Tomorrow's event looks set to be the second-biggest Hyde St keg party on record - but the new restrictions mean it might not be problem-free, an Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) spokesman acknowledges.
The OUSA has introduced restrictions to keep a lid on numbers but it and Hyde St residents expect some revellers to try to find ways around them.
In the past, the annual street party has attracted up to 4000 people, not all students, and led to some high-profile incidents and disorder. Last year, the roofs of two flats caved in and there were 15 arrests, though only one was of a student.
This year each street resident can invite only 11 other people and non-residents will pay $5 for a ticket.
About 3500 tickets were made available for the event, which would make it the second-largest Hyde St party on record, the OUSA spokesman said.
It was also expected some people who did not have tickets would try to get in and some residents would stash people in their flats the night before.
The OUSA felt it needed to step in after last year to ensure the party continued. If the party had been kept in the previous format, it would likely have been shut down, the spokesman said.
Hyde St residents approached this week agreed the restrictions would not curb problems - and many felt they would encourage some to rebel.
Resident Tom Bright (20) said many people expected this to be the last Hyde St party. The rules would be seen as a challenge and he and Jae Kilgour said some people would jump fences, which will be patrolled by security, to get in.
Tal Yochay (19) and his five flatmates were planning to stash people in their flat on Friday night.
The rules allow them to have as many people as they like on the property, but as soon as people leave the property without a wristband, security staff will ask them to leave.
Dunedin area commander Inspector Greg Sparrow said as with ''any large event, police have the appropriate planning in place''.
- Audrey Malone
