Everyone from pirates to speedo cops were present as students gathered in their dressed-up masses at the annual Hyde St party in North Dunedin.
More than 4100 tickets were sold for the Otago University Students’ Association event today, with plenty of free food available between the copious amount of alcohol.
It was a slower start than usual for the event, as people started entering the street about 11am.
University of Otago vice-chancellor Grant Robertson - who was swamped by students wherever he went - said it was important to have such an event in a ‘‘controlled’’ environment.
He was also impressed by the band One Day at the ‘‘Come 4 Hydeings [sic]’’ flat, as well as the almost complete lack of glass.
‘‘I think the students who have flats here really want this to be a success as well. So, it’s a real team effort and I think it works out well.’’
The party was once a notorious event, but harm minimisation has been a feature since the roof of a flat collapsed in 2012.
It then became a ticketed event organised by the OUSA.
OUSA president Daniel Leamy, wearing a monkey costume, said events such as Hyde St were at the forefront of harm minimisation in the student quarters.
‘‘While Otago as much as everyone wants to change the culture of drinking, there's also an acceptance that you can't just not expect students to drink.
‘‘Events such as Hyde St are a way to make students be able to drink safely.
‘‘It's about harm reduction, it's about drinking safely. And you can see with the amount of support and the security and things around that this is the best place for students to be today, so it's great to see.’’
He thought the Smurfs at one of the flats were the best dressed.
Going into the final couple of hours, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, reported that only one arrest had been made, which was outside the event in Albany St and Leith St at 3pm.
A 20-year-old male who had earlier been at the event was arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence, assaulting police and resisting arrest.
The man was released on bail and will appear in Dunedin District Court on Thursday.
The crowd was otherwise well-behaved, Snr Sgt Bond said.
