Last night's bitterly cold weather did not stop about 150 people sleeping under the stars in the Octagon to raise funds for the Dunedin Night Shelter.
Cardboard box huts, sleeping bags and members of the University of Otago, night shelter and social service communities filled the upper level of the Octagon - creating a different picture from typical Friday night Octagon antics.
University of Otago Volunteer Centre co-ordinator Sze-En Watts said this year's sleep out did not have the same sense of urgency as last year.
"This year, homelessness and helping the night shelter is still an issue but it is secure.''
Last year, the first Dunedin sleep out marked the start of a "Help Save the Night Shelter'' fundraising campaign in response to the need to raise $600,000 to secure the future of the night shelter on Lees St.
Mrs Watts said the vast majority of people camping out in the Octagon were students.
"It is a really nice opportunity for the students to give back to the community and contribute to the sleep out story.''
Among the cardboard box campers was Dunedin Night Shelter Trust chairman Dave Brown.
Mr Brown said the night shelter was ‘‘blown away'' by the generosity of Dunedin people.
"People from Dunedin buying the building was amazing.
"It is also great to see young people care. I love the way Dunedin has supported us.''
Funds gathered from participants and the public would be used to further develop the shelter's transitional facility, he said.
Sleep out participants were treated to music, comedy and dance displays during their 13-hour stint in a temperature of 4degC.
