A street sweeper moves along Castle St yesterday morning
following a Tuesday night party. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
The actions of students involved in disorderly behaviour
and burning couches was disappointing and the University of
Otago plans to discipline those involved, Student Services
director David Richardson says.
The Castle St party in Dunedin attracted hundreds of
revellers, with police making five arrests and the fire
service called to extinguish seven fires - most involving
couches.
"The university is disappointed that the actions of a few
tarnished what was otherwise a good-natured gathering of
students," Mr Richardson said.
Couch fires and disorderly behaviour were unacceptable, and
any breaches of the student conduct code would be dealt with
by the university, he said.
Police arrested five party-goers, with four spending the
night in police cells and another taken home to his parents.
A 20-year-old University of Canterbury student was arrested
and charged with setting fire to property.
A 21-year-old female University of Otago student and two
20-year-old female university students, including one who
climbed on to a fire appliance, were arrested and faced
disorder charges.
A 16-year-old Otago Polytechnic student was taken to his
parents' Dunedin home, and has been referred to Youth Aid.
Senior Sergeant Craig Brown, who was at the scene, said extra
police were rostered on for the annual event and worked in
conjunction with Campus Watch.
The majority of the crowd were well behaved, but "one or two"
attempted to provoke a response from police, who kept a
deliberate low profile.
The Otago Regional Council was investigating possible air
quality breaches as a result of the fires, which may result
in a warning, a fine of several hundred dollars, or
prosecution.
An investigation by the Dunedin City Council into noise
complaints in the area at the time of the party did not
result in any infringement issues being issued.
In a separate incident, four 19-year-old students - three
from Dunedin and one from Auckland - were arrested for
allegedly stealing three crates of beer from the Captain Cook
Tavern.
The two men and two women were allegedly spotted stealing the
crates by a member of the public.
The group was later located at Aquinas College and charged
with theft.
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