobseeker Support. Co-leader and silver fox, James Shaw said the party would lower the bottom tax rate which would mean that the 97% of New Zealanders who earn less than $150,000 would receive $209 more a year. Greens would also raise the minimum wage from $15.75 to 17.75 in the first year and eventually to 66% of the average wage. ♦

05

NEXUS MAGAZINE

News — Pitopito Korero

Auckland’s Thirst for Knowledge Lyam Nanahcub The University of Auckland is hosting a series of free lectures with leading academics giving 20 talks across 10 inner city bars. This concept includes engaging and informative topics from the motives of terrorists to the plausibility of life in space, the end goal of the event being a greater integration of education as an integral part within the pop culture of the city.

“Pubs have been host to great conversations for as long as they’ve existed, we’re glad we can continue and expand that worthy tradition”Mark Bentley, Director of Alumni Relations and Development at UoA. This all kicks off on Tuesday the 29th of August, jump online at ‘Raising the Bar Auckland’ to register. ♦

Where Did Gecko Bro Go? Leeham Beushanon A beloved Marlborough green gecko has been stolen from the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre. The long-term resident was reported missing in mid July after their terrarium was found without its padlock, showing evidence that it had been forced open.

The friendly gecko had lived in the reserve for over thirty years, it’s home being placed at

the entrance to the park in order for the gecko to welcome all visitors. Greg Lind of DOC has said “It is distressing to think this animal, that has lived in one place all its life, may be subjected to uncomfortable experiences.” ♦

Scarfies Wave Goodbye to Their Supply Taran Bewkanin Southern and Waikato Police districts recently joined forces to crack down on an alleged drug distribution network from Hamilton to rural Otago. The investigation has led to $130,000 worth of methamphetamine being seized, along with $80,000 cash, cannabis plants and a taser gun. A 48 year old man has since been arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply

06

N.15 / V.49

methamphetamine, and the subsequent arrest of a 28-year-old female in Hamilton.

Both police districts are working closely with various government agencies in order to effectively address addiction, encouraging those struggling to seek help. ♦

News — Pitopito Korero

NEXUS MAGAZINE

What You Talkin’ Bout, Lewis?

Bronwyn Laundry The Waikato Students’ Union have unveiled a series of exciting initiatives to put Waikato at the forefront of student experience, as well as partnering with the University to potentially change how the student services levy is allocated.

“It’s a great time to be a Waikato student,” says WSU President and 70s movie detective, William Lewis.

“With affirmations such as our recent jump in QS World University Rankings and big ambitions like the proposed medical school, Waikato is really moving forward. There’s a heap of growth and change within the institution, which brings big opportunities to be seized,” said Lewis.

The WSU have plans to reinvigorate campus culture, and have been working with an architectural firm to draft a strategic plan for student spaces and get the ball rolling on creating a student bar.

“The master plan project has taken on board students’ feedback that they want to see a vibrant campus with a strong nightlife and more spaces they feel they can take ownership of.

This process has the potential to redefine the Waikato student experience by delivering the things that students want, such as a student bar or redeveloped Student Union Building, in a way that synergises with other campus facilities.”

The WSU has also begun working with University management to implement a joint governance body that would seek to better

represent students and reassess how the student services levy is allocated, with students’ best interests in mind.

“We’re still collectively fleshing out what a co-governance model would look like, but it will certainly be a game changer. Some other universities have been using structures like this quite successfully. It will mean that everyone involved is focused on the things that are important to students and that WSU has the capacity to optimise delivery of the services we provide.”

“Overall we’re looking forward to supercharging campus culture by developing better spaces for students to enjoy and wrapping the right services around them to facilitate the cultural activities that underpin a great student experience,” finished Lewis.

“Guys… Can I do a column for Nexus?” added Vice-President, Nicola Smith. ♦

07

News — Pitopito Korero

TL;LR

Too Long; Lyam Read “Happy pup receives copious pats after mistaking small deer for large stick.”

— Golden retriever saves a drowning fawn from a lake in the US.

“Big ol’ creep forgets people aren’t overly edible.”

— Suspected pervert ‘bites’ vigilante paedophile hunter.

“Large metal objects continue to be more emotionally aware than Nexus employees.”

— ‘Emotionally expressive humanoid robot’ flying in to eyeball Kiwis at conference next month.

“Unfulfilled housewives continue to vent their frustration on anyone who seems to still enjoy life.”

— Waikato residents want action to stop boy racers, locals are fuming after being kept awake at night by sweet burnouts.

“Father of New Zealand pays homage to neighbours by defeating infamous marine organism.”

— Former All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw has had an up close and personal interaction with a stingray while on holiday.

“Physicians remain unsure of flexibility of children’s necks after extended vertical exposure.”

— Small children and trampolines a risky combination.

News in Numbers $1 million

3216

$200

36.3

70

3 litres

in cash sales hidden by Gisbourne retailer to avoid tax.

a week promised by Gareth Morgan for those aged 18-23 if he’s elected.

08

days left of class this semester.

N.15 / V.49

has now been internationally recognised as the premium postcode.

people you barely know will be posting on Instagram today to flex their love for GOT.

of energy drinks a day now considered ‘worrying’.

The Diminutive Post

NEXUS MAGAZINE

News — Pitopito Korero

NEXUS MAGAZINE

TOP 10 Low Achieving Studville Resident Says He’s “This F***’n Close” to Dropping out and Becoming a Tradie “The two papers I failed were bullshit. I could’ve easily passed them, I’d just rather get on the piss and have a good time with the boys.”—Unsatisfactory results from A Semester have caused Daniel to reassess his life choices, and consider alternative paths. “I haven’t told my parents yet. I’ll just wait to see if I pass the rest of my papers then I might stick around a bit longer.”

Recently Metiria Turei admitted to benefit fraud, which got us thinking about the other crimes that today’s politicians committed in their youth. For legal reasons, the bosses at Nexus have told us to state that any inference that these politicians committed crimes is probably comedic and untrue.

10. Jacinda Ardern may have supplied Ketamine. She clearly had access to it and they say don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when she is selling you such a fine product.

9. We have it on good authority that Tim McIndoe used to graffiti political signs and kick over Hallensteins mannequins until he accidently kicked a witch who cursed him to live out his life as the very same Hallensteins mannequin he tried to destroy.

8. Todd Barclay… for legal reasons we can’t discuss.

‘Wallflower’ Stoked with How Her Latest Sociology Reading Will Make Her Look in Campus Cafe “I feel just like one of those girls in the movies! All I need now is a semi-staged Instagram post to really capture this moment.”—Sarah Walters describes how blown away she is by the professional-yetartsy layout of her SOCY103 reading. “Flicking over this in public will really do wonders for my selective social anxiety.”

7. Hamilton East hopeful Jamie Strange put out three singles with his wholesome Christian pop-punk band; two of which are cited as chiefly responsible for dictators turning to ethnic cleansing.

6. We won’t list all of the rumoured atrocities Simon Bridges has been involved with, but rest assured that there is a portrait of him in an attic somewhere that gets older by the day.

5. (Insert any Green candidate here) likes to smoke recreational marijuana.

4. Winston Peters is old, most of what he used to do might be considered a crime, but he’s changed now.

It’s 2017, you can’t still blame Asians for society’s problems, to swell a national sense of pride.

3. Andrew Little is responsible for three coma victims….

Last time we streamed his Facebook Live speeches.

Skater Chucks New Board Under His Arm for the Walk to and from Class “Obviously everyone is looking at me so there’s a lot of pressure.”—In an attempt to reinvent himself, Jake decided to follow his heart and finally learn how to longboard. “Mum helped me pay so I’m making sure not to damage it. I might carry it down the L block hill as well, just in case I slip up.”

2. Brian Tamaki suggests that the LGBT community caused the devastation of the Christchurch earthquak, but it could have just been Gerry Brownlee joining Bill English for a Run-Walk.

1. David Seymour used to run a back alley abortion clinic, not because he is extremely pro choice, but because his general worldview meant there was no other way he would ever see a vagina. ♦ 09

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Sports — Hākinakina

Broscience: an Almanac of Gym Stereotypes Cameron McRobie Outsiders to the gym may assume that every gym goer has the same story, and can simply be lumped into some lame mainstream trend that is keeping fit. However, if anyone has themselves ventured beyond the sliding doors of Unirec – they’ll know this is far from the truth. While there are now hundreds of evolved sub species of gym bro, a few new stereotypes have gained momentum in 2017.

The two classic alpha bros of every gym are the powerlifters and the bodybuilders, however research into the evolution of these gym-rats suggests further subcategories in Gear-bros and Supp-bros.

Gear aficionados are impossible to miss. It’s pure Broscience that wearing a lifting belt helps distinguish you as a powerlifter – as opposed to a standard beer gut bro. Nowadays, powerlifters can be seen waddling around every gym accessory ever imagined. These items include but are not limited to: belts, knee wraps, knee sleeves, wrist wraps and lifting straps – fuck, some of these bros might even have a Bane level sleep apnoea prevention mask, anything to increase your power level though right?

Supplement fiends are a breed of bodybuilder dedicated to a 50% training supplement diet and probably watch Rich Gaspari product advertisements to lull them to sleep. If you have ever walked across the gym floor and stepped in a puddle of something sticky, you have been a victim of the Supp-bro. Easily identified as the quite possibly ‘roided up feral squeezing a shaker cup with a toxic looking liquid inside.

They’ll probably claim they need this particular sup because they’re in their cutting phase, and who are we to disagree with the Hulk?

10

N.15 / V.49

Another stereotype is the Coach, this gym bro has been lifting for two weeks and now think they’re the one true Brofessor because they saw a training clip online. You don’t have to look for these dudes and gals in the gym - they find you! One minute you’re working out and the next you have some joker lecturing you on the finer points of feeling the muscles work on a bicep curl. These self-proclaimed PTs will find the worst time to interrupt and give unwanted advice on your program and are happy to point out everything you do wrong.

The most common gym bunny stereotype is the model, and we aren’t talking fashion week here. These gals (or guys, no shame), will be seen using valuable gym mirror space to snap pics of themselves and post their progress on social media. Other popular locations that you can find models are locker rooms or in front of the dumbbell rack. Though there’s nothing wrong with being proud of your effort, unless that phone is somehow heavy enough to give you some sweet gains – don’t let it interfere with any other gym goer’s training.

One of the less common stereotypes is the ninja. Though you should never actually see a ninja, this character is the TapOut shirt wearing, shadow boxing douche that fights with imaginary opponents in the gym mirror instead of joining an MMA gym and sparring against real adversaries. Often heard making hissing noises in their practice punches or asking other gym stereotypes if they can test their new armbar technique on the core exercise mat – these animals are NOT TO BE FUCKED WITH. ♦

Sports — Hākinakina

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Rising Colt on the Move Tom Collopy Australian Bred and formerly Kiwi trained two year old colt Qiji Phoenix is on the move to Chris Waller’s barn to prepare for a three year campaign in Melbourne. The colt, sired by Not a Single Doubt, out of No Mistaking, won his first three starts in New Zealand, including an emphatic victory in the Listed Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie, before jetting off to Aussie to race during the Brisbane Winter Carnival. This turned out to be a disappointing trip as after drawing the carpark in the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes and running 7th he drew wide again in the Group 1 JJ Atkins, which ultimately led to him being withdrawn from the race and sent out to the paddock for a well-earned rest.

Along with the move, the horse also has two new connections with Queensland based Aquis farm and two representatives from Horse Feng Bloodstock Limited acquiring interests in the horse. Majority owner Fudong Niu has said that the main aim of the move is to enhance the colt’s stallion credentials and that they sought out Chris Waller on a recommendation from former trainer Donna Logan.

I think this is a great move by the Chinese businessman with Stallion prospects in mind as the Premier races in Aussie carry higher stakes and much more notoriety. Chris will place the horse to give him every opportunity to perform well and have a chance at snagging a Group 1 during the Spring in Melbourne. If he can do so then it will definitely enhance his stallion credentials and bodes well for his owners when he does go to stud. With both NZ and Australian based breeders acquiring interests in him it is hard to say whether he will return to stud in NZ

or stay in Australia when he is retired.

This is a horse that I will definitely be following through the Spring as I was very impressed with him as a two year old. With either the Caulfield Guineas in October or the Coolmore Stud Stakes in November a likely target race for the horse I think we will see him resuming towards the end of August, giving him a chance to get a few runs under his belt before taking on a Group 1. ♦

11

Entertainment — Whakangahau

NEXUS MAGAZINE

ENTERTAINMENT Crush of the Week – Jodie Whittaker Last week, BBC announced that the thirteenth Doctor on Doctor Who will be British Actor Jodie Whittaker. Whittaker has previously starred in shows like Broadchurch and Black Mirror, and yes, she’s a woman. Since the show’s inception in 1963, the Doctor has always been male although the character has gone through several “regenerations” - a plot feature concocted when the first actor, William Hartnell, was too ill to continue working and the role was passed to Patrick Troughton. If the Doctor can come back with a completely different-looking face, why can’t the character be reimagined as a female?

Because feminism, that’s why.

Trending on Twitter: #MakeaMovieBoring

Hottest to Nottest →→ School holidays are over →→ The blue cheese wontons from Wonder Horse →→ Kesha’s return to music →→ BonBon Vegan Body products →→ Words with silent letters (gnocchi, psoriasis etc.) →→ Actually using your gym membership →→ GOT spoilers →→ People that write Insta captions as their pets →→ Waiting in A&E surrounded by gross children →→ Cranial tapeworms →→ Death and destruction

13

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Reviews — Arotakenga

Gig

Album

Arotakenga Konohete The Bads, Nirvara Lounge, Thursday 13th July Review: Alexander Nebesky

Arotakenga Pakaemi Dear Evan Hansen by Original Broadway Cast Review: David Simes

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5

I had never heard of The Bads when I was given tickets to check them out for their current tour promoting their latest album, Losing Heroes. I was informed that they were a bit of a country rock band, and having a soft spot for the likes of Gram Parsons, I was more than keen to hear some beautiful melodies and plaintive lyrics.

The issue with not knowing anything about a band before seeing them is that one cannot remember the names of any of the standout numbers they play, and it is especially hard when The Bads delivered a whole show of standout numbers. The only way for me to find out the songs they played was to buy their album, which I dutifully did, and then spun on the turntable all weekend- and let me say, The Bads are what you would get if Fleetwood Mac and The Byrds had a baby and then fostered that baby out to Crowded House. They’re excellent, and I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of them sooner. Tracks like ‘West’ have strong melodies and rich instrumentation, peppered with cleverly simple lyrics, and could easily steal a spot on Grievous Angel. Contrast this with the album’s opening number ‘Get It Right’, which lumbers along with an off-kilter mechanical ferocity, and you have a varied and colourful album.

As performers, The Bads can fill a room with sounds that mesh together so well, but distinct enough that you can follow the thread with your ears and listen to each component as it rolls and twists throughout the tracks.

Definitely a worthwhile gig, The Bads know how to put on a show, and their album is well worth checking out. ♦

I know what you are thinking, “Ugh. Broadway.

What a load of shit.”, but hear me out. Dear Evan Hansen is the musical that will make you care about musical theatre. Seven years in the making, this Broadway show gives an incredibly honest look into what it means to grow up in the 21st Century. A world of teen suicide and social awkwardness. Through the 14 songs that are on the album, we get a look into the life of Evan Hansen and how he deals with his surroundings.

Those of you who have seen the film Pitch Perfect will recognise Ben Platt, who plays Evan.

His beautiful voice gives many of these heartbreaking, yet liberating songs the punch they need. The songs will make you cry, but empower you all the same. The best thing about this album, is that it tells a story and has a message.

Dear Evan Hansen gives a voice to the voiceless. Those people who think that they blend into a crowd, or that they do not matter.

‘You Will Be Found’, ‘Disappear’ and ‘Waving Through A Window’ will soon be anthems for the socially awkward, and those who are lost with themselves. It’s Broadway’s newest hit and should be heard by the ears of anyone who is struggling to find their own place in the world.

Many musicals are relevant for a while and simply slip away, Dear Evan Hansen will not. ♦

14

N.15 / V.49

Re v e w

e vi

ws.

Reviews — Arotakenga

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Video Game

Album

Arotakenga Tākoro Ataata Slayaway Camp by Blue Wizard Digital Review: Conor Maxwell

Arotakenga Pakaemi Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1 by Calvin Harris Review: Vincent Owen

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5

In May this year, an online multiplayer homage to the famous Friday the 13th film series was released, but it’s a buggy mess that’s not worth buying at this early stage, so here’s a better game instead.

Slayaway Camp is a brutal, gory puzzle game (never thought I’d use those words in a sequence) that is a love song to the slasher flick craze in Hollywood during the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Players control Skullface, a shameless Jason Voorhes clone and the antagonist of the fictional Slayaway Camp series of films, as he slides his way through a series of isometric puzzles, murdering camp counselors, police officers and other innocents in a variety of entertaining ways.

The game’s main menu is designed to resemble a video store, which features several different slasher movies on VHS; each containing a new collection of progressively-more- difficult puzzles to complete, and hundreds more victims to slaughter. The Friday the 13th franchise is heavily represented here, but many other classic horror icons make an appearance as playable killers, including Pennywise the Clown from Stephen King’s It, and Warwick Davis’ grotesque Lubdan, from the Leprechaun franchise.

Slayaway Camp is as challenging as it is entertaining, and is available both on PC and iOS devices, so you can slaughter people on the go! ♦

Calvin Harris has turned a sharp corner in his production style evolution. Less Guetta, more Ronson. It’s a sound that isn’t that new to him; some of the tracks on Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1 sound reminiscent of his first LP, 2007’s I Created Disco. However, the difference 10 years can make is quite clear. Bounces’ track list is absolutely littered with guest appearances.

It’s a tightly cropped album - 38 minutes total.

There are some brilliant tracks, and some highly displeasing ones too. Overall, it’s inoffensive.

On the production side, Harris can’t be faulted. He’s approached contemporary funk without being kitsch. It’s summery, and at times almost… withdrawn? In comparison to Harris’ previous CLANG CLANGs and DOOT DOOTs, Bounces feels tasteful. Undoubtedly, the best guest performances come from Frank Ocean, opening the LP with ‘Slide’; and 19 year old Khalid on ‘Rollin’. ‘Feels’ is fantastic, even with Big Sean’s mediocre-at-best closing verse.

In fact, ‘Feels’ is where the album should have closed. The final two tracks, particularly ‘Hard to Love’, are a struggle to listen to. Performances from Young Thug, Travis Scott and Future feel discordant with Harris’ production. And ‘Skrt On Me’, a bizarre, autotune-heavy mix of samba and dancehall, seems added to the LP purely to enhance chart performance.

While Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1 isn’t necessarily a landmark album of 2017, it certainly brings a high sense of relief. It says a lot that EDM giant Harris has become tired of the genre. Like Electro Swing and Dubstep, perhaps we will all collectively agree one day to forget EDM ever happened (that is, of course, if we don’t walk past UniRec in the morning). ♦ 15

NEXUS MAGAZINE

16

Random Audit — Kauwhau

N.15 / V.49

Feature — Kupu Whakaatu

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Alexander Nebesky 17

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Feature — Kupu Whakaatu

In a world where all films are the same story told differently, a world where sequels and expanded universes are the order of the day, what benefit is there in viewing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Planet of the Apes 3, or Alien: Covenant?

Does the ever expanding world of Marvel offer us anything new, or does it serve only as a cynical cashgrab? Is the purpose of storytelling obscured in the wake of countless sequels, prequels, sequel prequels, prequel sequels, expanded universe films, remakes, reboots, and soft reboots? Are we all mindless drones lining up to be disappointed by the latest trainwreck put forward by a coterie of super wealthy film manufacturing hacks? Reviews Editor and resident critic Alexander Nebesky investigates film.

Dan Harmon, writer of Community, Rick and Morty, puts forward the theory that every story, be it film, television, literature, oral tradition, fits into a narrative framework described as the “Universal theory of storytelling.”

1) A character is in a zone of comfort, 2) but they want something. 3) They enter an unfamiliar situation, 4) adapt to it, 5) get what they wanted, 6) pay a heavy price for it, 7) then return to their familiar situation, 8) having changed.

In the face of such a variety of films, Maid in Manhattan, Dr. Zhivago, Star Wars, and The Social Network, Harmon’s theory holds out when one examines closely the nature of each film. Every story is essentially the same, when boiled down to its core elements and stripped of all aesthetic trappings.

This theory brings with it a serious question about art and its purpose, or indeed, its pointlessness. If every story is the same, do we need more than one story?

A recently published Independent article has revealed that Hollywood returns are projected to be their worst in a decade. Dropping from 4.45 billion USD down to 4 billion USD, while it seems like a slight and unremarkable change when one is dealing with billions of dollars, the numbers

18

N.15 / V.49

reveal that the current model of relying on recogniseable intellectual property and cultural touchstone franchises, it could be argued, is no longer the surefire hit it had once been.

This loss of revenue and disinterest in the latest installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise could be put down to the fact that although all stories are essentially the same, they serve different purposes, and if one is to view a film in the same franchise which offers nothing new, the purpose of the film is moot and it will not, indeed cannot, resonate with its audience.

Jordan Peterson, professor of psychology in the fields of religious and ideological belief at the University of Toronto argues that the basis of all stories is the hero’s exploration of uncharted territory, the result of exposure to an anomaly that cannot be explained by their original understanding. So they must move forward into said uncharted territory in order to find a new explanation and incorporate that understanding into their worldview. The stories we tell are our way of gaining understanding of the world around us. They provide us with a set of questions and then seek to answer them through the hero’s actions and decisions, with each movement serving as a potential step towards understanding the world and ourselves. The hero is the one who kills the monster and brings the treasure back to the village- that is, they explore the unexplored in an effort to understand the heretofore unknown. This journey reflects the audience’s own questions about the world.

“If I were trapped and alone facing an horrific monster, how would I cope?” “What does the monster represent?” “What is my monster?”

So, knowing that the story is intended to give us greater understanding, given that each film, regardless of its perceived intellectual value, grapples within the same framework but uses different ideas and themes, what value is their in choosing Silence of the Lambs over 10 Things I Hate About You? The simple answer is what separates stories one step beyond the themes they deal with, aesthetics.

Of the two things that separate films from one another, aesthetics are the most immediately apparent. They are the setting and the costume, the cinematography, the tone, and the universe in which the film takes place. Put simply, Silence

of the Lambs and 10 Things I Hate About You are the same story dealing with different themes, through a different set of aesthetics.

So the choice is first, which aesthetic you prefer to watch, and then, what themes are most relevant to your own understanding of the world, or lack thereof.

Of course, not every film claims to be a hardhitting examination of the human condition.

Transformers or Suicide Squad are hardly the pinnacle of discussion on the nature of human existence, they are films defined by the spectacle they offer to the viewer. Entertainment popcorn movies with apparently little under the surface.

However, the reason that one (Transformers) was successful rests in the fact that the film itself, its themes, resonated with audiences. Regardless of whether the story was told through conventional action, we still saw the characters as worthy of survival, identified with their struggle against evil, and felt good when they succeeded in overcoming it. The films were exciting to watch, and to be sure, there is nothing wrong with a film that eschews philosophical examination in favour of action and excitement – provided the film touches the necessary bases of plot and character for us to be invested in its outcome.

With that being said, why were subsequent Transformers films panned by most critics and considered brain-dead action to most of the movie-going population? The answer, though it sounds contradictory to what we have already established, is that they did nothing new.

When a film as part of a franchise first appears, it has the freedom to establish itself as a new aesthetic and thematic telling of the story. However, the flaw of the franchise is that for a film to slot into an expanded universe it must work within the rules of the established universe. It is effectively limited by the themes and aesthetics it has established, and at a point becomes, for all intents and purposes, indistinguishable from its predecessors.

Rogue One serves as an effective example of the artistic failure of the expanded universe as a concept. To illustrate this point, Rogue One, in order to be recognised as a story taking place in the Star Wars universe, necessarily had to retain the aesthetics of that universe- stormtroopers, lightsabers, Darth Vader, and spaceships. The

Feature — Kupu Whakaatu

NEXUS MAGAZINE

recycling of aesthetics limits the way in which the film can tell its story, though being that aesthetics are necessary in continuing a story or developing a cinematic universe, recycling can only be considered a failure if the surrounding narrative offers no thematic developments. Rogue One was not only a story that never needed to be told- it was simply an overlong explanation of a plot point that was already dealt with in A New Hope You, it also failed to offer any new themes because although the plot was different, the story was limited by the Star Wars aesthetics. It was a self-justifying film.

It existed to explain a point within the franchise that never needed to be explained, and was only successful or acknowledged because it used those same aesthetics and themes for which the franchise is known.

You could not have a Star Wars comedy without ruining the characters of the franchise.

You could not have a charming kitchen sink drama about a recently widowed woman raising a troublesome adolescent on the streets of Minas Tirith. It would not fit within the aesthetics of the Lord of the Rings films. These cinematic universes have a set of aesthetics that necessitate particular plotlines, or if you want to deconstruct it, perhaps plotlines that necessitate a particular set of aesthetics.

The point of the matter is that once a set of characters or technologies, themes or plot devices, is established in a universe, to deviate from that path would cause the resulting product to either have no resemblance to its antecedents, or end with a steaming pile of retconned horse shit à la Alien: Covenant. The only exception being a film centred around the implications of a removal of one of these aspects from a universe.

The franchise then, is the continual rehashing of aesthetics and themes until in necessarily eats itself alive. Exploited for their familiarity, as the franchise continues it inevitably covers whatever measure of thematic ground it could have, and at a point can be entertaining or thoughtprovoking no longer. This is the unfortunate position in which franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean find themselves. However much we wish goddamned Hollywood hacks would offer us something new to enjoy, perhaps this is now the realm of independent studios. Eventually the dead horse can be flogged no longer. ♦

19

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Full Exposure — Mārakerake

Eliza Webster 22

N.15 / V.49

Full Exposure — Mārakerake

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Eliza Webster is an artist, curator, gallery manager, part-time bartender and fulltime badass who may or may not be Eliza Thornberry incarnate. This is the second time she’s featured on a cover of Nexus this year and we fucking love her, so we decided to interview the wunderkind to learn a bit more about her and her gallery.

Skinroom W W W. S K I N R O O M G A L L E R Y. C O M @_SKINROOM FAC E B O O K .C O M / SKINROOMGALLERY

Eliza W W W. E L I Z A W E B S T E R .

PORTFOLIOBOX.NET

Tell us about your gallery, Skinroom.

Skinroom is an artist run space (gallery) on Commerce Street in Frankton that I run with one of my old tutors from Wintec, Geoff Clarke. It’s a place for young people to exhibit their work alongside professionals to further along in their art careers. It’s a space built for experimentation and contemporary expression and is my favourite thing in the whole world.

@ _ E L I Z AW E B S T E R

Tell us about Skinroom’s current exhibition.

Our latest exhibition entitled DATA opened the 21st of July, and is a show of new works by Franktonian artist Chelsea Peppercorn and myself. The show is about the internet - whatever that means. Come along everyone! Buy some art!

Who are your influences at the moment?

Super hard question. Art-wise: Zio Ziegler, David Hockney, Louise Bourgeois, Keith Haring, Jean Michel Basquiat, Jonathan Meese, Yayoi Kasuma. Too many. Business-wise: Rhana Devenport, Hans Ulrich-Obrist, my mum.

Is it true you won Best Dressed at your high school ball?

Yep. I went as a punk version of Pretty in Pink.

Bows, tiered dress and all. Skull socks, and a humongous crimped orange beehive. I wish I was kidding.

How did you get into art?

I made a whole bunch of shit paintings when I was little and worked from there. I did the art class thing in high school, and then went to study engineering in Auckland at Auckland University hahaha. I dropped out, worked full time in a bar for a while, moved to the UK for a while, moved back, and then fell into the Media Arts degree at Wintec

through Sam Cunnane, who was my teacher at Fraser High and is now a big wig in Media Arts, and a really good friend - I owe him a lot. I finished the Media Arts degree in two years total (Summer school, Winter school, etc), including a semester abroad in Chengdu, China. I started Skinroom with Geoff over the Summer of 2015/2016, and have since then just tried to keep working towards providing a space for young people to show their work and gain some confidence in their practice.

I think this is more important to me now than my own painting practice - so I started a Masters degree in Cultural and Creative Practice at AUT to extend my curatorial and business knowledge because I’m a crazy person. Oh, I’m also working at the Wallace Gallery in Morrinsville two days a week as the Administrator and Assistant Curator under a super inspiring dude, Justin Morgan, and managing the new Nancy Caiger Gallery at the Meteor Theatre.

Would you rather do opium with Picasso or sit in the dark with Rembrandt?

Rooftop opium missions with Picasso.

Will this interview get us free drinks at Static?

You wish.

Where to from here?

Finish Masters in Auckland, keep making art, run a whole bunch of cool exhibitions, keep on keeping on at the Wallace Gallery in Morrinsville and the Nancy Caiger, grow Skinroom into something more wonderful, and hopefully get a good night’s sleep at some point. Seriously though, I’d love to start my own dealer gallery in Frankton, and extend the beautiful little creative community that we have growing here. ♦ 23

Student Experience — Wheako Tauira

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Have an event you want featured? Flick an email to editor@nexusmag.co.nz with details of the event and we’ll get in touch.

IPENZ Secrets to Success Tuesday August 1st, 5.30pm-8pm S Block Foyer In your final year of study? Learn how to kickstart your engineering career at our Secrets to Success evenings! YES have lined up industry leaders to share their journeys to success and the insights they’ve learned along the way. Meet them, other working engineers and students over drinks and pizzas provided by our sponsor RobLawMax Recruitment. You’ll also hear how IPENZ membership can help you on your journey…and get a sneak peek as we unveil our new-look as Engineering New Zealand. All finalyear engineering students welcome - secure your spot now!

Basketball Quiz Night Saturday July 29th, 7pm-12am How well do you know the game of Basketball?

The University of Waikato Basketball Club is inviting all club members and non-club members to come along to this joyful Quiz Night and enjoy some quality banter. We’ve got prizes up for grabs and nothing but good tunes. The Club has also secured a venue that allows you to bring your own drinks, check us out on Facebook for more details. Bangers all night!

Excel Help Session With CPA BAP, 1pm-2pm, Wednesday July 26th MSB.0.26 Want to learn how to improve your Excel skills?

Need help with the Excel component of your Accounting paper? Come along during cultural hour on the 26th to room MSB.0.26 to update your skills and get prepared for the workplace!

YES/WESMO Networking Night Friday 28th of July, 7pm Little George It’s time to focus on the important things in life and get social with the YES/WESMO mixer, on Friday 28th. Have a few drinks, and then a few more at Little George, where the beers and yarns will be flowing all night. Engineers from all years are welcome to come down and meet the teams from WESMO and YES, find out what they’re all about and make some new mates. Free food, good beer. What more do you need on a Friday night? There will also be a van leaving outside LSL on Friday night at 7.15. Just message YES if you’re wanting a ride.

WUSSA Hippies vs Hipsters Quiz Night Tuesday July 25th, 6.30pm-9pm Ruakura Campus Club WUSSA is back with another bangin’ quiz night to welcome everyone back to another semester of Uni. All faculties and staff are welcome! Entry is $5 and covers, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks. We’ll also have the finest craft beer on tap with various beers, wine and spirits. Come down, dress up and get involved. Jump on WSU.org.nz now to register your team.

25

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Student Experience — Wheako Tauira

Halfway, How ‘Bout It? We had the brilliant idea of letting a computer tell Lyam who to vote for this week. For a few weeks now the WSU President had been suggesting that Lyam will just end up voting Greens or Labour and that got us curious as to just how much he had been affected by his environment.

So he sat down to complete isidewith.com NZ Edition. Turns out even the internet thinks Lyam is an indecisive fuck who needs to make a decision. At the halfway point what have we actually achieved? Let’s figure it out.

What’s goin on I’d like to think I’m slightly less politically inept compared to when I first started this section.

Equally as ignorant, but a little more informed. In all honesty I still have no clue who I’ll be voting for in sixty days.

In order to find some clarity I took the New Zealand equivalent of the isidewith.com quiz which takes into account your views on a series of important issues and produces statistics based on your alignment with each eligible party.

It’s fair to say this process was fairly intensive so I expected results, unsurprisingly I was left with proof that I really have no fucking clue with what’s going on. →→ →→ →→ →→

Sam Taylor

Vibe: B Policies: B+ She’s lovely, passionate and can’t handle her piss. I still really rate the Greens charter, but the fact she started the interview by calling me pretentious and privileged because I’ve never cared for politics wasn’t the greatest first impression.

62% The Opportunities Party 62% Green Party 62% Labour Party 61% National Party

I’d like to be able to say that these results reflect a balanced view on how our Government should be run, at the end of the day it probably comes down to my lack of understanding when it comes to half of our policies, to remedy this let’s break it down into bite sized chunks. I know it seems like a lot but if you form even the most basic opinion on each of these questions you’ll be able to make a far more reasonable decision. →→ National Security- Do you think people departing the Middle East with laptops are terrorists? →→ Social- Should the gays have rights? Should abortions be legal? →→ Environmental- Is global warming bad? Is genetically engineering food algood?

26

Puppet Maste

Poli

N.15 / V.49

David Seymour Vibe: RP Policies: C+ Yeah nah we clearly weren’t the best of buds. He’s an alright fellow but a bit of a space cadet, audibly doing vague math isn’t impressing anyone. The fact that he’s opposed to the cigarette tax is definitely his saving grace.

Student Experience — Wheako Tauira

er itics Jamie Strange Vibe: A Policies: B+ He spun some great yarns and gave time to teaching me the basics of it all, easily one of the best impressions so far.

Labour has solid policies and relatively realistic goals. Nothing he said reminded me of ACT which is a solid start.

David Bennett Vibe: A Policies: B Daveo is definitely a classic critter. The recorded section of our interview was very professional and straight to business, as soon as we were off the record he was just keen for a gossip and a few more drinks.

Chlöe Swarbrick Vibe: A Policies: B+ My queen. She’s hella passionate, super opinionated and a little intimidating. I can’t fault her. At the moment she’s definitely up there, I just wish she’d been able to have a few brews to get the real stories spinning.

NEXUS MAGAZINE

→→ Economic- Should minimum wage be higher? Does the gender pay gap exist?

Should it be harder to get the bene? →→ Domestic Policy- Should the Government be able to monitor our phones and the internet? →→ Healthcare- Should marijuana be legal?

Should life saving drugs be affordable? →→ Criminal- Should crims be able to vote? →→ Foreign Policy- Is terrorism bad? Should we accept refugees? →→ Electoral- Should younger folk be able to vote? →→ Education- Should Te Reo Māori be compulsory in school? →→ Immigration- Should immigrants be deported if they commit serious crime? Should they have to learn English? →→ Science- Is nuclear energy algood? Should vaccines for kids be compulsory?

Whom?

Winston Peters and Gareth Morgan have been making waves across social media as our beloved news outlets run wild with clickbait headlines. It’s all well and good reading that one’s a huge racist and the other is marginally less, but who actually are they? Instead of doing any legitimate research I instead found the nearest knowledgeable adult.

Winston Peters- New Zealand First “He’s 70, polishes back unholy amounts of scotch and only stopped smoking in the last six months. He’s funny, he’s charming and ostensibly who we all wish we could be when we grow up” Winston is a name that you’ll be seeing a lot of over the next months, he’s been called the ‘Kingmaker’ as the margin he gets will largely decide who ends up in Government, unless of course something dramatic unfolds.

Gareth Morgan- The Opportunities Party “He’s the dad of the guy who built TradeMe, hates cats and is a very wealthy financial manager who has an ownership interest in the Wellington Phoenix.” You’ll also be hearing a fair amount about this guy, he’s shaping the agenda that other people have to respond to. He may not get a shit load of votes but he’s forcing questions within the election that need to be answered. ♦ 27

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Student Experience — Wheako Tauira

Club Spotlight Bikes on Campus Moses Simpson Bikes on Campus is a student led bike shop located in the Cowshed. It was first started in 2015 as a part of the uLeisure Student Business Experiment, and has been going ever since.

Moses and Anne-Marie run the shop with help from student volunteers. The bike shop came from the realisation that a lot of students rode bikes to uni, yet there were no bike shops on this side of the river.

Bikes on Campus repair and service pretty much any and all bikes. We offer free safety checks to students so people know what they can expect when they drop off their bike with us. We also try our best to fit within a student budget!

This year we began our second-hand bike project which provides a pre-loved bike and helmet to students for $60. Students then have the option to return the bike to us within a year (provided it’s in good condition!) and receive $20 cash back. This project relies on bike donations from the community, which are fixed up for students or repaired and donated to new refugees. We have been running this project in collaboration with Eco Emporium on campus who have helped provide the funding for the helmets for students.

Recently due to the high number of bike thefts on campus we partnered with the WSU and Campus security to provide secure locks at a significant discount for students. We have a range of strong and reliable locks available in store which range from $20-40.

28

N.15 / V.49

We have a range of locks, lights, tyres, tubes, coffee cup holders and more. We have an everchanging range of specials, including our current specials on saddles, mudguards and water bottle & coffee cup holders. See our Facebook for more details and pictures.

Bikes on Campus are looking for volunteers to help fix up bikes for refugees, and help with workshops teaching bike repair and maintenance to students. We are also looking for people who want to hang out in the shop once or twice a week to help students who pop by. Full training will be provided, although an interest in bike maintenance and some background knowledge is helpful.

Volunteering for Bikes on Campus will give you access to tools, knowledge and workshop space for any repairs/maintenance you want to perform, and will give you a healthy discount off any parts you need!

If you want to learn more about bikes but don’t have the time to commit to volunteering, you can come check out our next bike maintenance workshop 11am Tuesday 8th August. We will run through how to check if your bike is safe, how to fix a flat tyre, replace brake pads and cable and more if we have time. Alternatively, follow us on facebook or Instagram to keep up to date with our projects (as well as cycling details in the wider community) Check us out on Facebook - facebook.com/ bikesoncampusnz Or Instagram – bikeson_campus ♦

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Columns — Maramara Kōrero

Pass the AUX Playlist_10

↑ MODEST MOUSE

Jacqui Swney This weeks playlist is paying tribute to good ole Spotify, once again. You know the discover page that obnoxiously pops up whenever you open Spotify, and usually you just ignore and move onto clicking one of your already well-crafted and over-abused playlists? Well, this week I ventured into my “Discover Weekly” that Spotify so kindly manages to create for me each week by stalking what I’m currently listening to, finding stuff that sounds similar, and compiling it into one convenient (and sometimes trash) playlist.

But this week, this provided some good in a sea of average. Thanks Spotify #NotSponsored

a Modest Mouse enthusiast since the tender age of 15. But a little enthusiasm never hurt anyone. I’ll start by referring you to one of their older masterpieces, ‘The World At Large’, which basically guided me through every midlife crisis ever. And their 2016 release, ‘Night on the Sun’ stays very true to the Modest Mouse that I know and love. It’s slightly more moody than popular tracks like ‘Float On’, but their instrumentals remain similar. It’s chill and melodic, with a heavy presence of drums and it really gets me air drumming like I have musical talent. 8/10 from me.

Folk-Metaphysics by Milo Alright, this one’s definitely a hit or miss, and I’ll be the first to admit it’s not really an easy listen, or a song that you would listen to more than once really. In fact, it’s really strange, like a terrible version of a Twenty One Pilots song.

This track opens up with a weird self-hatred/ new resolutions rap, laced with a bit of social commentary somewhere in there. However, the track in the background is intriguing and hypnotic even. Not terribly produced, but definitely an interesting and complex listen and I’m a little bit impressed with Milo’s ability to make eating more fig-newton bars and taking pouty selfies seem like something to aspire to.

All in all, there’s something very appealing in all of the chaos that this song hands us.

Giuseppe by Trash Panda The only reason I pressed play on this song is because the band is called Trash Panda. And I was pretty pleased that they aren’t total trash.

Their sound is happy and upbeat and pretty chill all around. They slip a little shout out to Donald Trump in there, and although I can’t really pinpoint what this song is actually about, it maintains the basic formula for a successful catchy song: repetition of pre-chorus, easy chorus lyrics to remember, and mention of hot girls. Definitely not a work of art, but a smooth listen all around. 6.5/10. ♦

Night On the Sun by Modest Mouse I may or may not be slightly biased when I talk about his song, simply because I’ve been 30

N.15 / V.49

↑ M I LO

↑ MODEST MUSE

↑ T R A S H PA N D A

Columns — Maramara Kōrero

NEXUS MAGAZINE

WUG Life Waikato United Gaming Society Tom Featonby Jason Spiller is the unofficial leader of the New Zealand gaming community. He is most often found at tournaments, LANs, launch parties and conventions not only in NZ but abroad and most of them he has a hand in their success. Until recently Jason was the head community guy at Xbox NZ and used this position to spread the love and help the gaming scene here grow like never before. If he wasn’t so young you’d call him the godfather of the NZ gaming scene. With his time at Xbox NZ nearing a close, it was time to have a chat, ask some questions and learn a bit more about the man behind the trademark smile.

This is part 2 of 2.

Tom: Highs, lows, rewarding bits and compromises you’ve had to make being a leader in the broader gaming community?

Jason: There are too many highs to count but one moment that stands out to me is Armageddon and the Halo 5 launch. In what is still probably the greatest act of madness I have pitched, we, and by “we” I mean the three people that made up the Xbox team at the time, ran a four day Armageddon stand and on the final night we launched Halo 5. Running a stand for 80K people for four days takes an army, combine that with the extra effort required to run a 600 person launch event with a two hour venue changeover and it is a recipe for possible disaster. We had 22 community members that volunteered, threw on Xbox t-shirts and helped, literally coming together out of nowhere to move chairs, set up Xbox’s, guide people and hand out swag. Sitting there surrounded by the

Xbox family was one of the most memorable times for my time at Microsoft.

On the flip side there are always compromises that have to be made. Working in such a high intensity environment you need to find ways to align what’s best for fans with what the business requires. That can be a challenge, there are battles you have to fight and others that you just have to tactically withdraw from. One of my greatest wins was abolishing retailer centric DLC in New Zealand.

Tom: You’ve recently finished a hefty tenure being the face of Xbox NZ, where to from here?

Jason: While I do have a new role in the works for later in the year, for the moment I am taking some time to spend with my partner in Los Angeles who is busy on the convention cosplay circuit and working on some long overdue passion projects for a few months. First is a dedicated Content Creator support agency Arcanist, to support growing talent in any way I can and the second is an esports team. New Zealand has a dearth of endemic brands and I hope to help correct that a little along with some of the other trailblazers in the space.

Tom: Any advice you’d give to aspiring gaming enthusiasts that are looking at turning their love of gaming into a career? Jason: 1. Passion is always recognised, be active.

2. Always look for the silver lining.

3. Adaptability, understand that a plan is needed but also that it will change constantly. Be willing to make sideways moves whether is required by your company, customer or audience. ♦ 31

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Columns — Maramara Kōrero

Eco Emporium Live Longer for Just 70 Cents Valerie Bianchi As a university student, I solved some of my financial concerns by eating pizza out of a dumpster. I thought this was a completely brilliant solution: I could eat free food and got to reduce organic waste going to landfill. On the other hand, my flatmate at the time (10 years my senior) was horrified when I made a detour down a dark alley as we walked home together one night. Now, as a wisened adult, I don’t recommend dumpster diving. In Hamilton, surplus commercial food is redistributed through Kaivolution. Here, edible food that is not good enough to sell and that would normally be disposed of is given to community organisations or charities.

Kaivolution is doing an excellent job of keeping people fed whilst reducing commercial organic waste from landfill. You also have an opportunity to reduce waste by cooking smart meals that will keep you and Papatūānuku healthy. Plastic packaging contains a number of chemicals, some include phthalates which are considered endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors can interfere with the body’s natural balance of hormones by leaching into food through packaging. This is why it is wise to reduce our exposure to plastic and avoid heating food or drinks in plastic containers. Making zero waste meals is a way to avoid phthalates while reducing rubbish in our environment.

For example, who’s into pumpkin soup on these cold days? Take a whole pumpkin (not a portion wrapped in cellophane), cut in half, roast until soft, scoop out and mix with a can of coconut milk and add stock (either made from a chicken frame or bones from a roast, or buy stock powder 32

N.15 / V.49

by bringing your own jar to a bulk bin). If you don’t have a blender, a masher will do to make things smooth. You can also make a 750 gram bread loaf for around $3 by taking your refillable jars to Bin Inn for bread mix and yeast. You can put the pumpkin scraps in a compost or worm farm and recycle the can and voila! Zero waste success to impress your friends and family.

Need a starter, you say? The cheapest hummus I found was $3.19 at PAK’nSAVE for a 430 gram pot.

You can make your own hummus by buying all the ingredients either unwrapped (lemon and garlic), in a bulk bin with your own jar (dried chickpeas, powdered cumin, oil) and in glass (tahini) for $3.90.

It’s a $.70 increase, yes, but if you can afford it you will be reducing your exposure to plastic and cutting down demand for plastic packaging that will eventually end up as waste.

Want more zero waste meal inspiration? Need help setting up a compost or worm farm for your flat? Come in to Eco Emporium for advice. We are located in the Cowshed, behind the Student Union Building, open Tuesday-Thursday 10-3pm.

Follow us on Facebook @EcoCampusWaikato or contact me at VBianchi@Waikato.ac.nz ♦

Columns — Maramara Kōrero

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Arts ↑ F I O N A PA R D I N G TO N ; ‘ S T I L L LIFE WITH FREUD AND PURIRI’

↑ F I O N A PA R D I N G TO N ; ‘ T H E B U R N E T C O L L E C T I O N ’, 2 0 0 8

Sex and Death in Art Peter Dornauf Sex and death. These used to be the twin preoccupations that took up a lot of time in the fine arts. But no more. There are reasons for that which I won’t go into now. We’ve all got our theories. One has to exclude in this generalisation, the movies, of course.

But scratch around in the visual fine arts, painting and the like, and you might discover a few lone figures still bravely enamoured by the subject.

One of those who is, is New Zealand artist, Fiona Pardington, who received front page coverage recently in the Waikato Times supplement, “Your Weekend” magazine. There she was, resplendently reclining in a modern leather bound armchair, her arms covered in tats and ring in her nose.

Pardington is New Zealand’s preeminent photographer and in 2012 she created a series of works which took as its theme, the Vanitas genre, made popular by the Dutch masters in the 17th century.

Back then in hard core Protestant county there was only one show in town and that was religion. The focus was all otherworldly with this world was not worth the whistle by comparison.

Life was nasty, brutal and short and the Dutch were keen to rub it in, in realistic detail.

Their stock imagery were skulls, hour glasses, candles, rotting fruit, all reminders of the brevity of life and the need to get right with God. Transience was king and a little reminder of death waiting in the wings never went amiss.

That was then, this is now.

But in the postmodern age, a revisit to and rummage through the past is all in a day’s

work. This Pardington has done, using the same tricks as the Dutch, but instead of paint she has used the camera to depict her collection of memento mori material. She’s trawled New Zealand beaches and sourced stuff salvaged from second-hand shops to build up a collection of objects to include in her lush chiaroscuro photographs: dead birds, shells, stones, fish heads, ribbons, flowers, skulls, plastic bottles and various statuettes and figurines – Pan, Saint Frances Assisi.

Back in the day the Vanitas was full of high seriousness. Today it comes to us with a touch of kitsch, like the zombie movies.

There’s an exhibition currently showing at the Wallace Gallery, Morrinsville, whose focus is similar, but without any flirtation with the tacky.

It’s called “Confronting the Human Condition”.

Worth a look for the serious minded among us. ♦

33

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Columns — Maramara Kōrero

Yam and Troy the Science Boys Buried Treasure, the Shit Yourself Kind Troy the Science Boy Our very own Alex Nebesky and I were discussing how the whole ‘KiwiSaver investing in munitions and landmines’ thing has just sort of disappeared off the face of the earth. I’m sure a cursory Google search would reveal that to be untrue, but nevertheless, it got me thinking about landmines.

My god are they absolutely awful. It makes you wonder who ever thought they were a good idea, what is mankind’s fascination with burying explosives?

We have a Chinese bloke by the name of Lou Qianxia to thank. During the Song Dynasty of the thirteenth century, in an effort to repel the Mongols by blowing the fuck out of their horses, the first significant landmines in human history were born. These were super primitive, were prone to long burning fuse times or just outright not going off at all but in spite of that, warfare was forever changed.

During times of conflict, the thing on people’s minds is not ‘Wow, when this war is done we need to make sure there aren’t any landmines left to fuck up our societies and land’ it is ‘Holy shit, our entire way of life is at stake, we really need to get these fucking bastards at all costs’.

Which is fair enough, but we’d all be a lot better off if people could stop killing one another in the name of made up sky people.

But is it fair enough? Well, perhaps if landmines were used to kill enemy forces it would be. But that isn’t the case. Most modern landmines are designed exclusively to injure. The intention is that the enemies’ resources are put under more strain by injuring their soldiers rather than killing 34

N.15 / V.49

them outright. The injured victims need to be transported to hospital zones and then have medical treatment. That is some cold-blooded shit and has also left some of our landscapes completely fucked.

It has been estimated that there are at least 100 million active landmines that still exist in the world today. Almost a quarter of these exist in Egypt, left over from the Second World War. Cambodia, Iraq, and Afghanistan are said to have 10 million each and Angola and Iraq at 15 and 16 million respectively. It has also been estimated that there are a metric fuck ton (equiv. 2.36 Imperial shit loads) in Vietnam, but no one is too sure on that one. The contaminated regions of land are completely unusable.

The financial cost, time requirement and safety risk of demining contaminated areas thoroughly enough to be deemed safe are ridiculous. Most landmines are incredibly difficult to detect as they’re often camouflaged, partially or completely buried and in some cases, don’t contain enough metal to be picked up by metal detectors. So when I say ‘landscapes completely fucked’, I’m not even exaggerating. Let’s put a stop to this bollocks, or at the very least, improve the way in which we exterminate our fellow man to an exceptionally effective level. ♦

Columns — Maramara Kōrero

NEXUS MAGAZINE

The Morning After Paint (the Action Not the Application) Julie Charlton This one is pretty cheap and almost fool proof.

After you have consumed your mandatory fast food of choice and hopefully had a shower, you are in the perfect mental state to depict your deepest thoughts or cutest cats onto canvas. Not all of us may have taken art in high school but somewhere in our primary school days, between the reading groups and outdoor games, you would have dabbled with a paint brush.

You can pick up $5 paint sets from Kmart along with some useful paint brushes. Canvases are sold there in the same aisle but the trusty Warehouse has a slightly better selection at around the same price. Please listen to me to pick up the primary colours since you can’t make them unless monochrome is your thing. If your budget is tight, try dropping the brushes and going old school with finger painting. Once you’re back home it is best to put some newspaper down or some old tarp you have in the garage unless you aren’t fussed about getting your bond back. I am pretty set on getting mine back so I can spend it on overpriced Smirnoff at RnV but in saying that we went newspaper free last Sunday and survived.

The rest is all up to you, recreating bus seat covers is in or why not attempt a portrait of your mate. It can be difficult coming up with ideas of what to paint since sometimes Pinterest isn’t the pin board of inspiration that it promises to be with its punny title. My next great idea for a canvas is to paint two Razor scooters crossing in an X formation with a simple fireball behind them.

Nothing too over the top just a subtle masterpiece

for my flat living room. Feel free to steal this banger of an idea because no doubt the average joe will do a better job than me and thus create a better homage to Razor scooters everywhere.

Pro tip, it is not a bad idea to have a glass of water on hand to clean the brushes as you go. No one likes the muppet who put white paint in the black paint container as I have learnt. Hairdryers can also be handy if you do not enjoying watching paint dry. Turn this activity into a flat competition by having an impartial member of the public vote on their favourite painting.

Getting your mum on FaceTime may give you a slight advantage so maybe check with your flatties first. The last and most essential step is to ‘gram your sweet artwork. Let the world know you are the reincarnation of Picasso (is he dead yet? I don’t know). Using the hashtag ‘art’ will get you likes from some pretty obscure artists as well as your sister who is still calling herself a struggling artist. Have fun, and don’t get paint on the carpet please. ♦

35

Snapped — Atapaki

SNAPPED.

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Snap nexusmag your shenanigans! The best snap each week wins a voucher from our mates at BurgerFuel. Claim it from the Nexus office in SUB. If you wish to remove a snap from the mag before publication on Thursday, let us know what the snap is and why it needs to be removed.

NER

WIN

37

Blind Date — He aru makau

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Blind—

Brought to you by House on Hood Street.

Each week Nexus attempts to make a romantic/sexual connection.

If you're keen for a date on us, email editor@nexusmag.co.nz He’s a local menace with a raw passion for couch fires, she’s a Brazilian beauty who applied for this by describing her voluptuous assets. Will this lovely young lady be able to tame the wild bogan? Or will she succumb to her primal urge?

She said: Well because I was stressing out on what to wear, or if I should wear my hair up or down, or tits out or kept hidden I only got in a sip of some left over C.C and dry from last week’s party… thanks to inside sources all I knew about this guy is that he had abs and was a badass. I arrived five minutes early so I could suss him out first. BUT he arrived 10 minutes late (embarrassing 10 minutes of my life!) to make it worse he gets carried into the house no shit on top of his mates shoulders. I was just like shit I should of drunken more… but he’s lucky he’s got good banter and I had a fun night having a few tequila shots. I took him down to my work so they could see who this infamous blind date I wouldn’t stop yapping about... whoops. He also owes me a jagerbomb…. Date was worth while in the end. Figured out we were both from the same town and had a few mutual friends which was good to get a convo started.

He was good looking, even got himself a haircut.

Anyway we parted ways and then I thought oh shit I should’ve taken this guy back to mine, well he knows how to get a hold of me... still haven’t seen those abs of his.

He said: So I decided to do the traditional pre drinks before my date. I asked my friends to make sure I didn’t get too pissed before my date, of course they were the wrong ones to ask, they then decided to play some lethal drinking game. Ended up turning up a bit late to my date so we decided we would have to make an entrance to make up for it. We tried getting the bar to play black betty and my mates were going to carry me in on their shoulders but they wouldn’t play black betty, so we just thought fuck it we’ll do it anyway. Got a few questionable looks from the others at the House but it was good for a laff. So then after that I got to meet my date, my friend actually knew her but all he would tell me was that she was Brazilian and hot. So I wasn’t sure if he was saying that to take the piss or being serious. It turned out she was quite a visual feast, so thank you Nexus for that. Now I don’t wanna brag, just in case she roasts me in her write up, but I felt like the date itself went pretty good, she was a cool chick and pretty easy to get along with. We just ordered a pizza and spent the rest on alcohol.

Then after that we went to the quadrant for a couple more drinks, and at this point I realised one of the side affects of alcohol which was that I could not remember half of what we had talked about, so like I didn’t want to repeat anything I had already said so ended up just having a couple of awkward shots and called it a night.

Date.

39

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Puzzles — Panga

HOROSCOPES Aries: March 21 — April 19 With the recent tilt of our lunar sphere, you’ll feel overcome by naivety. Invest in kneepads to combat spatial unawareness.

S

C

O

N

C

E

P

T

U

A

L

N

I

B

A

I

N

M

B

H

F

U

N

L

V

S

H

V

F

W

C

C

X

V

I

Y

U

F

I

I

V

N

B

V

E

Taurus: April 20 — May 20 Primal urges lead your romantic interest. There may be risks to keeping it raw, but you have needs to satiate.

O

Y

C

H

G

R

E

A

T

S

J

K

V

Y

S

N

U

V

N

H

H

J

S

A

I

V

C

L

N

O

O

M

S

E

B

G

U

I

O

O

B

V

E

H

M

Gemini: May 21 — June 20 The deep storms of Jupiter provide an environment ripe with vulnerable singletons; it’s time to abandon your morals.

C

I

N

V

R

H

J

K

V

N

Y

U

G

I

E

L

C

G

L

O

B

A

L

V

A

T

A

E

R

G

A

O

B

N

W

V

C

Y

U

R

H

G

N

U

S

Cancer: June 21 — July 22 Orientation is in your best interest, ensure your eyesight remains uncompromised through the breaking of dusk.

S

N

N

B

U

I

O

J

K

Y

B

V

D

C

C

T

I

U

I

M

U

S

I

C

A

L

S

A

G

V

I

C

B

N

M

H

G

Y

U

I

O

H

R

G

H

Leo: July 21 — August 22 It’s important to maintain your zodiac prowess throughout the coming weeks. Your shoulder shall soon be emotionally moistened.

C

J

K

G

V

C

B

F

R

E

A

K

Y

N

J

S

E

W

T

O

P

N

O

T

C

H

U

I

B

V

N

S

T

H

U

M

P

I

N

G

U

B

V

N

M

Virgo: August 23 — September 22 As your birth comet embarks on its return cycle, an internal detox begins. Brace for increased facial grease.

Libra: September 23 — October 22 Don’t allow your spiritual needs to be clouded as the waxing crescent lays waste to ignorant nonbelievers.

Scorpio: October 23 — November 21 Your vibrations may be resilient, but this does little to mask your persistent need for reassurance. Lay low and reflect.

Sagittarius: November 22 — December 21 Low luminosity brings a mask to your unsteady aura. Capitalise on this newfound confidence, make something of yourself.

Capricorn: December 22 — January 19 Place your empathetic core in the trust of Saturn; self-expression isn’t always the best way to relate.

Aquarius: January 20 — February 18 Listen to the call of your birthstone. Academia may have its merits, but you’ll find true fulfillment in the arms of a Sagittarius.

Pisces: February 19 — March 20 The reflection of Neptune leaves you reinvigorated.

Take a few selfies, it’ll be a while before you look this good again.

40

WORDFIND

N.15 / V.49

THEME: Adjectives to describe Savage & Kings.

Awesome

Freaky

Conceptual

Great

Iconic

High-Brow

Lit

Legendary

Visionary

Thumping

Top-Notch

Iconoclastic

Musical

Global

Fun

SIMPLE PUZZLES 4 SIMPLE PEOPLE

NEXUS MAGAZINE

Puzzles — Panga

SUDOKU 7

4

5

9 9

9 7

5

6

1

2

5

2

6 1

7

2

8

8 5

6

7

4

9 3

5

2

2

3

4

5

9

4

2

3

8 3

6

6 5

8

9 8

4

Medium

4 5

5

9

7

9

7

1

Easy

9

6 7

8

3

7

2 7

6

1

4

3

9

5

6

8

2 5

4

5

7 5

3 2

4

1

1 6

8

6

2

8

9

1

5

4 6 5

8

Difficult

CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

8

6

7

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16 17

18

19

21

22

24

20

23

25

Across

Down

1. Prank (5)

1. Subject (5)

4. Small community (7)

2. Frozen water (3)

8. Everlasting (7)

3. Dog houses (7)

9. Accolade (5)

4. Smooth fabric (6)

10. Wear away (5)

5. Letting contract (5)

12. Voter (7)

6. Flat (9)

13. Alter or regulate (6)

7. Senior (7)

14. Refuge (6)

11. Target (9)

17. Repossess (7)

13. Fruit (7)

19. Travel lodge (5)

15. Stuck (7)

21. Mound of stones, marker (5)

16. Hot fragments from a fire (6)

22. Sincere (7)

18. Declare invalid (5)

24. Latticework (7)

20. Supple (5)

25. Herd or flock of animals (5)

23. Self (3)

WORD TWIST S

B

O

T

I

H

E

U

S

F

O

W

L

I

B

R

T

D

N

S

A

E

A

E

T 41

Clarence Street 7am – 10pm, 7 days a week. Phone (07) 839-4056

Fantastic Noodles Cup Range

5

FOR $5

Sealord Snackits 108g-113g

3

FOR $5

Arnott’s Tim Tams 200g

1

99

Coca Cola 18pk Cans Range

16

99

Prices valid until 23rd July 2017. Trade not supplied. Valid at PAK’nSAVE Clarence Street only.

Prices valid until Sunday 30th July 2017. Trade not supplied.

Valid at PAK’nSAVE Clarence Street only.

DOWN PRICE,DOWN...GOOD PRICE