Students praised for improved behaviour

Emergency services and city officials are crediting a change of attitude among students for low levels of misbehaviour this week.

The first week of Orientation is a busy time for Dunedin's student population as they get settled, catch up with friends and attend events.

Traditionally, it is also known as a busy time for emergency services dealing with unruly students.

However, police and fire crews were pleased with behaviour in the north end of Dunedin this week.

Dunedin deputy chief fire officer Trevor Tilyard said crews attended four student-related fires this week.

"It's incredibly low. We haven't had figures like this for 25 years."

After "the excesses" of last year, Mr Tilyard was "ecstatic" about student behaviour and believed a change of attitude among students had occurred.

"If they can keep this up for the rest of the year, we will be mightily happy," he said.

Dunedin emergency response commander Inspector Alastair Dickie said police were relatively happy, but were disappointed in the number of arrests since last Sunday.

Forty people, 22 students and 18 non-students, had been arrested, mainly for minor disorder offences.

Twenty-five of the arrests were made on Sunday night, with only nine of those people identifying themselves as students.

Several gatecrashers were among those arrested that night and there had been other parties going on in North Dunedin, Insp Dickie said.

As well as a court appearance, all University of Otago students arrested would be referred to the proctor, who would be dealing with them under the university's code of conduct.

Given the fine weather, police had been expecting worse in the student area during the week, but had been happy enough with behaviour, Insp Dickie said.

Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin described the week as positive and "a good start to the year".

He had not heard any "untoward reports" and congratulated students for their collective behaviour.

OUSA had also taken a "far greater responsibility" this year which he was pleased with, he said.

"Long may it continue."

OUSA president Harriet Geoghegan believed student behaviour this week had been good, "especially in comparison with other years".

"People are seeing it as a really positive start to the year."

Due to a "ridiculous population density" around the campus area, it was inevitable not everyone would behave all the time, but she said new strategies put in place helped combat that.

ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz