Issue 01 ~ Lost

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EDITORIAL

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LETTERS & NOTICES

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WELCOME

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NEWS Party Line Shit News Tweets Of The Week COLUMNS Salient Tv Vuwsa Talking With My Dad About Sex Fashion And Haute Tea Two Guys One Bet Uni Q Swat Liquid Knowledge From The Archives Ngai Tauira CENTREFOLD

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FEATURES Out Of The Comfort Zone Stepping Into Pages Rewa From The Bench

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POEM

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REVIEWS Television Film Book Art Fashion Food

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ENTERTAINMENT Horoscopes

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Now that we’re done with O-Week, we can get into the nitty gritty of university: 11 a.m. sleep-ins, awkward tutorial icebreakers, and the university putting sly shit on your plate for you to digest.

As we mentioned last week, university is the perfect place for you to question the surroundings in which you are educated. If you’re learning that sex is horrific, and alcohol is holy water, then you should definitely question whether they should really be letting a religious fanatic who’s been banned from three churches in the Wellington area be a lecturer. This week (and the next 52) will teach you to question the very pillars that gifted you knowledge.

Start asking questions about everything. Your lecturers were students, too, once upon a time, and your classmates will one day be lecturers. Take nothing for granted, and assume no chair is stable. Just like the economy in ‘08, the structures you have relied on ever since you first opened your eyes can become dust and collapse in moments.

Maybe your parents don’t know what the fuck they’re on about when it comes to love.

Maybe the dude that owns the chip shop down the road actually has life all figured out.

If everything fell apart at the last minute, would you know how to put it back together? Or would you feel lost in chaotic clutter?

Maybe the university knows the library elevator hasn’t worked for two years and just plainly doesn’t give a fuck?

Last year, Facebook was called out for distributing personal information to Netflix and Spotify.

Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual assault after allegations from 30 unnamed individuals. In the same year, Salient called out Boulcott Hall for serving raw chicken to first-year students (Google “boulcott salient” for more info).

At some point this year, you’ll find yourself lost. Whether it’s while trying to find KKLT301 for your lecture, or feeling homesick in the middle of Cuba Street, the feeling cannot be described in words. We, at Salient, have felt your pain. If you resonate with this feeling today, you should check out Preyanka’s feature about homelessness, questionable landlords, and being out of your comfort zone on page 26.

What’s the shared motive here? If no one had called out Facebook, Spacey, or Victoria University, this knowledge would have been swept under the rug—along with Hollywood sex scandals and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Miami, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Spain—We hope that wherever you feel lost, emotionally and/or physically, you don’t end up at Massey University.

Kii Small & Taylor Galmiche

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Send your letters to editor@salient.org.nz.

Your feedback and opinions matter (probably)! Each week we’ll award our favourite letter with two tix to Zealandia.

Send your notices to designer@salient.org.nz.

WELLINGTON BUS ZONE FEES SNAPPER

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STUDENT

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$ 1. 28 $ 2 .11 $ 2 . 81

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WELLINGTON YOUTH ORCHESTRA Applications are now open for Wellington Youth Orchestra’s exciting 2019 Season. You must be playing at Grade 8 standard or higher, and be no older than 25.

Rehearsals are held on Mondays at 7pm in the Adam Concert Room at NZSM. Go to www.wyos.org.nz/auditions for more details.

VUWSA NOTICE VUWSA Reception Desk (Level 4 Student Union Building) sold out of 170 snapper cards on the first day of O-Week.

Their opening hours are 10AM Monday - Friday.

You’re in better chance of getting one if you are there early!

sponsored by

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JACINDA ARDERN: WELCOME Welcome back! If you’re returning for another year, I hope summer, summer work, or summer school was kind to you. And for those of you starting uni for the first time, I hope you literally have the time of your life.

Whatever point you are at in your university career, please take a moment at the start of the academic year to reflect on what it means to be here, and to feel proud. You may be far away from home, and looking for a place to live. You may be coming back to study later in life. You may be struggling to find textbooks, or sign up to tutorials. Regardless, your decision to invest in yourself is incredibly important.

I remember many years ago angsting over the seemingly simple decision to study. I worried about whether I was good enough for tertiary education. I wasn’t sure where to study, or what to study.

In the end, I made the 25km journey from Morrinsville to Waikato University. At the time, that 25kms felt like a big distance.

But taking that decision ultimately put me on a pathway I’ve never looked back on.

I know many of you care as much as I do about those same issues. So here’s a quick update on what we have planned this year – and how those plans will help you during your study and beyond.

I’ve said that climate change is my generation’s nuclear free moment. I’m always inspired to see students making their voices heard on this all-important challenge.

We’ve been doing a lot of work on environmental issues since coming into office. I’m proud that we’ve ended new offshore oil and gas exploration permits, banned microbeads, phased out single use plastic bags, and started the Green Investment Fund. There’s more to do, and we’re working hard towards having a net-zero carbon emissions economy by 2050.

We know it can be a struggle to cover your living costs while studying. That’s why we’ve boosted student allowance and student loan living cost support by $50 a week. We’re also lifting the minimum wage to $17.70 from 1 April, to help you make your part-time jobs pay. Many of you will also be having your first year fees free, and I’m really happy we’re helping to make your student debt a little more manageable.

Housing is another area that really affects students. Student flats have long had a reputation for being cold and damp. That low quality housing has a huge, negative impact on students’ health and wellbeing. That isn’t good enough.

We fundamentally believe that everyone has a right to a warm, dry home.

That’s why we’ve made changes to require landlords to ensure all rentals are warm and dry. We’ve also banned unfair letting fees, and we’re updating outdated tenancy laws to make sure renters are getting a fair deal. I hope you see the benefit of these changes in the homes you rent this year.

Another important issue that students care about is mental wellbeing. This year’s government budget has made the mental health of under 25s a priority and reflects our determination to improve the mental wellbeing of all our young people by providing better access to services and support.

I hope you use these opportunities to advance the issues that you care about most.

Studying can be stressful, so remember to look after yourself and be kind to each other. I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions about our plans for this year. You can email me at jacinda.ardern@parliament.govt.nz, or drop me a message on Facebook or Instagram.

Till then good luck for 2019!

Jacinda Ardern Prime Minister of New Zealand

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ISSUE 1

SALIENT

News.

Keen eye for news? send us any tips, leads or gossip to news@salient.org.nz.

NZ–CHINA TENSIONS UNLIKELY TO HAR M INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS EMMA HOUPT Recent political tension between New Zealand and China may not have significant direct effects on Chinese international students at Victoria University.

In particular, that Huawei has primarily been focused on as “a Chinese company when there were so many other factors involved”.

Tensions with China arose at the end of last year when the government would not allow Chinese company Huawei to bid on the newest 5G mobile network.

V-ISA Interim President Denn Teo highlighted the importance of providing support mechanisms for Chinese students who may be affected by the media coverage on the conflict.

China also decided to suspend the opening for the 2019 China–New Zealand Year of Tourism at Te Papa earlier this month, which has caused public concern about further strain on the countries’ relationship.

Victoria University of Wellington Assistant Vice-Chancellor (International) Julia Innocente-Jones says there has not been a drop in 2019 enrolments of international students from China, which could be because of their strong relationships with Chinese institutional partners and agents.

Universities New Zealand Chief Executive Chris Whelan told the NZ Herald that early signs were that international student numbers were “reasonably well up on last year”.

Victoria University International Students Association (V-ISA) said several Chinese international students who had been interviewed were disappointed at the media coverage.

“They might have the impression that there is a hostile view against them. This, in turn, could have adverse effects on their daily lives and studying as the feeling of isolation might overtake.”

“V-ISA stays true to its pledge and provides support by welcoming students to open up and share their own thoughts on issues they are having difficulties dealing with,” Teo says.

VUWSA President Tamatha Paul suggested international students could reach out to the association if they have any concerns.

“VUWSA will continue to make sure international students know who we are and what we do, in hopes that they come to us when they need support.”

RENTS GOING UP, NOBODY SURPRISED MELISSA OLIVER Rents in Wellington are at their highest point ever, at an average of $595 a week, $45 more than in Auckland.

The increase in rent has seen reports that people are finding alternative ways to afford housing.

Head of Rentals at TradeMe (which released the data) Aaron Clancy said “the supply around Wellington is just not keeping up and it’s even tougher at this time of year as students move back for the university year.”

Amanda Saxton reported in a Stuff article that “sex-for-rent” deals were being offered, targeting students and backpackers.

Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) has been exploring shared living options, having recently held the CoHousing Hui.

However, other factors seem to be at play.

However, Director of Student and Campus Living Rainsforth Dix told Salient that none of VUW’s student accommodation stays regularly empty throughout the university year.

When maximum student allowances and livings costs payments rose on January 1 2018, so did rent prices. The National Party has also said the newly proposed capital gains tax and the recent Healthy Homes Guarantee Act will pass costs onto tenants.

VUWSA President Tamatha Paul urged students to engage with the upcoming local body elections and government legislation to affect housing change.

When the Healthy Homes Guarantee Act was passed in 2017, property investor Matthew Wright told Radio New Zealand that the legislation was putting people off property investment due to increased costs.

“We’ll need students to help push for this to get done,” said Paul.

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News.

Gordon Wilson Flats. Wellington, New Zealand. Photo by Taylor Galmiche.

NEW RENTAL STANDARDS ON THEIR WAY REID WICKS The government has announced new standards for rental properties to make them “warmer and drier”.

However, Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford said that “the maximum cost for landlords is likely to be about $7000”.

Among other things, all rentals will be required to: have a heater capable of heating the main living area to 18°C, meet ceiling and underfloor insulation requirements, and have extraction fans in bathrooms and kitchens.

The Green Party has also supported the standards.

In a press release, they claimed National “would rather save landlords some cash than look after sick kids”, citing respiratory diseases linked to damp and mouldy rental properties.

The standards reinforce existing drainage and guttering laws, and require the blocking of draughts that make a home harder to heat.

The Greens did acknowledge they thought most landlords were already “doing the right thing”.

The standards will come into effect by mid-2019, with all rentals to comply by 1 July 2024.

For more information, visit the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Tenancy Services website.

From 1 July 2021, private rentals must comply within 90 days of any new tenancy. Boarding houses must also be in compliance by that date.

Housing New Zealand houses, and registered Community Housing Providers— such as The Salvation Army—must be in compliance by 1 July 2023.

The new rental standards include: - A heater in the main living area capable of heating it to 18° - Ceiling and underfloor insulation - Extraction fans or rangehoods in kitchens - Extraction fans in bathrooms - Ground moisture barriers in some cases - Reinforcement of existing drainage standards - Blocking of significant draughts

The New Zealand Green Building Council has welcomed the announcement, but says it still isn’t good enough. Chief Executive Andrew Eagles said the timeline is too long, and that the announcement lacks detail in some areas, such as draughts and heat.

The National Party’s Judith Collins described the standards as an “attack” on landlords. She claimed that the standards will drive rents up.

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ISSUE 1

SALIENT

MENTAL HEALTH IN HALLS : THE LETTER RICHARD BEERE

To our latest batch of Freshers, In 2018, Salient revealed the true colours of the university. It shone a light on how much university truly cares about the wellbeing of its students.

Salient told the harrowing story of Dani Saundry, a young woman struggling through depression in a system that refused to support her. When at her most vulnerable, after reaching the lowest point in her life and attempting suicide, the university removed her from her hall, the roots of her support system.

Naturally, the response from VUWSA and the student body was outrage and calls for action. The university still owes an apology to Dani Saundry for its decisions. But rather than take ownership; rather than fulfilling their pastoral responsibility, they decided Dani Saundry wasn’t their problem. At the very least, people called for a change in policy. That is not what we received.

A request under the powers of the Official Information Act 1982 revealed the university’s response to these calls.

Rather than make an effort to improve they chose to double down. The university’s website now contains the following official policy, which ultimately boils down to the following quote: Students are treated with care and compassion, even if ultimately a decision has to be made that they are not happy with.

Or paraphrased to hide the true intentions of the policy: We retain the right to make decisions autonomously against the student’s will.

The information provided by the OIA request revealed this policy was updated not just after Salient’s exclusive report on Dani Saundry’s story, but that “This is in response to allegations in the media about halls students being “evicted” following suicidal [sic] and behaviour.” The university executive remains more worried about covering their own ass than making a difference in student welfare.

Despite backlash and rebuke, the university, not to the surprise of older students, continues to back away from its responsibility for the welfare of students. Make no mistake, your tuition pays for little more than a seat to put your ass on. Reaching out for help in your hall of residence may not be the most supportive experience.

Having to write that sentence has me trembling with anger. University is a path of self discovery and hardship.

Young people deserve support through that. But this university isn’t here for that.

University is a tough time. University students have the highest presenting rates of anxiety and depression in society. Organisations like Youthline and Te Haika are there to support young people suffering with mental health.

It is okay to rely on your friends and support network for help. It is always important to reach out when you need help. Unfortunately, the university is more worried about hoarding your tuition money than seeing you succeed.

Faithfully, Richard Beere Emotionally exhausted 3rd year.

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News.

MENTAL HEALTH IN HALLS: THE RESP ONSE THE UNIVERSITY

Victoria University of Wellington The writer completely misrepresents the actions and attitude of the University in regard to the student in question, and to the health and wellbeing of our students in general. The University takes extremely seriously its duty of care for all students.

In the case discussed in the letter, an extensive process was followed to support the student, involving hall staff, Student Health and Counselling, and Capital and Coast DHB Mental Health Clinicians.

We always try to work in collaboration with individual students to make decisions about their health and their future in a hall of residence, and this will usually occur over a series of conversations. However, students who are unwell or distressed may not be in the emotional state to hear what is said or to engage with the process.

We also need to consider the wellbeing of all hall residents. This includes ensuring a safe environment and minimising impacts of critical incidents on the wider hall community.

The University has a range of services to support student health and wellbeing, including Student Health and Counselling, outreach nurses, student support coordinators in halls of residence, wellbeing advisors who lead a team of student wellbeing leaders, and a health promotion team. We completely reject the assertion in the letter that the University “continues to back away from its responsibility for the welfare of students”.

Pam Thorburn Director, Student Academic Services

Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association VUWSA respects students’ rights to freely voice their opinion and doesn’t want to take focus away from his voice by responding. at this time.

However, they encourage anyone passionate about mental health and wellbeing to email twio@vuwsa.org.nz to be added to their volunteer list.

Contact Support: Helpline: Free call or text 1737 Mauri Ora Student Health: 04 463 5308 Wellington Accident and Urgent Medical Centre: 04 384 4944 Call 111 in an emergency

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ISSUE 1

SALIENT

TE MATATINI KI TE AO

E-WEEK: PILL TESTING AT OTAGO UNIVERSIT Y

PUAWAI WALLER

HANNAH POWELL

Wellington was home to Te Matatini ki te Ao last week, one of the country’s most significant cultural festivals of Māoridom.

The Otago University Students’ Association launched a controversial first-time drug testing initiative during their recent O-Week.

Held biannually, the festival provides an opportunity to explore Te Ao Māori.

The testing service was run by the New Zealand Drug Foundation and KnowYourStuffNZ, a professional and free-of-charge harm reduction service.

46 Kapa Haka rōpū dedicated months to represent their whānau, hapū, iwi, rohe and tūpuna over the four-day festival.

Pill testing examines the clients’ recreational drugs for dangerous or unknown substances which could be harmful if consumed.

With thousands descending on Taranaki rohe, Wellington City was packed with Kapa Haka fans from around the world.

The Labour-led government supports raising awareness around student drug consumption—a trend criticised by National as supporting drug culture.

The Ngā Hua a Tāne Rore Report outlines the importance of Te Matatini in keeping Māori culture, language, and stories alive. The festival acts as a platform for rōpū to acknowledge the past and continuing pain and triumphs, the political issues of the time, whakapapa and the mana of tangata whenua.

However, the NZ Drug Foundation also believes the initiative is a step in the right direction towards reducing recreational drug use.

Some students are on board too; one Otago University student said that “with testing usage actually goes down. It’s not until they get tested and see all the other things they’ve been cut with that they realise the dangers.”

Te Arawa and Waikato Tainui were well represented in the top nine rankings, with three groups from each rohe.

The five-time Te Matatini champions Te Waka Huia were dropped from the top nine for the first time since the rōpū was founded in 1981 by Kapa Haka legends Dr. Ngapo Wehi and his wife, the late Pimia Wehi.

With a continual rise in the standard of performances each year, first-time winners Ngā Tūmanako took home the Toa Whakahuwaka award.

Ngā Tūmanako was originally founded for and by Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi Marae students in Auckland. The Marae has a continuous focus on using their platform to promote the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori and culture.

However, the Ngā Hua a Tāne Rore report also identifies that Matatini is not just a celebration for Māoridom, but for all of Aotearoa. The platform can teach our country’s history, the sacrifice it has taken to get to where we are today, and visions and hopes for the future.

The drug testing was performed behind the OUSA Clubs and Societies Building and is not endorsed by Otago University.

OUSA does not condone drug use. However, OUSA Chief Executive Officer Debbie Downs said they “proved that it is possible to run drug checking in a publically accessible space with no incidents.”

VUWSA’s position on drug testing is open. “VUWSA supports any health and education-based approaches to alcohol or drug use,” a spokesperson said.

Mauri Ora told Salient that “the safest option is always not to take the substance at all... The University is working with VUWSA to look at how they want to progress harm reduction in the future”.

VUWSA will “definitely consider” testing for future events.

Te Matatini ki te Ao will next be held in Tāmaki Makaurau in 2021.

TEC: STATUS QUO “OFF THE CARDS” FOR P OLY TECH REFOR MS SHANTI MATHIAS New Zealand’s Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) are “fundamentally broken,” says Education Minister Chris Hipkins.

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) suggests that the change of government in 2008, coupled with the Global Financial Crisis, created financial pressure on ITPs. $100 million was needed in 2017 to save four institutions (including WelTec and Whitireia) from collapse.

According to TEC, centralisation will offer “the government some central control” and regional institutions “more support”.

Currently, employment qualifications can only be gained by enrolling with an education provider (ITPs, universities, wānanga, private education institutes) or with an industry trainer.

The amount of funding given to education providers and industry trainers depends on the number of enrollments. Typically, education providers gain more funding than industry trainers.

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Education Minister Chris Hipkins has proposed three key changes to the current system: merging all ITPs under one umbrella institute—the “New Zealand Institute of Skills & Technology”; redefining the roles of education and industry providers; and creating a funding system for the new umbrella institute so that education providers and industry trainers don’t have to compete for funding.

According to The Skills Organisation CEO Garry Fissenden, however, “the changes will undermine the crucial role of [industry training organisations] and reduce employer involvement in the learning process.”

He fears that employers will not have the “flexibility and choice to ensure the training programme for apprentices is relevant and immediately applied to their business needs.”

No student representatives from Wellington polytechnics were available to comment, but Kōrero Mātauranga are seeking feedback on the proposals. You can submit in writing on their website.

News.

THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX, AND OTHER THINGS FOR HOSKING TO YELL ABOUT MARIELLE HAWKES The recent report of the Tax Working Group has caused a stir, especially with the suggestion of a capital gains tax.

Naturally, the proposal has been criticised. Simon Bridges, National Party Leader, has called the recommendations “an assault on the Kiwi way of life”.

The Tax Working Group was asked by the government to look at whether our current tax system is fair and balanced. In their Future of Tax report, the Group effectively concluded ‘no’; due to the way we tax capital gains and natural capital.

Much of the criticism so far has centred on concerns about over-complicating the tax system. This may became significant in the debate, as New Zealand has a relatively simple system compared to other countries.

The biggest public debate so far has been around introducing a capital gains tax, which taxes the rise in value of assets such as property.

Labour’s government partner New Zealand First, who have long opposed a capital gains tax, are taking a cautious approach to the proposals, seeking their own advice on the implications of any new taxes.

For example, if you were to buy a second property for $500,000 and sell it for $750,000, under the current system that $250,000 gain is untaxed. Under the new proposal, the $250,000 would be taxed as part of your income.

The Green Party welcomed the Group’s report, as it aligns with much of their economic platform.

The government is considering the Group’s proposals for a final decision in April.

The Group also recommended using environmental taxes as a way to make sure individuals and businesses are charged for their impact on the ecosystem. It is hoped that this will shift behaviours and help New Zealand to transition to a more sustainable economy.

Bill Introduced

First Reading

Select Committees

Second Reading

Committee of the Whole House

Third Reading

Royal Assent

Deferred

SMALLER SEA LEVEL RISE, BUT WE’RE STILL FUCKED SHANTI MATHIAS Recent climate research has emphasised some of the particular effects which climate breakdown may have.

“Climate breakdown” is an all-encompassing term for the dire effects of humancaused climate change beyond mere warming.

Nick Golledge, Associate Professor at Victoria University of Wellington’s (VUW) Antarctic Research Centre, recently published a study in Nature, modelling projected sea ice loss and subsequent sea level rise.

His study indicated that seas might only rise 25 cm by 2100, less than previous predictions. However, sea levels and temperatures would continue to rise far into the future, even if emissions are massively reduced.

This would have an impact on ocean currents, which regulate much of the temperature around the world, such as in the Gulf Stream.

The Gulf Stream, like most water currents, is driven by differences in ocean temperature and salinity. Melting freshwater ice sheets and warming ocean

temperatures have the potential to alter the entire global climate system, regardless of whether more atmospheric warming occurs.

The issue has been brought closer to home, with innovation and indigenous knowledge helping provide solutions to the challenges of climate breakdown.

Native New Zealand species are threatened by climate breakdown: warmer temperatures mean that tussock flowers earlier, providing food to rodents who may damage bird populations further during summer time.

Dr. Pauline Harris, a VUW Senior Lecturer, is talking to iwi and hapū across the country to learn from their ancestral memories about how plant distribution and animal behaviour have changed.

Similarly, Amin Rastandeh, a PhD student at VUW’s School of Architecture, has studied the effect of planting native hardwood trees to protect other natives and reduce some of the risks of climate change, such as storms.

Students interested in making their voice heard on climate breakdown can sign a banner in the Hub, in preparation for the global student climate change protest on March 15.

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ISSUE 1

SALIENT

P RO B I N G T H E P U NT E R S GETTING TO KNOW THE STUDENT POPULATION

QUESTIONS:

1

What were your first impressions of VUW?

3

2

What are you most looking forward to this year?

4

Do you think pill testing would be a good service to provide at O-Week events?

5

What defines your generation?

Which generation do you belong to?

ALICE, 19

TAYLAH, 19

1. Cool, windy and cold.

1. A little bit overwhelming.

2. Salient.

2. Finishing my Japanese course.

3. Yes.

3. Potentially, yeah.

4. Uhhhhh, Millennial? No, surely not.

4. Gen Z? I don’t know.

5. Acceptance.

5. Activism.

LIV, 22

SAM, 27

1. I really liked it, it’s a chill place.

1. Pretty good first impressions.

2. Moving to Europe.

2. Going overseas again.

3. Yeah.

3. Yes.

4. I don’t know, I was born in ‘96?

4. Millennial.

5. Open-mindedness.

5. Dealing with technological change.

GEMMA, 18

LOLA, 18

1. Cool.

1. So far so good, love the location.

2. The classes.

2. Getting back into studying.

3. Probably, yeah.

3. Possibly… I don’t think it was a huge issue at this O Week.

4. Gen Z, but they’re weird.

4. I’m a Gen Z-er.

5. Tik Tok.

5. Too young to tell at this point.

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News.

TRANS RI G HTS DEL AY E D BY B I L L D E F E R RAL SALIENT STAFF CW: Transphobia In a controversial decision, Minister of Internal Affairs Tracey Martin has deferred a bill to modernise the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act. The bill includes a simplification of the process to change the recorded gender marker on birth certificates.

The bill had been hotly debated in recent months due to these provisions, which are intended for the transgender community.

The current process to change official gender markers requires an applicant to apply to the Family Court with proof of medical treatment. This can reportedly take more than a year to complete.

The simplified process, introduced by the cross-party select committee, would have removed the requirement for medical treatment and only require a declaration signed before a Justice of the Peace.

select their own gender, there was “inadequate public consultation” given the significance of the changes.

The deferral was praised by groups such as Family First NZ, who warned against “unscientific gender ideology” in a statement on the bill.

The move attracted significant criticism from the trans community, politicians, and legal figures.

Gender Minorities Aotearoa, who have been a leading group calling for reform of the process, called this decision “utterly devastating” for the transgender community.

A Victoria University public law expert told Salient that “in these particular circumstances the delay doesn’t appear to me to be justified.” “[It] instead seems to be driven by pressure from those who oppose increased recognition of transgender rights.”

This procedure is already used to change gender markers on New Zealand passports and driver’s licenses.

The Green Party has pledged to work with the Minister to progress the legislation before the end of the parliamentary term late next year.

The Minister said that while she supported the rights of transgender people to

A date to revisit the bill has not been announced.

THE PA RT Y L I NE THE PARTY LINE ASKS POLITICAL PARTIES’ YOUTH WINGS A QUESTION EVERY WEEK. WE PUBLISH THEIR RESPONSES UNALTERED. The ‘Blue-Green’ question has raised its head again. Vernon Tava has announced interest in forming a “Sustainable New Zealand Party”, the Warehouse Group announced its carbon neutral status last month, and the National Party’s Bluegreens held its 21st annual forum.

Can environmentalism be effectively reconciled with New Zealand’s corporate economy?

Young Nats Lower North Island

Greens@Vic

Not only can environmentalism be reconciled with the economy, but it is the economy that drives environmentalism. Environmental issues are too important to be left to the fringe of politics. Our ambition is to be the party that is best able to deliver a clean environment with a strong economy. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. That is why we were excited to release our environment discussion document at our Bluegreen’s conference. Our discussion document puts forward distinctly ‘Bluegreen’ ideas characterised by essential principles like sustainability, practical environmentalism, taking scientific and evidence-based approaches to environmental challenges.

New Zealand can’t achieve environmental sustainability without a strong economy to support it. This isn’t an either or question, instead we must support a strong economy to develop new technologies that can reduce the impact of certain industries (i.e. farming). Instead of harming industries critical to New Zealand’s survival.

The prevailing economic narrative has always prioritised profits and growth over ‘sustainability’.

It doesn’t take a genius to point out that infinite growth on a finite planet is inherently unsustainable.

Tackling the climate crisis will require structural change, not just a few companies being generous enough to start offsetting their emissions with often dodgy international carbon credits. We have just 12 years as a planet to prevent irreparable climate damage, and the piecemeal reforms of corporations like The Warehouse Group and those advocated

by Tava aren’t enough to get us there. There is no major incentive for big business to radically transform their environmental impact on the level necessary to avoid climate collapse, because environmentalism will always be secondary to their primary task of growing profits for their shareholders. The measures we must take to ensure a just and equitable transition to tackle the climate crisis clash directly with our economic orthodoxy at every level. Tinkering around the edges won’t save us.

- Grahame Woods

- Lachlan Patterson

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Young New Zealand First

Young New Zealand First supports the party line that a wise government acknowledges the preservation and enhancement of the environment as sounds economics. We uphold the belief that environmental policies should be proactive with a view to create employment and sustainable wealth whilst improving the equitability of one our competitive advantages as a small nation on the global stage. Young New Zealand First openly supports independent initiatives from the business sector to introduce sustainable business practices as we move into a more environmentally conscious economy. Forestry Minister Shane Jones’ work towards the introduction of the One Billion Trees Fund underlines the importance of an environmental economy in our own back-lawn and proving New Zealand First’s dedication to achieving regional development goals, enhancing biodiversity, developing Māori-owned land and diversifying productive land use. While some would argue that in order to ensure that environmental focuses are reconciled within the growing New Zealand economy, it is not an initiative that can be simply legislated or heavily regulated.

Rather, small concessions or incentive schemes are the most productive way to harmonise corporates to focusing on implementing environmental business practices. While it is most certainly a paradigm shift to take into consideration, we all appreciate that big movements start from small actions; but it won’t change the fact we’ll still get upset when the McDonalds lady doesn’t put a disposable plastic lid on your drink.

T HE P E O P L E WA N T M O RE

EVERYONE SOMEHOW FORGOTTEN HOW TO ANSWER A PHONE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, DURING WORK HOURS, AFTER I ALREADY SENT AN EMAIL ASKING IF WE COULD TALK

*

F R AN CIS B E L L

“Fuck’s sakes,” said a local systems administrator.

FIRST-YEAR BUYS TEXTBOOK HE’LL DEFINITELY USE L IAM P OW E L L

In a watershed moment for first-year student Josh Smith, sources have revealed that he spent NZD$125.99 of actual real-life money on a brand new textbook for a 100-level Politics paper.

LOCAL NEWS EDITOR TOO LAZY TO WRITE ACTUAL SATIRE

Mr Smith reportedly walked into the Kelburn branch of VicBooks, assuming the relevant stack of glued-together paper was worth its exorbitant asking price.

S ALIEN T S TAFF

A Salient News Editor, who is yet to be named, said they were “too damn tired” to write a proper piece of satire for their own section this week.

Witnesses told Salient that he took the item to the counter and paid for it “without a flinch”.

The anonymous editor reportedly made the statement shortly after spending three hours playing Sid Meier’s Civilization VI and eating half a tray of roast potatoes.

“Well, I guess if the website said it was ‘essential’ then it must be? Why would they lie, what would they have to gain?”

When questioned, Mr Smith appeared unaware that 93.5% of all textbooks have been scientifically shown to be outdated, incoherent, and effectively available on Wikipedia.

Neither the pressure of a deadline nor the responsibility of having signed a contract seem sufficient to motivate him into writing an article with any semblance of humour, irony, or—at the very least—a pun.

While acknowledging bookshops can be an emotionally and spiritually confusing experience for freshers, experts agree that Mr Smith will likely never open his new purchase.

Recent reports even suggest that after establishing a potentially viable “meta” premise, the editor gave up and just started to talk bullshit.

One senior analyst did suggest the book might be briefly opened as a last resort before the final exam, but other experts decried this theory as “possible but not plausible”.

In an attempt to meet word count, the editor even incorrectly quoted his own article, saying, “In an attempt to meet word count the editor even quoted his own article.”

When asked by Salient, the experts (all of whom had written or contributed to textbooks themselves) looked nervous and shuffled in their seats before admitting they’d never actually had to read anything to pass their courses.

He added, “That’s all you get now because I’ve got 250 words and the chamomile tea is really kicking in.”

It is unclear whether he finished the piece himself, or if a more senior editor concluded the piece on his behalf, out of pity.

Second-year BCom student Zara Seal suggested Mr Smith could fob off the book to the next round of freshers at an adjusted price on Vic Deals.

“Just be sure to do it before they change the edition—it’s a bit like a long-term pass the parcel where you don’t need, want, or have absolutely anything to gain from the parcel.”

POST-TOGA PARTY STUDENT UNION BUILDING SMELLS OF VOMIT

At time of publication, Smith’s new textbook had apparently already been permanently concealed under a pile of UberEats bags, filthy tissues, and shitty poetry.

JO HN BALLANC E

Wow.

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TW E E T S O F T H E W E EK “Remember! Some millennials are in their 30s. Some millennials have been working full time for 2 decades.

Some millennials are nearly 73 years old. Some millennials have been around since the paleolithic era.

Some millennials did 9/11 and are planning the next.”

- @soundslikecin “Dear #MuffinBreak. I’m not sure your food and coffee will provide the sustenance I need. I am, however, willing to give you the opportunity to provide me with free food for 6 months. If satisfied, I will happily give you a written recommendation you can use to persuade others.” - @SimonHu49509082 OSCAR S, OR G A SM S, A ND O- W E E K : HI GH L I G HTS F R OM TH E W OR ST WE B SI TE I N TH E W OR L D

“(muffin break general manager voice) might call the news and ruin my own life” - @jrhennessy

CO LLAT ED BY EM M A M AGUIRE

“Excited for all the people over the age of 60 who mistakenly watch Green Room on Netflix this week” - @Mikelennial

“I was trying to explain Jordan Peterson and his meat diet to someone earlier today and I called him “Gwyneth Paltrow but for incels” and I feel like I’ve cracked a code” - @JessicaValenti

“Pitch: retain the “no host” thing for the Oscars, but put Spike Lee onstage in a big comfy chair next to a lever. If whatever’s happening onstage displeases Spike, he can pull said lever, triggering a trap door to open in the stage, instantly moving us along to the next segment.” - @ScottWamplerBMD

“Queer people remember, everyone is at Six60 tonight.

The streets are ours! Let the agenda begin” - @crobker “*me being dragged out of a Six60 concert with a bottle of scrumpy duct taped to each hand* “This is an assault on the Kiwi way of life. I will fight it every step of the way!”” - @edmuzik

“Gonna order room service tonight and rub one out for the lord.” - @SJSchauer

“it sucks that Big Mouth is supposedly really good because i would never. ever. in a thousand years even under threat of death. choose to look at it of my own free will with my own two human eyes” - @alexisparade

“Am volunteering as help for o week events and this huge unit of a fresher in an orange prison jumpsuit stumbles into triage and when ppl ask him what’s wrong he collapses to the ground and says “I lost my bitches”” - @bbmharrison

“Me: I hate uni. Also me: applies for a masters.”

- @biscoffbabe

“o week has only been going on for 24 hours but ive deffo broken my toe and been addicted to panadol. i think. not going to the doctors but like its fine” - @realcourtwright

“It’s my basic human right to get catapulted at high speed from a locked up Lime scooter.” - @louishoulbrooke

15

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ERY

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VUWSA

SA LI EN T TV

GEO ROBRIGADO

JOSEPH COUGHLAN

Kia ora koutou, indebted students of Victoria University of Melbourne Australia

Tēnā koe, talofa lava, mabuhay, hola, hoe gaat het?

To new students, welcome to Vic. To returning students, welcome back! I’m Geo and I am your VUWSA Academic Vice-President for the year.

The following content is not suitable for Grant Guilford, or those easily offended.

We have different reasons for coming to university. But whatever that reason is, the important thing is that we take ownership of our education. Vic is exceptionally awesome in that students have the option to study flexibly—whether it is to take studies at our own pace, or take subjects from a wide range of interests— allowing students to take control of their study paths.

This year we’ve switched things up at Salient TV to bring you cold, hard, straight-faced journalism, while mercilessly satirising mainstream media and those on the naughty list. This isn’t the kind of content that you see on Seven Sharp or The Project—this year, Salient TV stands in the presence of God and solemnly swears to actually deliver you the perfect blend of journalism and satire.

But taking ownership of our education is more than just taking control of our study paths. Ownership is approaching your own education holistically.

Whether it is joining a club that suits your interests, or participating in various extracurricular programmes on offer at university, there are heaps of opportunities for students to take part in the university community.

Ultimately, our main focus is to ensure that our content reflects you and your experiences here at Vic, and showcases as many different aspects of Wellington and the Victoria student body. After all, what is student media without student voices? With this in mind, we’d love to hear from anyone who has any ideas on content that they’d like to see featured on Salient TV.

I, for one, have taken myself to task. As a secondyear Law student (yass finally!), I look forward to the several mentorship programmes and social events in law school (shout-out to ALSA and VUWLSS!). I also participate in VILP as well as some clubs, on top of being in the VUWSA exec. I just wish that I could actually play Quidditch (as in, actually ride a broom and play Seeker).

The plan is to release two videos every month, covering topics right across the board, and you’ll be able to find these videos posted on the Salient Facebook page.

Lastly: Salient TV would be nothing without its hardworking and dedicated team of volunteers who strive to produce informing, engaging, and entertaining content. So if you’re interested in getting involved and being part of this bloody fantastic whānau, chuck us an email at tv@salient.org.nz and we’ll link you to our Facebook group.

Learning happens both inside and outside of the classroom. With the wide array of opportunities to be involved around campus, I am pretty sure there’s something that will suit you. Owning our education is taking part in the university community, enabling each one of us to say, “this is my education, this is my community, this is my university”.

A side note: To the group of students from KJ that came up to us at the Toga Party—if the lens cap is on, then we’re probably not filming you. (Sorry for not taking your photos.)

Always happy to chat. Flick me a message at academic@vuwsa.org.nz

Ngā mihi, Salient TV

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Hi I’m Lena. My dad is a sex therapist and I’m studying to be a sex educator—we’re here to talk relationships and sex, so send your queries and worries our way (sex@salient.org.nz).

“How do I tell my partner that I don’t like the way that they kiss? Or I guess more importantly teach them how I do like to be kissed? I really like this person but good kissing is important.”

Lena: I don’t think I can count how many times I’ve had these sort of conversations with friends. I think there will always be a chance that your partner’s feelings will be hurt, no matter how sensitive you are in your feedback.

Knowing and preparing yourself for this reality is an important part of having these conversations.

Dad: Kissing IS important. I would argue it is the most intimate thing we do—yes, more so than intercourse. That’s why some sex workers don’t kiss.

Because kissing is so intimate, so personal, it makes it harder to talk about without feeling defensive. As with all differences, the first thing to focus on is that it’s NOT about whose way is right or wrong. It’s a good idea to say this upfront; something like—“I want to talk about something that’s bothering me, and I really want you to hear that this is my problem and I’m not saying you are wrong. But I need your help sorting it out.”

How you have this conversation will depend on where you are in your relationship. If it is at the beginning it could be a more playful, straightforward interaction— for example, “Can I show you how I like being kissed?”

It can be hard for your partner to figure out your preferences (about anything) without you actually telling them, so by having these conversations early on, you not only increase the likelihood you’ll be kissed how you like it, but also set a good foundation of open and honest communication.

Also it never hurts to stress—“You know I am really into you/you turn me on/I am totally into sex with you”— and make sure they have heard that (and believe it) before you get to the “… and that’s why it bugs me that the way we kiss isn’t working well for me”.

If you have been together for longer, things may be more complicated. Your partner may be hurt that you haven’t voiced your preferences earlier; they may be feeling embarrassed that they have been kissing you in ways you don’t like for quite a while. I think it’s important to be clear about why it has taken a while to have this conversation. It might be simply that you weren’t sure if you were enjoying it or not. It could be that you find these honest conversations difficult and you were struggling to overcome your nerves.

If your partner is very insecure, you may still get a big negative reaction, no matter how carefully you say it.

Don’t push past that, but stay with finding out how you have come across to them and keep trying to reassure them you are not trying to hurt them or put them down.

Once your partner is open to the talk, it then becomes a matter of exploration and discussion: trying things and talking about it. It doesn’t have to be earnest—it will probably work better if you can do it in a playful way.

It can be difficult putting what you want in the realm of touch, sensation, and movement into words—so be patient with yourself and ask your partner to be patient, too, as you try to get across what you mean.

Kissing is a massive part of a romantic relationship for many; it’s the intimate act you do most often. Giving your partner an insight into how you’re feeling about the conversation itself (as well as the kissing) starts the interactions by revealing your vulnerable side, which can help your partner feel more at ease, rather than feeling like they are simply being critiqued.

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TE PAEA HOORI

“So what do you do?”

People never seem to ask this when I’ve taken the time to wing my eyeliner or don my favourite white Victoria Beckham-esque dress shirt.

It’s always when I’m wearing track pants—often paired with the flannel night shirt that I convince myself passes as daywear—while I complete a late-night supermarket run for ice cream, praying I don’t run into anyone.

Telling someone you have studied fashion design will almost certainly illicit one of three responses: Tales of that person’s own abandoned fashion career ambitions—almost always advocating a stabler, better paid vocation. Such segues require the active suppression of my inner monologue, who references my bank balance and asks why I, too, did not choose a more linear career path.

Exasperated questions on why it is so hard to find clothing that fits. The answer to which is long and boring, starts with fast fashion, and ends with a short summation: “‘cause capitalism”.

A well-intended, vested interest in the direction of ethical and sustainable clothing.

The latter usually causes me to panic-drink a whole beverage while I try to think of how to put a positive, conversational spin on “the global clothing industry is so

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much more fucked than the general population realises and as we speak, thousands of kilos of textile waste is going into landfill.”

But despite all its flaws, I love fashion. Style and clothing is usually the first thing people will notice about you when they meet you. Fashion is about aesthetic and personality while at the same time being about function and practicality—though if you saw most of the heels I own you could argue it is as often impractical, too.

Following the format of a now-vintage meme, the reality of being a fashion designer lies somewhere between the Devil Wears Prada glamour strangers assume it is; the Project Runway drama my friends believe it is; the destitute, jobless future my parents worry it is; and the Vivienne Westwood-style rags-to-riches tale I hope it is.

So without further ado, I would like to welcome you to the inaugural column of Fashion and Haute Tea. Expect high fashion to be referenced, but almost never purchased or worn (residual #studentlife). Expect some hard truths of the industry. But mostly, expect sequinned adventures, sartorial aspirations, and a heck of a lot of me trying to apply—and justify—the thousands I’ve spent on tuition fees.

Wishing you styling serendipity and head-to-toe sass,

T W O GUYS ON E B ET

UNIQ

BRAD & JAMES

BROCK STOBBS

Are you a victim of the well-advertised, tasty odds offered up by the table tennis in Budapest? What about falling for the cheeky ten-dollar punt on your favourite All Black to score 13 tries and get sent off in the first half?

We’re here, we’re queer, and we have a column!

That’s right, UniQ has yet again been blessed by the powers that be (the editors) and will have a column right here in Salient every odd week of the trimester.

But you might be asking yourself, what is UniQ?

Well, if this is you, welcome to Two Guys One Bet. We plan to bring you your fortnightly Salient sports chat for 2019. Think of this as ‘BETS101’: Introduction to Punting. (20 Points.)

UniQ is the LGBTQIA+ students’ representative group here at Vic. On the student level, we’re a group of queer students who provide a variety of safe and supportive social spaces for you to mix and mingle with other queer students at Vic, making friends and just hanging out.

We run two social spaces a week, which alternate between social lunches, board games & banter, discussion spaces, and gender club. Adding to this, we also have monthly movie nights (queer-themed, naturally) and craft sessions.

There’s a big year ahead and we are two of the most under-qualified people Salient could find to provide you with casual punting advice, responsible betting information, and a deep look into why Roy Krishna hasn’t received knighthood yet. Strap yourself in for an emotional rollercoaster, equivalent to the Warriors’ #KeepTheKaith campaign from 2012 (and 2014).

It has been a bloody ripper of a summer for the Wellington Phoenix, who went on an outrageous run of ten games unbeaten. Mark Rudan has completely transformed the team into a formidable unit; featuring teenage sensations Sarpreet Singh and Liberato Cacace. Easing into the professional environment, we highlight Roy Krishna’s electric form, Steven Taylor’s performances on and off the pitch, and the signing of Cillian Sheridan (making him the biggest memelord to hit Wellington since the city’s rental prices).

Beyond these regular events, we run a series of Pride Week events during the second week of Trimester 2. Events vary during this time but can generally be expected to include educational talks and seminars, picnics, karaoke, and parties. Coinciding with Pride Week is our collaboration with Salient titled ‘Queerlient’, a queer-themed edition of Salient magazine. Following its success last year, our Queer Ball will also be returning during Trimester 2.

At a higher level, we are an advocacy group. We strive to ensure the concerns and perspectives of queer students are heard by the university when it comes to the issues that impact us. A recent win on this front was the creation of the Rainbow Advisor role, currently filled by Georgia Andrews, who works to ensure that the university is a safe and inclusive environment for students of all sexualities, genders, and sex characteristics.

Wellington doesn’t offer every sport you’d like to see, but punting is a new world made better by streaming sites and your uncle’s SkyGo account. Let’s say Klay Thompson makes ten straight threes against the Lakers.

You think to yourself, “Klay is on fire” and you bet $5 on him making his next shot.

He misses. The house wins. Murphy’s Law: If something can possibly go wrong, the likelihood is that, at some point, it will. Pessimistic, I know, but just because a team or individual is killing it, it does not mean guaranteed success. Momentum changes during the game, making live betting a smarter choice.

Coming up, UniQ will have its IGM, where all the executive positions are up for grabs so come along and get involved.

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L IQ U ID KNOWL ED GE

SWAT ALEX WALKER

CAITLIN HICKS

Tēnā koutou,

My favourite part of Salient 2018 were the ‘fun facts’—nice little tidbits of information that surprised and delighted. So fun were these facts that I regularly dropped them into conversation with friends and family, a gratuitous display of my own intelligence.

My name is Alex Walker, and I lead the Student Wellbeing Awareness Team (SWAT for short!). SWAT is a team of students who strive to promote wellbeing on Victoria’s campuses. This year we’re hurtling fullthrottle towards the most important issue facing our student community: mental health.

There was one instance, though, when these little nuggets of information were not enough: at the pub.

Pub Chat is a language like no other. A couple of absolutely steaming individuals, often strangers, are able to carry on a lengthy, animated conversation with absolute blind confidence in their knowledge and opinions. Not limited only to a pub or when we’re a bit sauced, Pub Chat emerges whenever and wherever we want to dive into a conversation and convince or impress. My fun facts were no match for Pub Chat; people demanded more, and tidbits couldn’t invoke the passion, hyperbole, and anecdotal evidence that form the very core of this special dialect.

It’s no secret that we live in an increasingly severe mental health climate. You don’t need to look at New Zealand’s suicide rates to know this—the evidence is all around us at university. For those of us struggling with mental health, it’s in our fear that we’ll have to eat lunch alone. It’s in our pangs of anxiety when it’s our turn to speak in a tutorial. It’s in the age-old questions that all of us face when we come to university: Will I be happy here? Will people like me?

Throughout the year we’ll use this column to share first hand accounts of of mental health. All of them will be coming from the university community and all of them will represent the reality of our shared experiences.

One of the most uplifting things about talking about mental health is realising that our struggles don’t have to isolate us from others—instead, it can be the force that binds us closer together.

This, my friends, is the answer to that conundrum. A column that does a deep-dive on information that we might never actively look for, but would certainly benefit from knowing. Sometimes I feel like I missed out on the basic knowledge required to be a human adult. This column seeks to cover subjects ripe for discussion at a pub, bar, house party, first date, job interview, wedding, or funeral: notable current events, philosophy, religion, famous historical figures, places, art, music, language, science, phenomena… all the things that make for a wholesome foundation of knowledge. Stuff to help you talk shit and sound smart.

Stuff we should know. A topic a week, comprehensive (and simple) enough to fuel some quality dialogue.

Consider this the more intellectual companion of liquid courage: liquid knowledge.

So, to all the new and returning students: I won’t tell you that you are not alone. On some abstract level we already know this; we’ve seen the statistics for ourselves. But there’s a big difference in knowing you are not alone and feeling it. I hope that you’ll come away from this column feeling a little less alone and a little more connected.

The tide is changing on how we talk about mental health. We’re very excited to take this journey alongside you all!

If you aren’t convinced by the magical power of Pub Chat, let me leave you with this: Two of my closest friends have been in a long-term relationship that started at a house party where he led her away to the bedroom… to passionately discuss his interest in Renaissance art. May we all reach this inebriated academic apex. With a little preparation and determination, who knows to what elevations we’ll fly?

*If you are keen to have your own experiences shared in this column, please email vicstudentwellbeing@ gmail.com

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MAX NICHOL

Writing a thesis about the history of Salient in the 1970s and 1980s means reading a lot about education policy.

In the early 1970s, university was heavily subsidised and students received bursaries to assist with their living costs while studying. By the late 1980s, the Labour government was at the brink of introducing a user-pays system for tertiary education. National pushed the policy over the edge in the 1990 general election, introducing the first iteration of the student loan system we know today.

along with rising unemployment, threatened poorer students the most. Writing in 1978, VUWSA President Lindy Cassidy reckoned it was “just unfortunate that some people have parents who cannot afford to give them financial support. Should they be prevented from coming to university? […] Tertiary education should be for all those who wish to attend rather than for the few that can afford it.”

Sitting atop tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt, it’s easy to imagine that the corporatisation of tertiary education was an inevitable development—that we always accepted that studying was a personal choice requiring personal sacrifices. That’s not the case. Slogging my way through two decades’ worth of Salient backissues was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

In the 1980s, the notion of user-pays education was seriously considered for the first time. David Lange’s Labour government promised students a reprieve from Muldoon’s underfunding. The reality was that Minister of Education Russell Marshall, along with Associate Minister Phil Goff, gently slipped into the neoliberal idea that education was a service to which students were customers. They floated the possibility of a tax on university graduates, as well as the student loan system (banks had been offering private student loans and overdrafts since the early 1980s, so it wasn’t a totally new idea). While it was a National government that pushed this idea into reality, it was a Labour government which laid the groundwork.

In the early 1970s, Salient (and much of the VUWSA Executive) was in the grips of communists, who assessed that the university was the domain of the wealthy capitalist elite. A Salient report from a meeting on the subject of “not how but why this university is a failure” concluded that “the university in our society must be a cooperative, community effort. University education is only secondarily professional training. Primarily the University has to be the centre of a common, united search for understanding and solving society’s problems.” This optimism was bolstered by a relatively secure level of support for universities and for students.

Now we have a Labour government that has reintroduced some measure of free tertiary education. If you’re a first- or second-year student, you’re likely already the beneficiary of the First Year Free policy. Unfortunately, it doesn’t address the huge living costs associated with studying, which for many students is the real issue. There’s no doubt that university is still easier if your parents have money and connections. In the last forty years, how many talented students have been unable to go to university, or had to drop out halfway through, because they couldn’t afford it? First Year Free is fantastic, but it barely touches the sides of a problem that’s been decades in the making.

The election of Robert Muldoon pushed student activists on the back foot, unleashing an unprecedented wave of cuts to student and university funding. Forced to contend with these developments, students organised to curb the undermining of open university access—which subsidised university education was meant to protect. These cuts,

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NĀ TE AOREWA ARETA RĀUA KO ARIANA THOMSON-LAWRENCE

‘He waka eke noa’—‘We’re all in the same waka’ The world stage~ Nā Te Aorewa Areta

The performance stage~ Nā Ariana Thomson-Lawrence

Here you are. You’ve landed, explored, and now it’s time to settle in.

City life changes a person; that is undeniable. I myself have ‘changed’ due living in cities for many years, but one thing that has always kept me as ‘me’ is Kapa Haka.

The practice of it is magnetic. Being on your own home grounds; the distance from everyday life, the hard work, dedication; and all the sweat in the sun acts as a release for all the weight and worries we carry on our shoulders.

Representation is a vital part of our indigenous experience at university, as it is what leads us to ask those essential pātai like: Who are we? Why are we here? And what do we stand for?

Whether it is here at university or within any sort of new and diverse environment, there is always going to be a common discovery—the world is your stage and we are all the performers, thus it is up to you to decide how you represent yourself as an individual.

Kapa Haka in itself is an essential art form for maintaining many aspects of Māori culture. At first glance you won’t see it, but delve deeper and you’ll see how our culture affects every single aspect of us—on and off the ‘floor’. As Māori we are a better people because of this. We know who we are and where we come from’ we learn about the grounds our feet walk along; we discover our stance through actions and movements; we learn about the histories of our people and the leaders of our community; and furthermore, we have a medium to chanel all of our anger, love, frustration, happiness, and sorrow—into something truly beautiful and unique.

Here at our university your eyes will be opened to a world of colour, fused with culture, language and character, therefore your presence here will feel isolated but what we have to understand is that, as indigenous people, wherever we go, we will always be apart of a bigger picture—we are one of many, but perhaps being the only one is okay, because when we find others around us of the same ethnic background or similar cultural values, the connections that are formed are based on unity, understanding, and pride for our valued heritage and contribution to diversity within a room.

The Te Matatini festival taking place this year here in Pōneke gives us a stage where everything is seen, heard, and felt by all in unison. So in the moments when you feel alone, remind yourself and remember that we are a force to be reckoned with—we are a band of faces, of people, all on the same waka!

Nō reira e te whānau while you are here, showcase your most fruitful self. As Māori we are the indigenous people of New Zealand. We have so much to offer— whether it’s the history we hold, the stories we can tell, or the knowledge we can give for the future. So let’s stand tall, come together, and embody the essence of our cultural identity, because although we may be a variety of individuals, together we are one strong community here to represent our ancestors, our whānau, and the future generations. Kia kaha tauira mā!

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It’s a well-known fact that New Zealand is in the middle of a housing crisis. Rent goes up year after year, there are never enough rental properties for the general population, and the ones that do exist are often pretty subpar. But renting, for many students, is the only option. Come January/February each year, hundreds of students desperately chase listing after listing in the search for a decent home. The pages of stuff.co.nz are currently littered with headlines screaming, “Lizzie McGee applied for 50 rentals, got nothing!”

I’d seen the flurry. I knew that the chances of being consistently housed throughout my university career were slim. But growing up in an affluent neighbourhood and attending “rich kid school” meant I’d never really thought about being destitute before, even though I knew it was a possibility. Which is why it was a complete shock to find myself on a rooftop in Hataitai on New Years Eve 2015, effectively homeless.

(I should clarify; I wasn’t sleeping on the roof. I had a very seasoned couch to sleep on, in the living room of a man I didn’t know well enough. I was also sharing the living room with three other guys—not sure what their situation was, and if they were homeless too, or just celebrating. #studentlyf) It had been a ripper of a year, full of changes I hadn’t foreseen. My parents and I had had a falling out, and I’d estranged myself from my family with a very emotionally charged email. My friends had helped me change my phone number and my last name, and I had vowed to make this my Fresh Start™. I’d spent Christmas away from home for the first time in my life, trying to “adult” on a solo vacation. I then ended up missing a bus in Christchurch, and had to hitchhike half the length of the South Island to catch a ferry back to Wellington—only to arrive to my old flat broken up, a crazy landlord demanding $10K for $75’ worth of damage, and nowhere left to go.

26

Out of the Comfort Zone

I’d been sheltered all my life (mind the pun) by my conservative parents. They’d worked hard to give me every benefit possible in life, so when I wound up on some dude’s couch, I felt like I’d failed. And as I’d had to give up family ties, I didn’t have the warm hearth of my parents’ very lush house to fall back to.

This left me staring at the bleak reality of finding another place to live, and fast, in a crazy rental market with little money and little help. This was my first time completely on my own, and as much as I’d always relished the idea of standing on my own two feet, I was terrified.

I was by no means alone in my belated realisation that sometimes, maybe, things get a wee bit rough—e.g. the three other guys in the Hataitai living room with me. There are a countless number of students living in inadequate flats throughout Wellington, who pay top dollar and still freeze in winter. There are students working multiple jobs while studying full-time to make ends meet. And there are shitty, shitty tenancy management companies (I’m looking at you, Quinovic!) who are slow to move and quick to demand more and more and more. For heaven’s sake, just look at crazy-Kdawg, the landlord who was taking me and my flatties to court for $10K, all because the wood in our bathroom vanity drawers were a little bit warped.

Flatting is so hit-and-miss that sometimes, homelessness on a dude’s couch is the best option.

I’d been helped into my previous flat—my first flat ever—by my friends and their families, who had kitted out the place so comfortably, we hadn’t wanted for anything. The four of us had managed a seamless transition—straight from our hall of residence into an idyllic paradise of a living situation, like something out of a teen movie, complete with pillow-fights in As the New Year chimed in, the guys I was staying with underwear and best-friendshipness. Our property manager shook hands and wished each other luck. I knew, in that had been a smart, sensible woman who we’d trusted; the moment, that it might not get much better than this. Until I man who lived downstairs was a lovely older gentleman was out of the flat-race, odds were that I—like everyone who kept to himself, and everything was perfect... Until the around me—would have to make do with whatever until I property manager was fired by the same man downstairs— could own a home of my own. The days of a comfortable who, it turned out, was our landlord. At “home” to retreat to when bad times the end of our tenancy, he withheld our rolled round were well and truly bond for half a year, insisting we go to “ AND THAT’S HOW I behind me. But like everyone else, WOUND UP ON THE court for non-existent “damages” and I would also have to make the best ROOFTOP, GAZING “intimidation”. While we were waiting of it. Stability was a far-off dream, I BLANKLY AT SOME to settle things through the Tenancy reasoned, but Hataitai rooftops are POWER LINES, Tribunal, my flatmates decided to move forever. So I got down and hugged COUNTING DOWN TO the lads who had taken care of me on with their lives, to different cities and 2016. “ better futures and whole families. I was when I was at my lowest. And the left all alone in Wellington. The prospect New Year began. of living with strangers was daunting for an inexperienced princess with daddy issues. But at this point, I did find a new place to stay, in the end. A lovely Hataitai I didn’t have a choice. room with a view, the nicest place I’d ever stayed. The drama from my previous flat subsided when we trounced Homelessness isn’t a problem unique to students, but apart K-dawg in the Tenancy Tribunal. Apart from my abysmal from the usual January/February flatting frenzy, the media grades, things were chugging along smoothly. But then, tends to focus on other demographics. A quick Google search four months into my new life, I was forced to leave my turns up result after result about single mothers, rough sleepers, new home when a mentally unstable flatmate became and a headline about homeless families being charged to live aggressive and threatening towards me. And I found in their cars (wut). The NZ Herald reported just last February myself on the floor of another generous dude friend. And that 80–90% of homeless applicants were turned away the cycle continued. But this time, I reasoned, there was no from emergency shelters. With that in mind, it’s not difficult need to be disheartened. I’d been homeless before, and to understand why students aren’t usually the focus of the survived. Until my state of affairs was affecting my health homelessness debate. Students, more often than not, belong and wellbeing, there was no reason not to be optimistic. to the demographic known as the “transitionally homeless”; left temporarily on someone’s couch because of unforeseen The state of our country’s houses is shit, guys, but let’s circumstances. treat this terrifying battle to not-be-homeless as one long Even so, it would be nice to have more discussion around the adventure. After all, we all have dude friends. May their student struggle to ensure a roof over our heads. The gist of the couches be forever warm. comment thread under any article exploring student hardship is, “we’ve all been there snowflakes, suck it up.” Everyone’s aware that there’s a housing crisis, but no one wants to do anything about it. The realities of not having a decent place to live sailed right over my head, too, until I no longer had one.

27

28

PM

PM

AM

AM

MON 25 FEB FRI 01 MAR

TUE 26

7:30PM - THE HUNTER LOUNGE

WED 27

WEEK ONE

EVENT

WITH BENE + MELODOWNZ

WINSTON SURFSHIRT

7:30PM - PIPITEA MARAE

WITH MELANIE BRACEWELL

MON 25

VUWSA COMEDY NIGHT

7:30PM - THE HUNTER LOUNGE

NETSKY

THU 28

SCHEDULE

VUWSA.ORG.NZ/HUNT

THE GREAT VUWSA SCAVENGER HUNT

ALL-WEEK 7:30PM - THE HUNTER LOUNGE

WITH SWEET MIX KIDS

TOGA PARTY

7:30PM - THE HUNTER LOUNGE

RUDIMENTAL WITH CHORES + SWEET MIX KIDS

VUWSA OWEEK

FRI 01

THU 28

FRI 01

WED 27

TUE 26

MON 25

PM

PM

AM

AM

SCHEDULE

TUE 05

MON 04 MAR FRI 08 MAR

WED 06

WEEK TWO

7:30PM - DANGER DANGER

WITH VUWSA + MAI FM

THROWBACK THURSDAY

THE HUNTER LOUNGE

QUIZ NIGHT - 7:30PM

VUWSA OWEEK

SONG BINGO - 7:30PM THE HUNTER LOUNGE

TUESDAY TUNES

TIM BEAGLEHOLE COURTYARD

THU 07

VIVIAN STREET

EXPO - 11AM-3PM

TE ARO CAMPUS

TIM BEAGLEHOLE COURTYARD

EXPO - 10AM-3PM

KELBURN CAMPUS

TIM BEAGLEHOLE COURTYARD

EXPO - 10AM-3PM

KELBURN CAMPUS

TIM BEAGLEHOLE COURTYARD

EXPO - 10AM-3PM

KELBURN CAMPUS

RUTHERFORD HOUSE

EXPO - 11AM-3PM

MONDAY MOVIE NIGHT - 7:30PM

MON 04

PIPITEA CAMPUS

VUWSA OWEEK FRI 08

FRI 08

THU 07

WED 06

TUE 05

MON 04

30

Stepping Into Pages Whenever I ask, “So, do you read?” to any new acquaintance (who may not realise the weight of the question), the response is all too often a variation of, “I used to read a lot, but since I started uni/high school/intermediate, I haven’t had so much time.”

This is an unfortunate reality. It is easy to read a lot as a child, because there is nothing else to do. You don’t have a phone, independence, or a social life. But as your world expands, it is easy for books to become less and less of a priority, until you are constantly afflicted with the feeling that you should be reading more. Perhaps, if you picked up a book, you would find knowledge and adventures and an intelligenceenhancing accessory.

This is the part of the article where I should quote studies which prove that people who read are smarter, more creative, more engaged with the world, and more prone to using long words they can’t pronounce. People who read books have probably been shown to have stronger moral compasses, healthier diets, and more hours of sleep. If you’re interested in that—look it up yourself, you nerd. I will be spending my time much better by reading a novel.

Being able to read while studying and working and having a social life and occasionally cooking porridge is hard.

But there are lots of people (including me, obviously), who manage to do it, so I asked some of them for advice:

Miriam Hazelger studies Linguistics and Anthropology at Victoria University. She says that reading while studying is all about “frame of mind”—sometimes she can read 12 books in two months; at other times she might stop reading for six weeks. She says that reading has to be more than a vague goal: to actually make it happen, you need to actively choose it. “I think if you want to read, then you need to choose to read over doing other things—start small with a chapter before bed, and work up.”

Miriam tries to use the momentum from studying to propel her into recreational reading. “I think switching from reading notes to reading a book is easier then switching to a tv show, because I’m already in a similar mindset.”

Ella uses a similar tactic: “I try to study for a certain amount of time and then let myself read a chapter or two of whatever I’m reading—although this is a very slippery slope because if the book is really good it can be hard (and sometimes impossible lol) to pull yourself away!”

One way to manage this is to break up your studying into chunks—’read one textbook chapter’ ‘begin an essay’ etc., and write these on Post-It tabs and intersperse them throughout the book you’re reading.

‘CW’ (her online name) is a book blogger at The Quiet Pond and a Masters student at the University of Auckland, where she is finishing her thesis in Psychology. I figured that she had a lot more experience at reading and studying than me, and asked her how she made time for it. She recommends developing a routine: “I tend to carve out half an hour (or more, if the book is engaging) [to] read before bed,” she said. In addition to giving her time to read, CW finds that this habit she has cultivated calms her when she is busy or stressed.

Making time to read is one thing; deciding what to read is another. CW says, “I think it’s important to ask yourself if you want to read and why you want to read.

Do you enjoy it? Or do you want to read it just to say that you’ve read it? [The latter] may seem fun at first, but it’ll get old fast.” I can relate to this. Sometimes I, too, am infected by this urge and wade wanly through a worthy Booker winner or a tome about the Iranian economy.

Ella suggests that the key to reading for fun is...actually reading for fun. “If you’re not enjoying a book, put it down and pick up another one or just have a break from reading! As a student, you haven’t got the time or energy to waste on pushing through a book you’re not enjoying.”

Ella Somers is a University of Canterbury student and book blogger who reads more than 100 books a year. She also tries to keep reading regularly, even when she doesn’t have much time for it: “I really hate not reading regularly as it’s easy to slip into a reading slump when you get busy and stressed with uni or responsibilities, so I always try to have a book on the go and read a little whenever I can, even if all I can manage is a page here and there.”

When anxiety consumes my mind, and the spectres of unread articles haunt my mind, I hold on to books. I hold on to the habit of books—a regularity in my life. I hold on to the reminder of books—that there are worlds beyond myself. And I hold on to the books themselves—the solidity of their pages (or the plastic case of my phone or e-reader), for those stretched and stolen moments when I do not just have to be myself.

There’s a sacrificial aspect to reading, too. Some things have to go, or you have to jam activities together. CW often blogs in the middle of the night when she has time, and uses her library Overdrive account to listen to free audiobooks when she’s on the bus. Sometimes I turn my phone off (off!) to read, or leave the room where it is, hovering malevolently.

Sometimes I end conversations by saying that I have to go and read.

You can too. It’s as easy as a library card, borrowing a book from a friend, or pressing play on an audiobook, and letting yourself be held by the words.

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CW: Rape, Sexual Assault, Murder Stories of home invasions, violent sexual assaults, and brutal murders are best associated with notorious criminals such as Richard Ramirez, John Wayne Gacy or Ted Bundy—but the stalking grounds for these predators were far from the streets of Papatoetoe. So as Crown Prosecutor Gareth Kayes addressed the jury, it was surreal to think that the crimes of Malcolm Rewa took place in a suburb much like any other, right here at home in Auckland city. Rewa (now aged 65) is currently on trial for the third time, accused of the rape and murder of Susan Burdett, a 39-year-old woman from Papatoetoe, on March 23, 1992.

He was tried and convicted of 20 previous sexual assault charges but the jury at the time could not find Rewa guilty

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of Burdett’s rape and murder. As the prosecution, defense, and judge gave their opening statements, all three had a common thread: Despite Rewa’s previous 20 charges of sexual assault, they urged the jury to keep an open mind, and implored that they remain unprejudiced towards the accused.

But how could a jury stand unprejudiced to rape and murder? While the lawyers, judge, and media present are accustomed to taboo topics such as these—to the point where they discuss them with blasé composure—the jury have different lives to return to after each day in court.

They weren’t lawyers. They were regular people. They were sons, daughters, husbands, wives, teachers, and workers, all unacquainted with the darkness and macabre nature of a case like this one.

Rewa From the Bench Approaching the courtroom after a short recess, I saw a vast number of people trailing out from the open doors of the courtroom and into the hallway, and began wondering if someone had perhaps caused a scene, or there had been some kind of disturbance in the court. No, these were the 50-odd civilians who had been called in for jury duty and had the potential to serve on the jury that would either acquit or sentence Malcolm Rewa for the crime of murder. One glaring observation I was able to make while watching this process was the great number of people who, after being called to serve, ran straight to the judge’s bench and gave one reason or another as to why they felt they were not fit to be a part of this jury.

For a full five minutes, every name called was immediately met with paced footsteps up to—and then briskly away—from the bench. Who could blame them? Jury duty is taxing enough as it is, but having to leave the normality of everyday life to enter a world of sex crimes and murder? Looking toward the jury box, I didn’t envy any of them, as they had been told that this case had the potential to last four weeks; nor was I the slightest bit jealous as they flicked through ring-bound books containing pieces of evidence, from crime scene photos to pictures of a blood-soaked baseball bat that police believed to be the murder weapon.

to the stand. McKay recounted memories of himself and his mother: how they were estranged until he turned 20; how only two years later he heard a radio report of a 39-year-old Papatoetoe woman, bludgeoned to death in her own home; and of course, how he had spent many hours giving statement after statement to the police. It wasn’t until members of the public gallery were asked to leave that the defense made their move.

Defense attorney Mr. Paul Chambers accused McKay of murdering his own mother, stating he had ample means and motive. “So what are you accusing me of?” McKay stated in blatant disbelief. The defense was adamant in their accusation, and yet McKay stood unwavering, exclaiming, “I’m telling you I did not, ‘cause I’m not the one on trial here.” He shot daggers at Rewa as he said this, meanwhile an awestruck jury had yet another piece of the puzzle to fit into play.

Having the power to decide a person’s guilt or innocence is an Olympian task for anyone, let alone a juror on a murder trial. Chris Speyer (a former Ontario Superior Court judge) described the task undertaken by jurors as “a burden they must bear”. “There were two women in particular who had dissolved themselves in tears and were really emotionally distraught The fact that a jury is simply by the experience,” remarked comprised of 12 random civilians “SEEING MALCOLM REWA, NOW Speyer in regards to a murder creates a menagerie of different AN ELDERLY MAN CLUTCHING HIS case in Brampton, Canada.

CANE, A SHELL OF HIS FORMER ideas and beliefs and lends SELF, MUST HAVE EVOKED THE itself to imperfections. The fineThis seems to be a common trend STRANGEST FEELING OF PITY AND in murder cases, as on day three tuning process of selecting these DISDAIN. “ 12 individuals, out of potentially of the Rewa trial, the jury watched hundreds, means that the end video taken from the scene of the result is a representation of the public as a whole. They are crime, to which some members of the jury were physically the people tasked with bringing society into the courtroom, stricken ill. You can imagine how grueling and exhausting to observe and potentially condemn the accused. It’s a the entire experience must be for a jury member on a highdecision made on behalf of our country. This task alone is profile case such as this. And yet, each day these jurors left enough to make anyone feel a little light-headed—even the comfort of everyday life to come and bear witness to without listening to the grizzly details or about Rewa’s a series of truly disturbing images and stories. previous sexual offenses. Hearing how the man sitting but a few metres away from me had broken into women’s houses, It is the job of the jury to decide the accused’s guilt or covered the upper part of their bodies, and proceeded to innocence based on the evidence given, and without violate them made me sick to my stomach, and I could see regard to previous offenses. But in instances such as this, the jury shared my discomfort. can a jury truly remain impartial? Every man, woman, and child has their own personal biases, likes, and dislikes. All As the day continued, and more details of Rewa’s previous it takes is a juror with a righteous attitude and a desire to offenses were brought to light, one could see the jury’s visible see a man, like Rewa, put away for the rest of his life, and discomfort, all heightened by the fact that the offending party the jury could be compromised. was sitting merely meters away. Here is a violent and cruel man who has committed despicable acts in his life, sitting with two guards on either side, silent. Yet (as observed each time Rewa entered and exited the courtroom), Rewa walked agonisingly, as frail as a paper doll.

With the evidence stacked very clearly against Rewa, the prosecution began calling its witnesses. From close friends to neighbours, the jury watched on as the evidence against him began to stack higher and higher. It wasn’t until the second day of the trial that Burdett’s son, Dallas McKay, was called

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My thoughts are avocados that I can’t quite fathom into guacamole.

- Anonymous

Send your limericks, elegies, and odes to poetry@salient.org.nz

T E LEVIS IO N TH E CH I L L I N G C R I M E S O F BR OAD C H U R C H R E VI E W: E MM A M AG U I R E

As I write this, it’s one day before the 2019 Oscars, and Olivia Colman is nominated for Best Actress. You’ll know if she has won when you read this, but I’m going to write this review as though she already has, because her career and oeuvre absolutely deserve it.

Broadchurch is a British crime series from a few years back, starring David Tennant (Alec Hardy) and Olivia Colman (Ellie Miller) as two police officers. They spend three series dealing with a bunch of terrible crimes in a beach town called Broadchurch.

This show isn’t for the faint of heart—it’s a crime show after all—but it does take a deeper and harder look at crime than most crime shows tend to. In the first season, Beth Latimer (played by Doctor Who’s 13th Doctor, Jodie Whittaker)’s son Danny gets killed, and Ellie and Alec spend eight long episodes trying to find out who does it. Tensions are high in the town of Broadchurch and everyone is a suspect.

Broadchurch’s portrayal of grief is very raw. No holds barred, it’s the realest and hardest part of the show to watch. The moment when Beth sees a body covered in a sheet lying on the beach and recognises that it’s her son, just from his trainers, is brutal. She screams and cries as she’s ushered away from the body, and we all know that her life has suddenly been changed irrevocably.

This sheer emotion is portrayed honestly and I commend the show for it. In many crime shows, writers tend to shy away from the anguish of those around the victim, but Broadchurch pulls no punches. It’s devastatingly human.

Colman’s Ellie Miller is the heart of the show, and an excellent foil to Hardy’s prickliness. Not to spoil anything, but her character goes through a lot during the show, yet she has the strength to carry on, despite significant losses and more than a little bit of grief. I have a soft spot for Ellie as a character because she’s written very well. Women in media who fall into one section of the Maiden–Mother– Whore dichotomy are often forced to remain there—due to lazy writing—but Ellie is genuinely complex. She’s a mother, but not flawless. She talks about sex, and she has agency. For a detective series, that’s a pretty rare thing.

Broadchurch is an incredible series, but it’s also very hard to get through. It’s not the sort of work that can be binged in a night or two—though you’ll probably want to. The third season is about a woman who was raped at a party, and all the real-world things that stem from that.

In a reflection on our very real society, she’s asked what she was wearing, how much she’d had to drink, who she’d been flirting with. The police have less resources because, “a rape gets less attention than a murder”, and the victim has to fight to be heard at every turn. It’s a very upsetting premise, but does effectively mirror our modern lives. Broadchurch, at least, treats the subject sensitively, and it’s not solved in half an hour like a normal police procedural.

Broadchurch is a show that will absolutely make you think about your own life. It’s hard to watch sometimes, but utterly gripping, and I absolutely implore you to check it out when you can.

Tennant’s Alec Hardy is an extreme contrast from most publicised role. Far from the cheerful, kindly Doctor, he’s a grumpy Scottish detective with an axe to grind. Though he is short-tempered, there is reason in his madness, and his dark past threatens to catch up to him at every turn.

(He’s not a bad guy, really; he’s just had a shit life.)

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FIL M FI RST RE FO R M E D R E VI E W: E VA LO C K H A R T

I don’t want to sound like too much of a film student, but First Reformed was the most important film of 2018.

Paul Schrader’s latest tells the tale of Reverend Ernst Toller (played by Ethan Hawke in what is perhaps the best performance of his career to date), the lonely pastor of a tourist church in upstate New York. Toller’s life changes when he is approached by the pregnant Mary, who begs him to counsel her deeply depressed, environmental activist husband Michael. After Michael’s sudden suicide, Toller begins to spiral out of control and question the authorities of his church. Stealing Michael’s laptop and throwing himself into research about climate change and radicalism, his alcoholism dramatically worsens and he takes solace in conversations with Mary (portrayed with beautiful integrity by Amanda Seyfried).

Throughout the film, Toller’s journal, dictated to us through voiceover, gives the audience an intimate glimpse of his descent into madness and sorrow. Usually I find that voiceovers pull me out of a film, breaking my sense of immersion. However, Schrader uses the narrative device to show off his brilliant script, creating a character in Toller that is unlike any I have ever seen. Because Toller is a man of faith, he must completely re-route his way of thinking in order to come to terms with climate change.

A religious person’s perspective on global warming is something I haven’t seen illustrated in film before. Even for a young Greenie like me, rediscovering the imminent end of life as we know it through the eyes of sweet, nihilistic, alcoholic Toller made me feel as though I was learning about climate change all over again.

Another point of note is the frank depiction of white, God-fearing men as potential terrorists. When Toller and Mary discover Michael has been working on a suicide vest, they don’t, even for a moment, try to blame it on some minority. They accept it. Honestly, First Reformed is probably the most 2018 film of 2018.

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Now let’s talk about the technicalities. This film is technically fantastic. Like Mid90s, from my previous review, First Reformed was shot in a 4:3 (square) aspect ratio. Is this the latest indie film trend? Grace Yun’s production design is cold and minimalistic, which begs the audience to search for the abundant symbolism in each shot. The cinematography, too, is beautifully sparse and wintery, yet each frame is packed with more hidden meanings than Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. However, not every scene is bare and sterile. Without spoiling too much, I can say that there are a few hallucinatory scenes that rival the surrealness of Enter the Void. But, unlike Enter the Void, the dreamlike, delirious moments in First Reformed are inspired by global destruction, rather than psychedelic drugs.

First Reformed feels crisp and decisive, like a good poem in which every word has a specific purpose within the narrative. Since I first watched this film, barely a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about it. With each rewatch I hear a new line that makes me reconsider the meaning of the entire piece. I believe Schrader did this deliberately, considering the ambiguous nature of the ending (now the subject of many speculative posts on Reddit). Honestly, I could write essay after essay about First Reformed and never do it justice. The only way to truly appreciate and understand this film is to watch it.

Tune in next week to read my 2019 Oscars round-up!

BOOK TH E P E OP L E I N T H E T R E E S R E VI E W: H A N N A H PAT T E R S O N

After reading and greatly enjoying Yanagihara’s A Little Life, I found myself approaching The People In The Trees (her first, and only other book) with a sense of apprehension. I struggled to imagine how Yanagihara would explore a different world and move away from a narrative voice that felt so distinctive in A Little Life. I wondered if perhaps The People In The Trees would be but a less compelling precursor to her later, more widely appraised book. I found myself proven wrong—a sensation I quickly became familiar with while reading this novel.

In a brutally succinct news article on the very first page, Yanagihara calmly reveals the dark and ugly crux of the story. It is here that she also engrosses the reader in the moral dilemma that is to unravel throughout the novel: Our protagonist, Norton Perina, is a Nobel Prizewinning doctor, revered for his study of the (fictional) Ivu’ivuans, a “lost tribe” residing on a small Micronesian island. This leads to his discovery of a turtle, that, when consumed, freezes the body in a youthful and healthy state, though it does not avoid the mental deterioration that accompanies ageing. After his discovery, Perina continues to revisit the island and adopts Ivu’ivuian children. He is later convicted of the sexual assault of one of these children.

We are two pages in, and Yanagihara has already told us what has happened. What we have not been told is how. By laying bare the bones of the plot from the very start, Yanagihara plunges the reader headfirst into a tangle of questions and carefully constructed expectations. We begin this book wondering if perhaps it has all been a misunderstanding. We are encouraged to think that this story will be the exoneration of Perina. It is instinctive to empathise with the narrator and Yanagihara knows this. The rest of the book is then spent dismantling our expectations.

The premise of the book evokes a classic story of adventure and exploration: a lost tribe, the promise of

eternal life, an every-man doctor with dreams of success and glory. Despite these shiny plot points, this is not a book about adventure or any noble scientific quest.

Yanagihara’s story is about power. To be specific, the way in which power—the power of men, the power of ‘science’ and the power of white imperialism—is exerted and abused. This is a story where ‘science’ and progress are used as justification for the exploitation of indigenous people and land. But rather than stopping at Perina’s groundbreaking scientific discovery, Yanagihara makes us stay, forcing us to bear witness to the devastating harm that inevitably follows.

What’s more, she does it all effortlessly—slipping into the narrative voice of Perina so easily and convincingly, it is almost unsettling. In a skillful change from the generous and detailed prose of A Little Life, Yanagihara writes here from the clear and clinical perspective of a scientist (albeit a very eloquent one). She uses the classic trope of the unreliable narrator and she uses it well—slowly revealing Perina’s character flaws and giving the reader ample space to hold on to the benefit of the doubt.

The People In The Trees is an excellent book. The story is in itself is creative and compelling, but what is most memorable is the way it implicates the reader in the moral quandary it explores. As macabre as it is, it would be wrong to say that Yanagihara is not playful. If anything, it often feels as though she is laughing gleefully as she drags you along. She knows what she’s doing and she knows that she is good at it, too.

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ART A P OST CO LO N I AL FAN TASY R E VI E W: M AYA N E U PA N E

Nothing usually gets between me and my Cozy Cake Kitchen chips, but last week, one incredible gallery window display stopped me in my tracks. Hariata Ropata Tangahoe’s A Post Colonial Fantasy exhibition at Bowen Gallery is so utterly gorgeous that I wish I could forget it, just so I can see it all over again. I’ve never been more delighted to be interrupted in my journey to a five dollar fried feed.

Seeing these paintings in the flesh is really something special. Much like the concept of whakapapa that she chooses to explore—there are layers upon fascinating layers to her work. Tangahoe’s paintings are composed of many bright and delicate levels of paint that add small details and decorations to compliment the final image.

In 1885, Walt Whitman wrote in his monumental poem Song of Myself, “Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.”

Standing in front of Tangahoe’s paintings, these feelings were evoked. There is much to take in, so make sure to pack lunch before visiting this gallery. I honestly feel as though you could spend hours there.

And I couldn’t go without mentioning Tangahoe’s choice of frames. In the literatary world, they instruct you to never judge a work by its frame, but these frames are integral to what they behold. Len Taylor has hand-carved each of Tangahoe’s frames to complement and emphasise the striking beauty of the paintings. These add, rather than distract, to the grandeur of the overall exhibition. Each painting suspends slightly above the ground. Enshrined in their expertly carved frames, surrounded by the piercing pāua shell eyes of the guardian Tiki that Taylor, they gaze down at the viewer below them.

type of way; this is a Fix & Fogg feeling. The lighting is dimmed to help you better appreciate the vibrant yellow clothing details, pale pink flowers, and the bright blues of an ocean background—which drag you in with all the lures of a Rimbaud poem. Perhaps I’m biased due to my great love for Marc Chagall (an artist that Tangahoe was greatly influenced by) but there’s just something so wonderful about the worlds that are created in this small but powerful exhibition.

I love the use of the small, artificial glints of gold, silver, and pale turquoise that shine out from amongst the primarily natural colour palette. Tangahoe’s eclectic selection of symbols from multiple cultures, mythologies, and modernity is also something to watch out for—with these comes the tongue-in-cheek humour of A Post Colonial Fantasy and the reappropriation of artistic techniques and compositions found in classic portraiture.

It’s just so refreshing to have a gallery focus on Māori art shown through the lens of a Māori woman. If you want to view the post-colonial portraiture of Māori people that Tangahoe is referencing, you can go to any Wellington gallery—Te Papa currently has a large collection of C. F. Goldie’s work on display. However, in no way does seeing those dusty old relics of colonisation match up to the feeling of viewing Hariata Ropata Tangahoe’s vibrant, passionate, and inspired collection.

A Post Colonial Fantasy introduces us a gorgeous array of fascinating and wonderful characters. He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.

Now, as Wellington’s most unexpected and heavily pierced Christian, this isn’t something I say lightly—but when I walked into this exhibition, it felt like walking into church. The spirituality is tangible—but not in an icky, cheap-peanut-butter-stuck-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth

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FASHI O N TH I S Y E A R ’S T R E N D S R E VI E W: NI N A W E I R

What would Eleven wear?

Winter is coming... and it’s fluffy

Season three of Stranger Things comes out this year, so we all know what that means: corduroy, overalls, and David Bain jumpers are going to be flying off the opshop shelves faster than you can say “this article is not sponsored by Netflix but is definitely open to it, should that opportunity arise”. Start stockpiling vintage Levi’s now if you want to make a buck selling them to fashionconscious Year 12s later this year.

We’ve all read the statistics telling us that “New Zealand has enough clothes to last the next 50 years without importing more; buy op shop, avoid fast fashion” etc (all very valid points; just not where I’m going with this). What isn’t said in those statistics is that at least ten of those 50 years factors is no other garment than those tan teddy bear fur coats that every single girl bought last year.

Snag five of them for $50 at Recycle Boutique come July.

Side note: No hate to anyone rocking these this winter, anyone wearing a coat other than a puffer jacket has my approval.

Scrunchies, scrunchies, and more scrunchies If you wore it to a primary school disco or got it in your BFF’s tenth birthday party goodie bag, it’s probably 2019’s hottest new look. Nothing like the terrifying realisation that you’re legally an adult to make your fashion sense regress 15 years and cause you to channel Hilary Duff in your accessory choices.

Ugly shoes get even uglier A few years ago, a dramatic cultural shift took place as Birkenstock sandals entered the wardrobes of people other than Rudolph Steiner teachers and/or people who substitute sweet potato for bread. Now, the latest visual threat to claim the street has been revealed: Teva hiking sandals. Yep, the chosen footwear of Americans on half-hour scenic hikes—and that kid in primary school who would eat his own scabs—can now be seen on the trendy babes of Cuba Street. If you’re unfamiliar with these shoes, all you need to know is that a top Google autocomplete for them is “can you swim in Tevas”.

Nothing aesthetically appealing has ever had to be made aquatically sound just for people to buy it.

The wider the leg, the closer to God/Cher You are lying if you try to say your highlight of 2018 was anything other than Mamma Mia 2, and for me, the highlight of Mamma Mia 2 was Cher in wide-leg pants.

After years of low-rise jeans that only suited you if you were a member of Destiny’s Child, jeggings, and ripped jeans that took a quarter of an hour to get into, we finally have a trend that looks good on basically everyone, isn’t a form of leg torture, and is endorsed by Cher… What more could you need?!

Little House on the Prairie, but make it fashion As seen on Oregon Trail Fashion Week S/S 1872: Straw bags, straw hats, gingham, denim on denim on denim, and ruffles on everything. With the political climate as it is, there is an ever-present risk that the rights of women, racial minorities and queer people are about to be dragged straight back to the frontier, so dress appropriately! Oxen optional.

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FOOD TOP FI VE P I C KS R E VI E W: FAT TA B

FATTAB’s top five picks for the best foodie deals in Wellington on a Monday: 1. Chow 241 meals Every Monday at Chow, you can order any two dishes and you’ll get the lower-priced item for free. Located right off of Courtenay Place, you can either sit inside the buzzing restaurant or outside on the deck, which is a perfect spot for people watching. The food has Asian fusion vibes, with many vegan and vegetarian options (on Tuesdays the whole menu is vegan). Some of my favourite menu items include: the Pekin duck lettuce cups, Blue cheese & peanut wontons, and the Green-lip mussel fritters.

2. The Bresolin’s $10 Burgers It doesn’t get much more student-friendly than $10 burgers. From 5 p.m. onwards on Mondays, you can enjoy a burg (and surely a beer) in their inviting allweather courtyard. In the summer months, the sun beams through the rolled-back roof, and when it’s colder, you can rug up by the fire with the supplied blankets. I am yet to have a bad food experience here, and it is one of my all-time fave weekend brunch spots. They’re situated at the top of Willis Street, which is conveniently close to both Kelburn and Te Aro campuses.

4. 241 stone grill from Southern Cross Garden Bar Generally when eating out, you want your food cooked for you because, well, that’s what you’re paying for.

However, there is something really fun about cooking your own meat on a fiery hot stone! 241 stone grill is an absolute experience, and with eight different options to choose from, there is something for everyone (yes, vegetarian options are available). Southern Cross is a huge restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating areas. It’s a very relaxed, chill vibe and they’re happy to accompany big groups. The deal is available from noon to 1:30 p.m., and then again from 5:30 p.m. onwards. I would recommend getting in early to not miss out, as they do run out of heated stone plates. Note that this deal is not available on public holidays.

5. $10 BAO DOWN MONDAYS from The Old Quarter You can get any bao of your choice plus a glass of bubbles or a beer for $10, all Monday long! Considering a drink on its own is nearly $10, you’re basically getting a free bao—HOW GOOD. I adore The Old Quarter; they have a really funky vibe, the staff always look genuinely happy to be there, and the food is insanely flavoursome.

You will not regret going here—what a way to start your week right!

3. Half-price mussels from the Crab Shack I am a sucker for anything that comes from the ocean, and it doesn’t get much better than eating seafood right on the waterfront! From 3–6 p.m. on Mondays, the Crab Shack offers half-price mussels. For a 500 gram scoop, this works out to be $7.50. It’s the perfect cheap meal to enjoy while catching up with friends. And there are a ton of sauce options: Tom Yum: tomato, kaffir lime, chilli (gf, df); Thai green curry: lemongrass, coconut, coriander (gf, df); or White wine, chilli & garlic cream (gf). Yum. Note that dining must be complete (and the bill paid for) by 6 p.m.

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2 for 1 Mondays

Every Monday all day & night order any 2 dishes & we will give you the lower priced item free.

Sides are not included.

C H O W.C O. N Z CHOWWELLINGTON

CHOWWELLINGTON

SPI CY READI NGS FRO M T HE S TARS ABO V E

ARIES

LIBRA

This week conveniently brings ample opportunity for thinking about What You Really Want. Set some goals, find some hobbies. We all have high hopes for our time management capabilities at the beginning of the year; it’s best simply to ignore the ever-looming burnout we all know you have coming.

Stay away from heights and hot things, you are an accident waiting to happen this week. However, your tendency towards the wicked will make you very popular in social situations. You’re the guiding light in our Mercury retrograde-induced stupor.

TAURUS

SCORPIO

Thursday’s new moon in Pisces leaves our Taurian loved ones prone to injury. Whether it be a stubbed toe or a broken heart, your body is a temple and should be held to strict building codes. By 1 July 2021 your glorious flesh prison must be decked out with ceiling insulation of a minimum thickness of 120 mm.

You are a glittering vision of whimsy and romance. You are a river bursting its banks. You are a late summer harvest. You are a drunken kererū. You are hungry, energetic, insatiable. Described by many as “zesty”, we all need a Scorpio in our lives this week.

GEMINI

SAGITTARIUS

Gemini beware: Mercury enters retrograde Wednesday. You contain multitudes, but stay mindful of the conflict between your inner selves. Your gut instinct is more reliable now than ever; forget about your mother and listen to your hungover tummy gurgles instead. My small intestine has something to tell you.

All Sags are beautiful and smart and funny and good at walking down hills in heels. I don’t make the rules—I just read the stars, they told me this personally. If you are blessed with a Sag in your life, hold them close this week, and for all eternity. Or at least until the human race self-destructs haha.

CAPRICORN

CANCER

When I think of every Capricorn I know, this week I think of them bathed in moonlight, with a scotch and a cig, softly singing to themselves. But what does this celestial blessing of a vision mean? Well, Capricorn, sweet little goat, it means you are pretentious but we still love you for it. Ask a Pisces on a date.

Come Tuesday, you will find yourself feeling more conviction and more sure of yourself than ever. Be careful little crab: the next couple of weeks will have you prone to hubris, and your shell is getting brittle.

Always remember to floss (I mean your teeth—I’m an astrologer, not a memelord... Is flossing a meme, per se? I’m out of touch).

AQUARIUS

LEO

Intellectual, insightful Aquarius, this month brings you much restlessness and indecision. Try to make the most of your sensitivity, and take advantage of your tendency towards academic rigour. The people around you may feel like strangers this week, but listen to me when I say to trust them.

Sweet Leo, are you in love yet? Your heart is prone to fluttering, as are your eyelashes—and all those butterflies that take up residence in your belly. The person you need most will be making themself known to you around about now. Don’t think too much about the future, and don’t waste your money on bad coffee.

PISCES

VIRGO

Pisces, more than anyone, are prone to birthday induced existential crises. The moon enters your sign on Wednesday, and Mercury is retrograding there, too. Not to mention, your ruling planet, Neptune, along with the sun, are taking up residence in your home constellation also. You’re hypersensitive to the emotions of others, so try to spend some time alone.

Patience is a virtue, and you can expect it to find its way to you smoothly this week. Take time to consider your relationships (of any kind). Learn to let go of connections that don’t make you feel wanted, or push you to better yourself. Pat all the cats you meet on the street.

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BRA I N- TRAI NIN G O R T IM E-WAS T IN G

CROSSWORD: AMBIENT DUB

GUESS THAT DAD BOD

LAST WEEK’S BOD: TONY ABBOT ACROSS

DOWN

2. Ivanka Trump’s much-derided book (5,3,4) * 8. Nought (4) 9. One of the Kitty Hawk brothers who invented powered flight (6,6) * 10. The number 27, in relation to 3 (4) 12. Speak directly to (7) 16. Slays, like Caesar (5) 18. Curfew shouter in a nursery rhyme (3,6,6) * 22. Muscular twitch (5) 24. Approach stealthily (5,2) 29. Gas in some all-night signage (4) 31. Catcalls, by another animal name (4,8) * 32. State which holds the Sundance Film Festival (4) 33. Internet phrase which was also the name of the first search engine (5,4,3) *

1. ‘Edit’ or ‘Today’s Specials’ (4) 2. Astonished (5) 3. Tooth used for grinding (5) 4. Words for things (5) 5. Take part in a full-moon tradition (4) 6. Jotted down (7) 7. 2006 Amy Winehouse hit (5) 11. Like some feet or necessities (4) 13. Opus ___ (‘Da Vinci Code’ cult) (3) 14. Immigration island in New York Harbour (5) 15. Actor Carell, Coogan or Buscemi (5) 17. Country connected to Denmark by bridge (6) 19. Adjective for some far-fetched thinking (7) 20. Squid’s protection (3) 21. Mythological discoverer of New Zealand; has a statue on Wellington’s waterfront (4) 23. Insta post (5) 25. Nudged, like a labrador might (5) 26. Permit (5) 27. Turn off notifications for, for short (5) 28. Stage play (4) 30. Australian gemstone (4)

POP QUIZ

1. Which contains more standard drinks, two packs of Diesels or two bottles of Scrumpy?

2. What was the Vice Chancellor, Grant Guilford’s previous job?

3. Which drug is commonly known as ‘Molly’?

4. Which artist made the song in which we named this issue ‘Lost’ after?

5. How many legs does Lola, the cat of Aro Park have?

1: Diesels, you idiot, 2. Veterinarian, 3. MDMA 4. Frank Ocean, 5: Three

43

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COMBINED

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Editors Kii Small & Taylor Galmiche Design & Illustration Rachel Salazar News Editor Johnny O’Hagan Brebner Sub Editor Janne Song Distributor Danica Soich Chief News Reporter Emma Houpt Feature Writers Preya Gothanayagi Shanti Mathias Finn Blackwell Poem Derek ‘Bonk’ Freeman Centrefold Kelly Garrett kellymgarrett.com

News Section Melissa Oliver, Reid Wicks, Jami Kerrigan, Puawai Waller, Emma Houpt, Hannah Powell, Marielle Hawkes, Shanti Mathias, Richard Beere, Johnny O’Hagan Brebner, Liam Powell, Emma Maguire

Social Media Callum Turnbull

Section Editors Hannah Patterson (Book) , Nina Weir (Fashion), Emma Maguire (TV), Maya Neupane (Art) Eva Lockhart (Film) Kii & Tom (Food), Lisa Louw (Poetry)

Follow Us fb.com/salientmagazine twitter.com/salientmagazine instagram.com/salientgram

FM Station Managers Jazz Kane Navneeth Nair

Advertising Josephine Dawson advertising@vuwsa.org.nz

Contact Us editor@salient.org.nz designer@salient.org.nz news@salient.org.nz socialmedia@salient.org.nz

Printed By Matt’s mate, Aaron

TV Producers Joseph Coughlan Contributors Puck, Geo Robrigado, Lena, Te Paea Hoori, Brad & James, Brock Stobbs, Alex Walker, Caitlin Hicks, Max Nichol, Ariana Thomson-Lawrence Comic Jack Mcgee

About Us Salient is published by—but remains editorially independant from—Victoria Univeristy of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA). Salient is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA) and the New Zealand Press Council. Salient is funded in part by Victoria University of Wellington students through the Student Services Levy. The views expressed in Salient do not neceassarily reflect those of the Editor, VUWSA, or the University.

Complaints People with complaints against the magazine should first complain in writing to the Editor and then, if not satisfied with the response, complain to the press Council. See presscouncil.org.nz/complain.php for more information.

45

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HAVE A KICK-ASS COLUMN IDEA? EMAIL US.

WE ARE TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING REVIEW SECTIONS: ART, TV, PODCASTS, FOOD, MUSIC.

IF THIS INTERESTS YOU, PLEASE EMAIL US AT EDITOR@SALIENT.ORG.NZ OR SIMPLY STOP BY THE OFFICE.

THE GREAT VUWSA SCAVENGER HUNT MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY - FRIDAY 1 MARCH With tonnes of prizes up for grabs, The Great VUWSA Scavenger Hunt is the only way to begin your University experience! Taking you around Kelburn Campus, discover all the awesome spaces and the need-to-know places along the way.

You have until 7pm on Friday 1st March to take part, so grab your mates, grab your phone and get set to explore!

Get out your phone and head to vuwsa.org.nz/hunt to play now!

MILK TEA

Get it in ya

Open everyday, 11am til 8pm or until 9pm Wed Fri and Sat

WAFFLES COFFEE HOT DOGS SNACKS and MORE!

75 Taranaki St, Te Aro

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45 Knights Road, Westfield, Lower Hutt. Ph: 931 5470

show your sTuDenT iD in sTore To reCeiVe 10% oFF miCrosoFT surFaCe!

& heaps more Deals insTore!

• CDs & DVDs • Games • TVs • speakers • Cameras • phones • CompuTers, TableTs & aCCessories • heaDphones • FiTness

WELLINGTON CENTRAL

ALNZ Centre, Willis St Opp. Old Bank Shopping Arcade. Ph: 890 0861

E XC LU S I V E ST U D E N T O F F E R – J O I N N OW *

L E S M I L L S L A M B TO N Q U AY | L E S M I L L S H U T T C I T Y L E S M I L L S TA R A N A K I S T R E E T

* Te r m s a n d C o n d i t i o n s a p p l y. P r i c e v a r i e s p e r c l u b . S e e l e s m i l l s . c o . n z