NEWS

On a windy Wellington afternoon, the after-work crowd spills out onto Lambton Quay—suits, sneakers, tote bags, the hum of buses and the harbour wind. Somewhere in the middle of it all, a saxophone begins to play. And moving slowly through the rush of commuters… is a tree. For nearly five years, Wellingtonians have encountered this character—known simply as Tree—busking across the CBD and waterfront. But recently, the performer behind the costume has found himself addressing a

Part two of a three-part opinion series exploring affordable food options on campus at Te Herenga Waka This week, I continued my search for affordable eats, heading into the world of stressed-out architecture students perpetually behind on an assignment. That's right, dear readers — I hit the streets. The street of Vivian, that is. The goal: to see what fuels Te Aro Campus and, more importantly, whether it’s actually affordable. Te Aro is unique in one key way: it’s the only

IRAN, ISRAEL AND THE PACIFIC    The United States has been making their presence known in the Pacific as of recent. Billionaire Jared Novelley has just been announced as the new American ambassador to New Zealand, and he has already made clear the goals to further deepen New Zealand and the USA’s defence ties and open us up for some more good ol’ fashioned resource extraction.  The USA's Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has also been doing the rounds in the Pacifi

Dan Moskovitz Over the past five years, bird flu has ravaged bird and mammal alike across the globe. Over 180 million poultry birds have died, as well as untold numbers of wildlife. Human infections, while rare, have a fatality rate over 50%. Mainland Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific remain the only flu-free regions. But with the Australian-owned subantarctic Heard Island now reporting the virus — an island which many of Aotearoa’s migratory birds visit — it’s a questi

When your humble author awoke on Friday, 13 March with tonsils the size of Luxon’s bald head constricting her inflamed airway, some more superstitious readers might blame the unlucky date. I was certain, however, that a call to Student Health might provide some relief from the raw, burning pain I was experiencing with every breath and swallow. How sorely mistaken I was.  Calling just before 10 a.m., I was quickly informed by the receptionist that urgent same-day GP appointmen

Part one of a three-part opinion series exploring affordable food options on campus at Te Herenga Waka Pipitea—the quiet campus where law students lock in. But after their third “break” walk around campus, somewhere between readings on tort law and Donoghue v Stevenson , where do they stop to grab a snack? And more importantly, where is the most affordable?  Admittedly, upon arrival there was very little on offer. There was, of course, the ever-looming presence on campus—The

One of Mayor Andrew Little’s key election promises was to cap weekly public transport fares. Problem is, that’s not something he has the power to do.  Little’s policy was to make all Metlink trips free after your eighth trip. So, if you take public transport to and from work every day, your Friday morning trip (trip nine) and any others are free. However, Little only has jurisdiction over Wellington City Council. Public transport falls under the Greater Wellington Regional Co

Gemma Bennion Weirdly, this story begins with fibre.  No, not that fibre. I’m not a health TikToker selling magic beans. I’m talking fibre in the form of cables and high-speed internet: the unseen chords running underground, looping through neighbourhoods and connecting Wellington suburbs.  We begin with fibre, because a major provider of these cables is a company called Chorus. Last week, Chorus placed an ad at Kelburn Campus that made me stop dead in my tracks.  You might h

Otis Whinney THE STATE OF THE (PACIFIC) NATION  For many Kiwis, there is nothing more exciting than the annual 'State of the Nation' addresses delivered by our political parties to lay out their agenda. By many Kiwis, I actually mean none at all. But it does not change the fact that they did recently happen—and as we are in an election year, it could be somewhat important to see what these politicians have to say. It may, however, be more pertinent to examine the actual state

In the first three months of the year, VUWSA and Te Herenga Waka’s co-run community pantry has seen an increase of 400% in the rate of pick-ups since 2024, raising concerns that their budget might be exhausted well before October.  The pantry, which is funded partially through VUWSA and partially by allocation of the student-contributed Student Hardship Fee, offers a free emergency food parcel service to students who are struggling with financial hardship. The service can be

For the first time, the VUWSA Postgraduate Officer position will be elected, and announced, at VUWSA’s upcoming AGM on Thursday 19 March. The role was created alongside the Postgraduate Voice Coordinator which commenced at the start of 2026.  This extension, of both an elected member on the VUWSA exec and the Postgraduate Voice Coordinator who is a contracted staff member at VUWSA, come at a time when the consensus (at least at VUWSA) is that postgraduate voice is more import

Nic Smith’s announcement of resignation last week was met with lukewarm sadness from our university community. But never fear! In this opinion   piece, the Salient team throws our hats in the ring to determine who we believe (with all of our journalistic integrity) should be Te Herenga Waka’s Next Top Vice Chancellor.  Ashley Bloomfield Rumor on the street has it that this former Director-General of Health of New Zealand almost got the Auckland Vice Chancellor position, but m

Prices on Metlink buses and trains are set to rise by 3.1%, following central government pressure and an unanticipated funding hole. The off-peak discount will be reduced from 30% to 20%, following a reduction in 2025 from 50%. The changes will come into force on May 15.  Bus fares are partially subsidized by both the regional council and central government. However, central government is in the process of reducing the share they subsidize. The difference has to be made up so

VUWSA has drawn online backlash after advertising Nō Dōz caffeine pills on its social media for a fourth consecutive year. The promotions on Facebook and Instagram, urged students to “stay ALERT and WIDE AWAKE!”, during the academic year but it did not disclose the sponsorship, as required under Meta’s branded content policy.  Instagram users reacted critically, with multiple calling the post “embarrassing.” One commenter wrote: “VUWSA why are we advertising caffeine pills ag

As Clubs Expo has come  to a close  and Salient  looks back on one of the busiest weeks of the academic year, we wanted to reflect on some of the successes. Most notably, VUWSA’s “Waffle Programme” which saw a record 398 students enrol to vote.  VUWSA president Aidan Donaghue reported that 204 people enrolled in a single day during one of their Kelburn campus events. Historically, enrollment during Clubs Expo has not been run by VUWSA. Instead,  volunteers from the Electoral

In February, the peculiar NomNom Pizza vending machine appeared at the Wellington Train Station.  It promises “Freshly baked artisanal pizza 24/7”. So, of course, like the bulwark of student issues that is Salient , we sent two of our finest news writers to see for themselves whether NomNom really stands up to their slogan claiming “Anytime is Pizza Time”.  Rolling up at a cool 1 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, Dan and I were greeted by the metal behemoth which was already occupi

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re an undergraduate domestic student, and in a committed relationship. You likely first had sex at sixteen or seventeen, have had between two and four lifetime partners, and one in the past year. You’ve had sex while enrolled at Te Herenga Waka.  You’ve probably never been tested for an STI, feel only somewhat confident navigating sexual health services, watch pornography occasionally, and believe it’s influenced your expectations of se

Phoebe Robertson There is something uniquely humiliating about being bested by a machine whose primary intellectual task is to rotate a coil. And yet, across campus, students are losing. Last week, Salient   ran an Instagram poll asking students whether they had ever paid a campus vending machine and received nothing in return. Of the 201 respondents, 159—nearly 80 per cent—said yes. Read that again: nearly four out of five respondents say they have inserted money, tapped a c

Te Urukeiha Tuhua  Every year, first-year students are welcomed to campus with a small rite of passage: the VUWSA O-Week tote bag. Designed and printed specially for the occasion, the cotton “O-Bag” has become something of a collectible—practical, recognisable, and often spotted slung over shoulders long after Orientation Week ends.  This year, however, the familiar tote was nowhere to be seen.  Instead, first-years attending Tau Mai and Clubs Day events were handed a black-a

Ryan Cleland It’s that time of year again here at Te Herenga Waka, where big promises are made about rebuilding student connection. Lecture theatres are filling up, tutorials are busy again, and the language of a “busy campus” is everywhere.  But the 2025 Have Your Say Survey  suggests that while students are physically back, the broader ecosystem of student life is recovering more gradually.  Released annually and based on student feedback, the survey gives students the chan

Labour pivots from inspiration to reassurance In a press conference lit exclusively by harsh, overhead fluorescents—the sort of lighting normally reserved for supermarket meat departments, police interviews, and situations where someone insists they don’t recall a conversation—Labour leader Chris Hipkins today unveiled what advisers are calling a reframing strategy for the party’s fortunes: the “ I’m Not a Bad Guy ” campaign. Reporters confirmed the lighting choice was delibe

Te Urukeiha Tuhua  Last year’s student elections for Victoria University of Wellington’s Student Association (VUWSA) saw a huge leap in candidates, with significantly more people running than in recent years.  Importantly, it was the first contested race for presidency since 2018, when current Wellington Central Member of Parliament Tamatha Paul was elected.  Now that the buzz has settled down and executive members have moved into their new roles, Salient reached out to hear

Phoebe Robertson Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington introduced two new international scholarships in 2025, offering $15,000 for undergraduate students and $10,000 for postgraduate students. The University confirmed the scholarships were launched in September 2025 for students enrolling from Trimester 3, 2025, positioning them as an upfront financial incentive at the point of acceptance rather than a later academic award. Nine students received the undergraduate

Dan Moskovitz  Student Health is planning to introduce free ADHD (Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder) diagnoses and prescriptions for students from trimester two—in a move it says could remove a major financial barrier to care.  ADHD symptoms include inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can make sustained academic work difficult and leave university students particularly affected.  Until recently, only psychologists and psychiatrists could diagnose ADH

When Public Safety Requires Your Open Mouth On December 15 2025, in what police are calling a “positive” development for road safety, the New Zealand Government quietly launched roadside drug testing in Wellington. Officials insist the initiative is simply meant to deter impaired driving—but independent sources now reveal a far more ambitious national project : the Government wants your DNA. The Government claims that the newly introduced roadside drug testing regime rolling

Colden Sapir (they/them) Voters’ enrolment records are disappearing into thin air. The Electoral commission claims that they are being...

CW:  Self Harm, Revenge Porn When first-term ACT MP Laura McClure stood in Parliament and held up a blurred, nude AI-generated image of...

By Darcy Lawrey (he/him) The day I interviewed Aidan Donoghue, the 2026 VUWSA president, he was already getting stuck into the job...

By Darcy Lawrey (he/him) VUWSA’s election last month saw a massive jump in candidates. It was the first time more than one person ran for...

Dan Moskovitz (he/him) The future of postgraduate representation at the university remains unclear, with a funding cut to the Post...

On March 4, 2024, I was sexually assaulted by members of a visiting Vietnamese delegation. I was an international student from the U.S., far from home but trying to build a life in Aotearoa, a place I believed could be safe for me.

On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Detective Scott Rankin called me into the Wellington Police station. I hadn’t heard a word from him since February, when Stuff was told an extradition file was being prepared for the Vietnamese officials who sexually assaulted me. At 6:30 p.m., sitting in a bland police office under fluorescent lights, Rankin told me the file was being dropped.

There is another, less headline-grabbing element of Cook’s experience that has led her to seek Parlimentary support: the absence of readily available, publicly funded, non means-tested legal advice for survivors of sexual assault.

Te Urukeiha Tuhua (he/they/ia, Tūhoe)  “ We pray for our elected officials and for our MPs May they let themselves see the suffering and...

By Dan Moskovitz (he/him) The debacle over Wellington’s City to Sea bridge, which links civic square to the waterfront,  has been going...

By Henry Broadbent (he/him) On Tuesday, September 23, the Academic Board of Te Herenga Waka met in the Hunter chambers. The Board—our...

The struggle for Palestinian liberation has been going on for decades, and its leaders past and present have articulated many modes of solidarity. One of these is BDS: an effective and accessible way to make a material difference.

TW: Sexual Violence, Death Threats, Stalking  By Phoebe Robertson On Saturday 6 September, while students were still nursing beers at The...

BY PHOEBE ROBERTSON On 15 August 2025 at 10:20 p.m., Craccum’s  managing editor Lewis Creed issued a press release calling for a Special...

By Olivia Pechey  Dyslexic students aren’t getting the support they need at university. Ten extra minutes in an exam and access to...

Ahead of the 2025 VUWSA elections, we asked the presidential candidates two key questions to help you get to know them better. Their responses to these printed questions offer insight into what drives them and what they hope to achieve if elected. 

A new Pasifika law students’ room—Piki-Hama—opened at Old Government Buildings (OGB) in July. Formalities included speeches from...

By Dan Moskovitz (he/him) What is the value of a native species? And is every species of equal value? Ultimately, the answer to these...

By Henry Broadbent (he/him) Early on the morning of Friday 8 of August, as public servants strode to work, a group of activists, under a...

By Walter Zamalis (he/him) The recent Victoria University—Te Herenga Waka—held its largest-ever Open Day on Friday, August 22, drawing...

By Darcy Lawrey (he/him) Members of the Victoria University of Wellington Student Association (VUWSA) executive are disappointed their...

By Dan Moskovitz (he/him) Architecture and design students at Te Herenga Waka have been misled by the university about their rights to...

By Phoebe Robertson (she/her) The first thing Delah Varnon-Welch noticed when she unlocked the door to her new flat at Everton Hall was...

By Darcy Lawrey (he/him) The Victoria University Student’s Association (VUWSA) is planning to take back the role of managing the...

Walter Zamalis (he/him) The Victoria University Students’ Association (VUWSA) will adopt the Single Transferable Vote voting system (STV)...