The University of Auckland's 'white elephant building'
The Spinoff Daily, Tuesday February 25
Ahiahi mārie, welcome to The Spinoff Daily.
Today on The Spinoff: The legal fight over Wellington’s character areas, ‘racist canine trumpets’ at the Treaty principles bill hearings and Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club hits Dunedin’s student quarter.
Gabi Lardies: “It’s a remarkable facility. Even Chris Bishop, who has been to a number of sports facilities around the world in his former capacity as sports minister, said he was ‘blown away’. But such projects come at a cost. The initial cost outline was $320m – the final sum has not yet been revealed – and some are questioning whether the university should have spent such a large sum differently.
‘I can only describe it as becoming a luxury resort,’ said Java Grant, a PhD student at the university and spokesperson for student activist group We Are The University. In Grant’s view, the investment in such a ‘fancy gym’ signals that the university isn’t focusing on a university education but rather a ‘university experience’ catered to wealthy international students who they see as ‘cash cows’. It’s not that he, or his group, are against the gym entirely, he said – despite the fact they set up a protest on the pavement when it softly opened in November. ‘It’s an awesome gym, people are stoked. But at what cost? What are the things that haven’t been acknowledged about what is being sacrificed for this?’”
“This work is definitely a priority for us and our populations. But is it a priority of the government?"
Māori children are 46 times more likely to be hospitalised with rheumatic fever than Pākehā children. Mana Kidz, a network of dedicated nurses, is working to change that. Read the full story on The Spinoff now.
Treaty principles bill hearings, day eight: ‘Racist canine trumpets’ and ‘bloody history’
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Out today, episode three of Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club sees the pair head into the heart of Ōtepoti’s flat party scene to find out more about what the dating scene and hook-up culture is like for young people in 2025. Sharing a few beverages with some university students at the Horn Palace, Brynley opens up about leaving her long term relationship and Kura gets her Tinder profile assessed by someone half her age. Are young people still looking for serious relationships? Does proper heartbreak still happen in the age of apps and social media? And just how many beer funnels can Bryn and Ku do before it’s time to call it a night? Made with the support of NZ On Air.
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The groundbreaking new role making the screen industry more inclusive
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Join us at The Spinoff Book Club
The best way to enjoy a book is by yourself, the second best way is with a theatre full of people. Books editor Claire Mabey will lead a conversation with avid writers and readers Duncan Sarkies, Carl Shuker, Courtney Johnston and more. Join us to hear about their favourites, their recommendations, and what to look out for in the year to come.
