‘Electric’ energy at party

Dunedin's annual O Week toga party returned to its roots last night.

The first of two sold-out nights at the Union Hall on the University of Otago campus drew 1500 bed-sheet-clad first-year students out to party.

Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) events and venues operations manager Jason Schroeder said orientation week concerts at the Union Hall dated back to the 1970s.

Kate Bryant (left, 17), of Dunedin, and Ella Andersen (18), of Oamaru, prepare to party like the ancient Greeks at the O Week toga party at the Union Hall, in Dunedin, last night. PHOTOS: GREGOR RICHARDSON

In previous years the toga party had been held at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The crowd warms up as Dunedin band Loose & Colourful starts the festivities.

Though the logistics of planning an event under the uncertainty of Covid-19 restrictions forced the OUSA’s hand last September to split the party into two nights in the smaller Union Hall, the energy and atmosphere in the smaller venue was "electric", Mr Schroeder said.

"We really like it here, it’s really nice being back on campus," Mr Schroeder said.

The evening’s entertainment began with local band Loose & Colourful, before Auckland rap duo No Comply, Auckland house act Syrup, and George FM DJs Sin and Brook Gibson took the stage.