Compulsory introductions have been made, the regrettable hall fuck tension has disappeared and hopefully you’re settling into a nice routine. You’ve made it through the hardest bit—until exams—but congrats, you’re already three weeks away from mid-sem break. Now is the perfect time to distract yourself from classes with that most exciting of topics: local politics.
This week: Auckland Council faces a hole in its budget almost large enough to care about. Rain Brown plans to wash away nice things to pay for more consultants (or fewer but more expensive ones). Rest assured, this plan came highly recommended from the council’s preferred consultancy groups. Now it’s finally time for you to be consulted!
If you like your city being a nice place that isn’t just a collection of roads and shitty single family housing, let the council know! The annual budget affects your way of life, from the way you commute right down to what you like to do in your spare time; spaces like libraries, recreational centres and local pools are often council owned.
Third places—somewhere that isn’t home or work—are important to our wellbeing and livelihoods. These spaces often facilitate our gab sessions, catch-ups and hang-outs. So facilities like our museums, galleries and theatres are expected to take a hit unless YOU say something.
Public consultation for the council budget is open until the 28th of March, but do it now or you’ll forget!
Despite our Mayor claiming that the arts is in its flop era; Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki, The Auckland Art festival is in full swing. We have a sit down interview with the stage director of Actor//Android and a review of Light from Tate: 1700s to Now, a major exhibition exclusive to Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki from our arts editors Paris Blanchard & Abby Irwin Jones.
Read Mik Breitenbach’s response to New Zealand’s role in the displacement of the Banaba community at the Justice for Rabi exhibition. And comprehend a year of fighting in Ukraine with a timely follow up by Veronika Orekhivska.
If you’re looking for something a little more homegrown, we’ve saved you a front row seat to UoA bossbitch and baddie Sabreen Islam’s latest EP interview. Hear Abby Irwin Jones interrogate how Islam balances a law degree with a music career and get an insight into how the budding creative published her own book. Fuck and I can’t even make my graded quiz in time…
Last Week Polyfest kicked off its first half of performances. Seeing the high calibre of culture and excellency reassured us that cancellations did nothing to water down the spirits of our young ones. Now we’re just patiently waiting for the Polyfest Haka competition to start up on April 3. See you all there!
Last weekend we also celebrated Big Gay Out, where the boy-ginas popped and the Shenis’s swung high to the heavens. Like when we visited your parents—BGY came hard. The first in person festival in the last couple of years meant everyone was feral and ready for a good time. We may have been propositioned, we may have not. We’ll never kiss and tell.
Speaking of hook-ups: unlike the disappointments on your phone we want to introduce you to some sexy associates found right here on our campus as brought to you by Nancy Guo. Swipe through the pages to find your match today!
I’m sorry are we boring you? Then go read the fucking faculty stereotypes and tell us how misunderstood your degree is.
Love ya (ig),
Mairātea & George
