University of Otago medical student Ron Puni (22) is facing a cold and hungry weekend as he plans to spend 40 hours in a cardboard box in the Hunter Centre car park opposite the hospital, to raise money as part of the 40-Hour Famine.
Mr Puni said his friends had called him "insane" for attempting to brave the cold, drunks and boredom, in the name of charity.
He would also be going without food for the 40 hours - which started at 8pm yesterday - but hoped doing the famine in such a public place would help him raise more money.