'They'd be dressed like they lived in Ponsonby': Robert Sarkies on why he couldn't make Scarfies today
Twenty years ago, a 32-year-old Dunedin native cobbled together $250,000 to make a film.
The script, which he wrote with his younger brother, was a black comedy about five Otago University students who luck into a squat – a rambling old house, which, if somewhat derelict, offers the distinct advantage of free power. They soon discover that power is fuelling heat lamps for a massive marijuana plantation in the basement. It's all fun, games and parties until the pot's owner comes back looking for his stash.
The film was, of course, Scarfies, an instant classic that, set against a backdrop of sticky-floored pubs and NPC finals, captured New Zealand student culture, and particularly Dunedin student culture, in a way that hadn't been done before and arguably hasn't since.
Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One? ⛓️💥❔
What has a head but no brain?
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Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
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Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”
We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?
Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.
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40.4% Yes
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33.9% Maybe?
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25.7% No
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