This came as students yesterday snapped up the 500 tickets for the party on offer at Otago University Students' Association's (OUSA) office on campus. About 100 people were waiting in line at 10am.
A further 500 tickets would be available from the OUSA office today. All other party-goers would need to be invited by residents of Hyde St and adjoining streets. OUSA president Francisco Hernandez said this year's changes had been accepted by most students, but there were ''small pockets of people'' opposed to the changes.
The decision to not allow first-years to buy tickets from OUSA had been made by Hyde St residents and not by OUSA, Mr Hernandez said.
Other changes this year included limiting numbers to between 3000 and 3500. Each resident of Hyde St and adjoining streets would be allowed to invite only 15 people, and party-goers, including students who bought tickets yesterday, had to register details with OUSA, which would be matched to a wristband they would need to wear on the day.
This would make students more accountable for their actions, should they misbehave, as authorities would be able to identify people from their wristbands, Mr Hernandez said.
He pointed out that both first-year students and non-students would be allowed to go to the event if they lived on Hyde St or adjoining streets or were invited by residents.
Otago Polytechnic student Laura Sanders, who was among those who waited in line yesterday, said the changes were ''a bit stink''.
They meant many students who wanted to go to the party would be barred from doing so, she said.
She did, however, support some changes being made ''to stop hooligans climbing on roofs and stuff'' and supported it being a student-only event. Speaking an hour after tickets went on sale, OUSA general manager Darel Hall said OUSA staff had not needed to turn away any first-year students trying to buy tickets.
