Toga parade leads to destruction

A participant in the annual toga parade. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
A participant in the annual toga parade. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
A participant in the annual toga parade. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
A participant in the annual toga parade. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Participants in the annual toga parade left a trail of destruction through the main street of Dunedin early tonight, smashing windows and hurling rubbish bags in the city centre.

The 2000 students, mostly first-years, were taking part in the annual four-block march on George St to the city's Octagon.

The students' behaviour was fuelled by residents living in apartments on the parade route, who appeared to be waiting for the students and threw eggs on the students on the street below.

After the parade, George St was left littered with broken glass, vomit, broken tables, smashed signs and damaged cars.

George St bar worker and student Erica Gold was helping clean egg off shop windows in the aftermath and was horrified at the destruction caused to the city.

"This is just taking it way too far. We shouldn't have to take it, just look at the streets.''