Detective Sergeant Brett Roberts, of the Dunedin CIB, said the university had laid a complaint of hacking but he was not prepared to comment further on the case.
University of Otago communications manager Brigid Feely said the university was obviously concerned that a staff member's email security was compromised.
"There are robust systems in place to prevent such breaches.
"The matter has been referred to the police and an investigation is under way,'' Ms Feely said.
Yesterday, The Press reported a hacker had broken into the university's computer system and sent out hundreds of private messages allegedly written by a department head.
The university's pro-vice chancellor of sciences, Prof Vernon Squire said in another email sent to the recipients, the hacked emails were an attempt to discredit the dean of Otago's School of Surveying, Prof Brent Hall, and that he had the full support of the university.
