RNZ • 22nd March 2021

Battling anorexia: 'There must be so many suffering in silence'

Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. Yet somehow, in Aotearoa, eating disorders seem to be amongst the hardest illnesses to access treatment for. I was first diagnosed with anorexia eight years ago, as a 14-year-old. I was hospitalised and received therapy. Treatment focused mainly on my physical symptoms - regaining weight, so I wouldn't suffer long-term complications.

Salient Magazine • 8th March 2021

OPINION: Where are all our Māori and Pacific academics?

You don’t have to be an academic to figure out Māori and Pacific are severely under-represented in the university workforce, including at Victoria University of Wellington. It’s hardly uncommon for university students to work their way through an entire degree without encountering a single Māori or Pacific lecturer in any of the degree’s papers.

Salient Magazine • 28th September 2020

Where Do The Political Parties Stand on Mental Health?

Around 1 in 5 New Zealanders will experience a mental health or addiction problem in any given year with up to 80% experiencing mental illness during their lifetime. With this year’s election less than 3 weeks away, here’s a breakdown of how the political parties intend to tackle the issue with your vote this election:

Salient Magazine • 21st September 2020

Politicians Start Dishing Out Promises to Tertiary Students

With education and re-training set to be a critical requirement of the country’s COVID-19 recovery, political parties are promising big when it comes to the tertiary education sector this election. Issues such as fees-free, student accommodation, and living costs are high on the agenda, but parties are still split on the way university education and research should be funded and prioritised.

Salient Magazine • 14th September 2020

Which Election Policies Adhere to Te Tiriti?

Te Tiriti o Waitangi is central to politics and governance in Aotearoa New Zealand. As this year’s election looms closer, the question of how the next government will be an honourable Treaty partner should not be too far from voters’ minds. Here’s a rundown of policies proposed by political parties relevant to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Salient Magazine • 7th September 2020

OPINION: We Need to Talk About More Than Just Depression and Anxiety

When we talk about mental illness, depression and anxiety tend to dominate any discussion. This is probably because they are the most predominant mental illnesses in our society. Most people, whether they are aware of it or not, know someone who has struggled first-hand. So much so, the term “mental illness” is often used as a synonym for depression and anxiety.

Salient Magazine • 27th July 2020

Petition to Legalise Drug-Checking brought to Parliament

A petition to legalise drug checking services at music festivals in New Zealand would not just save lives, but would enable the use of early warning systems, Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick says. Early last week, Parliament’s Health Select Committee considered a 6,000-strong petition supporting an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 to permit drug checking.

Salient Magazine • 20th July 2020

The Openly Queer Politicians Vying for Your Vote in Election 2020

New Zealand could set a new record for queer representation in Parliament come election day. The Australian Associated Press reported earlier this month that New Zealand is on track to elect the “gayest parliament in the world” if current political polls are to be believed.

Salient Magazine • 13th July 2020

VUWSA Appoints President From Its Own Ranks

A by-election will not be held to elect a new President of Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) after the sudden resignation of Geo Robrigado. Acting President Taylah Shuker will instead remain in the role for the remainder of 2020 after the VUWSA Executive decided it would be best to elect a replacement internally.

Salient Magazine • 2nd June 2020

No Grade Scale Up for VUW Students, but Changes to Trimester 2 Coming

Victoria University of Wellington has ruled out an automatic scale up of grades for Trimester 1 courses “at this stage” but has committed to scrapping all examinations for the remainder of 2020. Both Otago and Auckland Universities will bump up their students’ final grades by one grade step for the first semester of this year in recognition of the disruption COVID-19 caused to learning and research.

Salient Magazine • 25th May 2020

Budget 2020 a “Missed Opportunity” to Tackle Student Hardship

Budget 2020 has been labelled a “band-aid budget” by tertiary students, who say the Government missed a critical opportunity to address student hardship indefinitely. The Budget, unveiled by Finance Minister Grant Robertson earlier this month, provided little relief for students currently enrolled in study despite a large investment in the tertiary education sector.

Salient Magazine • 14th May 2020

Budget 2020 Fails to Deliver for Tertiary Students

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has unveiled the Government’s second Wellbeing Budget at Parliament today. Delivered in the shadow of a 1 in 100-year shock to the economy as a result of COVID-19, Budget 2020 sets out the Government’s planned spending for the 2020/21 financial year. The budget, titled Rebuilding Together, establishes a $50 billion COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to be invested in jobs and the economy.

Salient Magazine • 11th May 2020

It’s High Time We Began Thinking About Cannabis

In four months’ time, New Zealanders will have the opportunity to decide whether the country legalises recreational cannabis. The Government has just released the finalised Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill we’ll be voting on come election time, but at 150 pages long, it isn’t exactly a light read. Lucky for you, Salient has done the research.

Salient Magazine • 27th April 2020

Tertiary Students Plead with Government for Universal Student Allowance

The tertiary education sector has been promised a second support package from the Government to assist in the wake of COVID-19, but students already facing financial hardship are calling on the Government to act quicker. The $133 million package recently announed by the Government doubles the amount students can borrow for course-related costs and ensures those unable to study online will continue receiving Studylink payments for up to 8 weeks.

Salient Magazine • 20th April 2020

VUWSA Elects New Academic Vice President and Education Officer

VUWSA’s Academic Vice President Rinaldo Strydom has resigned, triggering the appointment of two new executive members. Former Education Officer Taylah Shuker has been promoted to Acting Academic Vice President and an interim Education Officer has been appointed by VUWSA’s Student Executive.

Salient Magazine • 14th April 2020

Otago University Accuses Student Magazine of Inaccurate Reporting, Refuses to Answer Media Requests

The University of Otago is refusing to answer media enquiries from student magazine Critic – Te Arohi, citing “mean-spirited” reporting from magazine staff. On April 3, Otago University issued a statement announcing it would no longer engage with Critic for the remainder of the COVID-19 lockdown period. The University also revealed it was withdrawing advertising from the magazine.

Salient Magazine • 6th April 2020

New Sexual Harassment Response Policy Quietly Implemented

Victoria University of Wellington’s long-awaited Sexual Harassment Response Policy and Procedures came into effect earlier this year, yet many students are still unaware the finalised Policy and Procedures had been released. The new standalone policy, which provides a clear complaint process for victims, was implemented in February to align with the start of Trimester One, allowing the University enough time to train staff.

Salient Magazine • 16th March 2020

The Persecution of Uighur Muslims —What You Should Know

China’s persecution of the Uighur Muslims is thought to be one the worst human rights abuses of our time, yet very little global attention has been given to the issue. Millions of Muslims are being imprisoned, interrogated, and beaten because of their religion, with the end goal being to remove any devotion to Islam. So, who are the Uighurs and why do they matter? Here’s everything you should already know about China and it’s case of Islamophobia.

Salient Magazine • 9th March 2020

Drug Checks to be Held at Victoria University for the First Time

Calls for on-campus drug checks at Victoria University of Wellington have finally been answered, but not before OWeek saw its fair share of drug-related problems. Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) and KnowYourStuffNZ are giving students an opportunity to test the contents of their drugs in the run-up to March’s Homegrown Music Festival.

Salient Magazine • 2nd March 2020

OPINION: VUW Risks Student Safety by Refusing O Week Drug Checks

Support for drug checking appears to be on the rise—but not at Victoria University of Wellington. Students choosing to take recreational drugs at Orientation Week this year were unable to test the contents of their pills after the University ruled out on-site testing.