Tag Archives: Disorder

DCC acuity: ‘Let’s shift Octagon taxi ranks, Again —near dire drinking holes #whatswrongwiththispicture

[click to enlarge]
Octagon taxi rank.xlsxOctagon taxi rank [dunedin.govt.nz] – orange overlay by whatifdunedin (drinking holes / hospitality)

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
New trial site for evening taxi rank

This item was published on 22 Aug 2016

A new location for the evening taxi rank in the Octagon will be trialled for three months. From tomorrow, the evening taxi rank will move from outside the Municipal Chambers and Civic Centre to the central lane of the Octagon, where tour bus parking has been provided. The rank will operate from 7pm to 7am, Monday to Sunday. During the day time, the taxi rank will operate from the current location outside the Municipal Chambers and Civic Centre. Dunedin City Council Acting Group Manager Transport Richard Saunders says the covered walkway will provide shelter for people waiting for taxis. There will also be a sign to show where the taxi stand is and the area is monitored by CCTV.

“This proposal has been discussed with taxi companies, local businesses and the Police, and there is a lot of support for the trial. The trial site has several advantages over the current site and we expect it to be popular with the public too.” –Saunders

DCC staff have talked with the mobile traders who use that space during the day and the trial will not affect their use of the area. Mr Saunders says at the end of the trial, staff will discuss the results with taxi companies, the Police and local businesses before deciding whether to make it a permanent move.

Contact Richard Saunders, Acting Group Manager Transport on 03 477 4000.

DCC Link

█ 22.8.16 ODT: Taxi rank trial in Octagon

****

Previously published comment (2.5.16):

C E N T R A L ● C I T Y ● V I O L E N C E

Mon, 2 May 2016
ODT: Stabbing: ‘What is this place coming to?’
The stabbing of a 21-year-old man in central Dunedin early yesterday has left the man who rushed to his aid questioning the state of his city. Detective Sergeant Chris Henderson said the victim was taken to Dunedin Hospital after being stabbed in the neck and back outside the The Bottle-O store on the corner of Princes St and Moray Pl about 3.30am.

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DUNEDIN IS UP THERE (2015 statistics)

### newshub.co.nz Mon, 2 May 2016 at 4:45 p.m.
NZ’s most violent city spots revealed
By Lisa Owen
A Newshub investigation has revealed Auckland neighbourhoods dominate a leaderboard of the most violent city hot spots in the country. Statistics New Zealand has mapped 2015 police crime data, released to Newshub under the Official Information Act, to show the areas with the highest number of assaults, sexual assaults and robberies in public places. The crimes include anything from rape to being beaten up or being robbed of your cellphone at knife-point. Three of the five most violent city areas (precincts where there are more than 3000 residents) are in Auckland’s CBD. […] *By overlaying population data in the zones where crime has occurred, Statistics NZ has been able to work out the national average for incidents of public place violence. *Article uses 2015 statistics of victimisations by assault, sexual assault and robbery in public places.
Read more + VIDEO

█ Dunedin = No. 7 on New Zealand’s top ten most violent city hot spots
The only South Island hotspot, the area running north from the Octagon.
Dunedin_violence_low_02_05_7 [newshub.co.nz]Newshub

█ For more, enter the term *octagon* in the search box at right.

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Election Year. This post is offered in the public interest.

3 Comments

Filed under Business, DCC, Democracy, Design, District Plan, Dunedin, Economics, Education, Events, Finance, Geography, Health, Heritage, Infrastructure, Media, New Zealand, People, Police, Politics, Project management, Property, Proposed 2GP, Public interest, Site, Tourism, Town planning, Transportation, Travesty, University of Otago, Urban design, What stadium

University rolls down, Harlene not the only problem….

cat called harlene [sunlive.co.nz] 1

Due to an observable fall in student numbers, we have claimed if not predictably on other threads that there is PANIC !!!! at the University of Otago.

We’ve set to encouraging “our people” to attend other universities; while University of Otago continues to generate and support drunken disorder and lawlessness in our public domain —by allowing wayward noisy destructive gatherings (euphemistically known as parties!) in the tertiary campus area, particularly at the likes of Hyde and Castle Streets. These combine the usual assortment of assaults, vandalism, fires, hospitalisations and arrests, with undue waste of personnel, money and resources by emergency services, city council and university —impacting taxpayers and ratepayers. This so-called support from University of Otago and OUSA for youthful hijinks (civil unrest and criminality) comes as “ambulance at bottom of cliff”.

Funny we should say “ambulance” —perhaps it’s better to use “rapid response vehicle with broken windscreen”, Harlene?

Although you prefer “paving” and “village square”, or whisper “quality”.
How about ‘Dark Disgrace’ ?

█ QUESTION: Is University of Otago using an open tendering system for construction projects? YES/NO
If not why not, contact head of http://www.otago.ac.nz/propertyservices

### ODT Online Thu, 2 Apr 2015
Editorial: Jolting any university complacency
OPINION Whatever the spin from the University of Otago, the sudden drop in first-year domestic student numbers is a shock. The fall of 350 full-time equivalents (Efts) equates to nearly 10% over last year. It reverses the previous year’s first-year domestic increase of 119 (3.2%). […] Overall, the roll decline compared with March last year is 469 to 17,172, against a budgeted prediction of an increase of towards 200. Vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne might say projected shortfall in income is less than 1% of the total budget. But the university is a huge organisation and 1% represents about $6 million.
Read more

****

BORING SALES TALK FROM HARLS

### ODT Online Wed, 1 Apr 2015
Luring the best and brightest
By Harlene Hayne – Vice-chancellor, University of Otago
OPINION It is easy to forget that neither constant growth nor sheer size define the world’s great universities. Indeed, if anything, the opposite is true. Among those that consistently make the top 10 in the prominent international rankings, the vast majority – including Yale, Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Chicago and Caltech – have a student roll either similar to or smaller than Otago’s.
Read more

Bottom of cliff - altered image [orig by Christopher Slane 2.2.08 via natlib.govt.nz] 1

Related Posts and Comments:
28.3.15 University of Otago landscaping
22.3.15 University of Otago: More national and global publicity #HydeStreet
10.3.15 *Surprise!* Farry’s f.u.b.a.r. Stadium not attracting first year Efts
18.2.15 University of Otago: Toga Party 2015 #video
16.2.15 University of Otago can’t beat broadcast news and social media #image
18.12.14 University of Otago —um Harlene, what you sellin’ now, girl?
12.8.14 Cameras in North Dunedin
1.8.14 University Partyville, North Dunedin: Put the cameras in ~!!
16.7.14 Stadium: Out of the mouths of uni babes…. #DVML
30.4.14 Octagon mud
22.3.14 Dunedin North care less filthy slum
19.3.14 Dunedin North drunks
15.2.14 University of Otago: Starter questions for Harlene
10.2.14 University of Otago major sponsor for Highlanders
9.1.14 Facadism: … University of Otago warps Castle Street
19.8.13 Cull on senility (firing up graduates)
24.7.13 University: Leith flood protection scheme and landscaping
31.5.13 University of Otago development plans
25.3.13 UoO: NEGATIVE PRESS: Weekly disorder in Dunedin campus area
20.2.12 University of Otago student orientation
17.2.12 Salvation Army: The Growing Divide
17.12.11 Stadium + Cull love = University of Otago + OUSA party
23.11.11 Judge Oke Blaikie finally said it
9.11.11 DCC has PR problem

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Images (tweaked by whatifdunedin): sunlive.co.nz – Cat (called Harlene); natlib.govt.nz – Bottom of cliff [original by Christopher Slane 2.2.08]

81 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Construction, Democracy, Design, Economics, Highlanders, Hot air, Media, Name, New Zealand, ORFU, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Stadiums, University of Otago, Urban design

University of Otago: More national and global publicity #HydeStreet

ONE News 21.3.15 Hyde St 2ONE News 21.3.15 Hyde St 5ONE News 21.3.15 Hyde St 1ONE News 21.3.15 Hyde St 6

### tvnz.co.nz 7:03PM Saturday March 21, 2015
Drunk shoulder-barges ambulance at Dunedin street party
Source: ONE News
A drunk man shoulder-barged the windscreen of a St Johns ambulance during the Hyde Street student party in Dunedin, covering a woman paramedic with shattered glass fragments. Police say the man damaged three vehicles including the ambulance driven by a sole female paramedic, causing her to be covered in glass fragments. They’re asking for any witnesses to the incident on Albany Street around 4pm to come forward.

“This is yet another example of the harm alcohol causes and the poor decision making of those under the influence,” says Inspector Mel Aitken, the officer in charge.

Police arrested a dozen people for a variety of offences including assault on security staff, fighting, disorder and offensive behaviour. Police say the Hyde Street party is far from what they deem a safe event following a spate of incidents involving the excessive consumption of alcohol.

“Despite the best efforts of organising staff to create an enjoyable occasion for students, the level of alcohol related harm and the risk to public safety still remains too high,” Inspector Aitken says.

The Hyde Street party has become a major event in the social calendar for many of Dunedin’s ‘scarfie’ population. Otago University Students Association took over running the annual part three years ago after unruly scenes in 2012 embarrassed the university.
Read more + Video

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The party was “far from being what police deem a safe event”. –Inspector Mel Aitken, NZ Police

### NZ Herald Online 9:00 PM Saturday Mar 21, 2015
Dozen people arrested at Dunedin street party
By Matthew Theunissen – Herald on Sunday
A dozen people were arrested and a man smashed an ambulance window, covering a paramedic in glass, at a Dunedin street party tonight. Some 4,000 tickets were sold for the Hyde St keg party, an annual student blow-out known for its excessive alcohol consumption. In a statement released about 8.30pm, police said a dozen people had already been arrested for offences including assault on security staff, fighting, disorder and offensive behaviour. A particularly distressing incident involved an intoxicated male who damaged three vehicles including shoulder-barging the windscreen of a St Johns ambulance.
Read more

3 News: Dunedin’s Hyde St party still far from safe – police [+ Video]
ODT: Drunken incidents mar Hyde St party [+ Video]

TooSurreal NZ Published on Apr 13, 2014
Hyde | 2014
Annual Hyde St keg party in Dunedin, New Zealand!
Music: “Strange clouds” – B.O.B feat. Lil Wayne
Music: “Wild for the Night” by A$AP Rocky featuring Skrillex & Birdy Nam Nam (Google Play • iTunes)

Related Posts and Comments:
18.2.15 University of Otago: Toga Party 2015 #video
16.2.15 University of Otago can’t beat broadcast news and social media #image
18.12.14 University of Otago —um Harlene, what you sellin’ now, girl?
12.8.14 Cameras in North Dunedin
1.8.14 University Partyville, North Dunedin: Put the cameras in ~!!
16.7.14 Stadium: Out of the mouths of uni babes…. #DVML
30.4.14 Octagon mud
22.3.14 Dunedin North care less filthy slum
19.3.14 Dunedin North drunks
15.2.14 University of Otago: Starter questions for Harlene
10.2.14 University of Otago major sponsor for Highlanders
19.8.13 Cull on senility (firing up graduates)
25.3.13 UoO: NEGATIVE PRESS: Weekly disorder in Dunedin campus area
20.2.12 University of Otago student orientation
17.2.12 Salvation Army: The Growing Divide
17.12.11 Stadium + Cull love = University of Otago + OUSA party
23.11.11 Judge Oke Blaikie finally said it
9.11.11 DCC has PR problem

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Images: Hyde Street Party, Dunedin – ONE News screenshots by whatifdunedin

24 Comments

Filed under DCC, Democracy, Events, Media, Name, New Zealand, People, Police, Site, University of Otago, Urban design

*Surprise!* Farry’s f.u.b.a.r. Stadium not attracting first year Efts

BLUNDER CITY #DUD —AND THE STADIUM REVIEW AIN’T NO HELP

Ivy 1 [galleryhip.com]Ivy League Assaults: Dumber and Dumber due to UE failure, drunkenness, fires, civil disorder, better campus and study offerings up north and overseas?

AWAIT UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO PRONOUNCEMENTS AFTER THE MARCH MEETING OF THE HALLOWED UNIVERSITY COUNCIL

A ‘PUBLIC RELATIONS EPIC’ IS EXPECTED

### ODT Online Tue, 10 Mar 2015
University roll worry realised
By Timothy Brown
Fears of University of Otago first-year student numbers falling for the first time since 2011 appear to be realised, with “serious” vacancies at Knox College and Salmond College. About 10% of beds at the two non-university run colleges remain vacant and the Otago University Students’ Association revealed, earlier this year, the University of Otago could face a drop in first-year student numbers.
Read more

Both Knox and Salmond have undergone recent building upgrades and provide excellent pastoral care in quiet settings – who then, would choose a university-owned rough-house college if you were serious about career education.

What sort of undergrad student is the University of Otago attracting nowadays? Party animals? Generation Zero lefties? Discount ivy-leaguers (Kiwi-Asian style)? And how come accommodation at college halls is so steep? It’s an obscene weekly cost if mummy and daddy aren’t paying, so yes, way better(?) to camp out in the grunge and gunge flats of Studentville —or hey, move up the hill to sink the tone of City Rise, look at all those “historic-kick-apart” villas and mansions, incredibly suited to Face Book parties and upsetting middle class owner-occupiers next door. Cripes, at each former family or professional home there’s room to park “6 cars!”, yes, the cash-cow landlords will happily (just ask) destroy established 100-year-old plantings and gardens to lay down asphalt.

Welcome to ‘Absolutely Beautiful’, Dunedin. Welcome to the student ghettos, the broken streetscapes…. smashed bottles, lingering trash, burnt furniture, bouncing basketballs (all hours, Really Dumb like that), drying vomit and worse, weeds, untrimmed trees and hedges, a few kicked-in fences, more asphalt, flaking paint at once proud residences, stickering with satellite dishes and heat pumps, strings of poorly washed laundry draping house fronts. But who can forget the “Dunedin Sound”, of nights, drunken male yahoos, uncoordinated white trash hakas and ‘young girl’ screams, passion or torture, hard to tell. 111.

THIS is, Dunedin FOR Education.
Student loans FOR Banks and Slum Landlords.
Google Images: “castle street hyde street dunedin”

And Harlene, next! Frat Life starts in on St Leonards – just a quick ride from your Ivy League of diminished offerings, that overpriced BA, BCom or BSc.

Related Posts and Comments:
18.2.15 University of Otago: Toga Party 2015 #video
16.2.15 University of Otago can’t beat broadcast news and social media #image
18.12.14 University of Otago —um Harlene, what you sellin’ now, girl?
12.8.14 Cameras in North Dunedin
1.8.14 University Partyville, North Dunedin: Put the cameras in ~!!
16.7.14 Stadium: Out of the mouths of uni babes…. #DVML
30.4.14 Octagon mud
22.3.14 Dunedin North care less filthy slum
19.3.14 Dunedin North drunks
15.2.14 University of Otago: Starter questions for Harlene
10.2.14 University of Otago major sponsor for Highlanders
19.8.13 Cull on senility (firing up graduates)
25.3.13 UoO: NEGATIVE PRESS: Weekly disorder in Dunedin campus area
20.2.12 University of Otago student orientation
17.2.12 Salvation Army: The Growing Divide
17.12.11 Stadium + Cull love = University of Otago + OUSA party
23.11.11 Judge Oke Blaikie finally said it
9.11.11 DCC has PR problem

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

6 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Democracy, Design, Economics, Enterprise Dunedin, Events, Geography, Heritage, Hot air, Media, Name, New Zealand, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, University of Otago, What stadium

University Partyville, North Dunedin: Put the cameras in ~!!

Dunedin disorder 1 [stuff.co.nz]Dunedin disorder [stuff.co.nz]

“We’ve earned the right to live away from home and live by ourselves and do what we want and I don’t think we should be baby-sat or monitored,” Ms Walker said. Students “should be able to be stupid on the weekend” and the situation had improved from previous years. –Maddy Walker (21), student

“If you look at the costs to city council every year of holes burnt in Leith St, Hyde St, Dundas St … some years it’s been $600,000.” –Cr Lee Vandervis

### ODT Online Fri, 1 Aug 2014
Call for north end cameras
By Vaughan Elder
A Dunedin city councillor is calling for video surveillance of the student quarter as a way of preventing out-of-control vandalism. The call for surveillance from Cr Lee Vandervis was not welcomed by north end residents and students spoken to yesterday, who said such a move would be an invasion of privacy. Cr Vandervis said video surveillance in the Octagon worked well and there was no reason why it could not be successfully employed in North Dunedin. “I believe we need to have some cameras up and we need to have a few prosecutions.”
Read more

A Traditionally Burnt-out Couch

Related Posts and Comments:
16.7.14 Stadium: Out of the mouths of uni babes…. #DVML
22.3.14 Dunedin North care less filthy slum
19.3.14 Dunedin North drunks
15.2.14 University of Otago: Starter questions for Harlene
10.2.14 University of Otago major sponsor for Highlanders
19.8.13 Cull on senility (firing up graduates)
31.5.13 University of Otago development plans
25.3.13 University of Otago: NEGATIVE PRESS: Weekly disorder…
20.2.12 University of Otago student orientation
17.12.11 Stadium + Cull love = University of Otago + OUSA party
23.11.11 Judge Oke Blaikie finally said it

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Images: (from top) stuff.co.nz, stuff.co.nz, wikimedia.org – North Dunedin

4 Comments

Filed under Business, Construction, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Hot air, Media, Name, New Zealand, Otago Polytechnic, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Stadiums, Tourism, Town planning, University of Otago, Urban design

Octagon mud

Octagon 2Council reaps us what it sows

It comes to pass that the CBD’s most-used symbolic gathering place, The Octagon, carrying a cluster of historic buildings, the city’s public art museum, our main performance theatre (Regent), a cinema multiplex under redevelopment, shop and office buildings, the Athenaeum building on the comeback through new stewardship, the impressive St Paul’s Cathedral, the stately Municipal Chambers and Town Hall complex, the seat of local government administration (Civic Centre), and a slightly down-at-heels landscaped wide open space at the junction of surveyor Charles Kettle’s two main arterial roads (Princes/George Streets and Stuart Street), also takes a bevy of drinking bars and night spots that make a strong contribution to central city nighttime violence, disorder, and lack of public safety.

The Craft Bar homicide and the connected serious assault investigations started last weekend point up the Dunedin City Council’s lack of urban design and planning vigilance in Health and Safety matters.

This tied to recent years of lobbying by the Octagon bar owners on licensing and trading hours and conditions, sometimes tied to hosting after-match wakes for Stadium sport and events (even although major events at the stadium are tapering, as predicted), unsupported youth, gang sqirmishes, under-resourced local police, and society’s access to cut-price alcohol and its liberal use (pre-loading and regular binging) alongside other substance abuse, means the Octagon is devolving into a hell-hole of collective making – not dissimilar to what happened at Cathedral Square in Christchurch before the quakes.

What will the city council do to mitigate the situation, and how soon can we restore the space to 24/7 safety for all? Is this even possible with the cluster of ‘intemperance’ bars and no push for building owners to move to greater diversity in mixed ground floor tenanting on the lower Octagon? One way or another “Party Central” has to fold – changing the pattern of ground tiles will not suffice.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull speaks volumes when he says, at times, he does not feel comfortable near the Octagon.

ODT Editorial: Personal responsibility key (30.4.14)
Knowing Dunedin is one of the most statistically safest cities in New Zealand will bring no solace to the families involved in the tragic death of Ryan Court at the weekend. Read more

Related ODT stories:
30.4.14 Arrest after Octagon assault
30.4.14 Progress made in assault inquiry
29.4.14 ‘A good man’ mourned
29.4.14 Man hospitalised after Octagon assault
28.4.14 Bottle assault follows bar death
28.4.14 Names released after death at city bar
28.4.14 Arrest follows death at city bar
27.4.14 Man in custody over Octagon bar death

ODT ‘Booze Control: Stop and Think’ series:
Excessive drinking changes the way people act
30.1.14 Education fails, professor says
29.1.14 South’s alcohol statistics worst
28.1.14 Delicate balancing act over licensing
27.1.14 Still a ‘very safe community’
25.1.14 Time to clean up act over alcohol
25.1.14 The cold, naked truth about nightlife

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

71 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, Concerts, Construction, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Events, Heritage, Hot air, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Tourism, Town planning, University of Otago, Urban design, What stadium

Dunedin North care less filthy slum

—– Original Message —–
From: Jeff Dickie
To: Elizabeth Kerr
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 5:45 PM
Subject: Sunday in the slums of North Dunedin

Hi Elizabeth, your comments re the new hotel [“Cull’s Cockup”, the new “Farry’s Folly”] are very good and congratulations on the National Radio coverage.

In the next day or so I’d like to post something on your Whatif site regarding the implications of the DCC neglecting core business and services. We’ve watched as the North End has transformed from an integrated community combining residents and students to an intensely populated and filthy slum. Largely as a result of poor planning by the DCC and University. I took these photos on Sunday, 16 March.

While Dave preens himself in front of the mirror and is distracted by the latest snake oil salesmen, there are some very serious social issues developing.

Regards, Jeff

George Street
Jeff Dickie DSC05341 (2)Jeff Dickie DSC05340 (2)

Castle Street
Jeff Dickie DSC05342 (2)

Jeff Dickie DSC05344 (2)

JeffDickie DSC05377 (2)Jeff Dickie DSC05343 (2)Jeff Dickie DSC05378 (2)

Jeff Dickie DSC05376 (2)Jeff Dickie DSC05375 (3)

Related Post and Comments:
19.3.14 Dunedin North drunks
15.2.14 University of Otago: Starter questions for Harlene
10.2.14 University of Otago major sponsor for Highlanders
25.3.13 University of Otago: NEGATIVE PRESS: Weekly disorder…
20.2.12 University of Otago student orientation
17.12.11 Stadium + Cull love = University of Otago + OUSA party
23.11.11 Judge Oke Blaikie finally said it

For more, enter *university* or *campus* in the search box at right.

34 Comments

Filed under Architecture, Business, DCC, Democracy, Design, Economics, Events, Geography, Highlanders, Media, Name, New Zealand, Otago Polytechnic, People, Pics, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Stadiums, Tourism, Town planning, University of Otago, Urban design

Dunedin North drunks

Mr Gable stressed not all the partygoers exhibited bad behaviour, with others trying to calm the more aggressive young men.

### ODT Online Wed, 19 Mar 2014
Man attacked by St Patrick’s revellers
By Hamish McNeilly
A Dunedin man says he had his shirt ripped, glasses pulled off his face and his car’s wing mirror yanked off after he confronted drunken St Patrick’s Day revellers who were urinating on his property. Walking from work to his Malvern St home, Chris Gable encountered a large crowd of green-clad revellers in the area of the former Woodhaugh Hotel, about 5pm on Monday. […] He later had to leave the property, and while he was away, his neighbour, Jeff Dickie found an estimated 40 people on Mr Gable’s section, including some bouncing on his trampoline and others urinating on his property.
Read more

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Figures released under the Official Information Act show the Fire Service recorded 586 nuisance fires in the North Dunedin student area between February 20, 2009, and February 20, 2014. Of those, 179 were recorded last year – compared with 77 in 2009.

### ODT Online Wed, 19 Mar 2014
Student fires dampened
By Hamish McNeilly
Nuisance fires in the student quarter hit a five-year high last year, with Castle St the area’s top hot spot. To dampen fire threats, the Fire Service, police, University of Otago and Dunedin City Council have taken a zero tolerance approach to such fires in the city. Fire Service East Otago area manager Laurence Voight said that approach, coupled with fire prevention activities during Orientation Week appeared to have ”reduced the unwanted behaviour”.
Read more

Meanwhile Vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne, on advice received from the likes of Stuart McLauchlan and John Ward (did we mention Mayor Cull?), ‘decides’ the University of Otago should sponsor, yes, the ‘drinking culture’ that attends a professional but barely coherent and losing rugby team, The Highlanders. Some things are cumulative by fragile branding connection… a marketing marriage borne in heaven: A GREAT EXAMPLE TO ALL. This, a ‘subtle’ buttering device, before the DCC’s Stadium gets offloaded to the University for nothing, and Hail Mary/Harlene! the University doesn’t have to pay rates.

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

6 Comments

Filed under Business, Economics, Events, Highlanders, Hot air, Media, Name, New Zealand, People, Politics, Project management, Property, Site, Sport, Stadiums, University of Otago, What stadium

University of Otago: NEGATIVE PRESS: Weekly disorder in Dunedin campus area

● Unacceptable student and non-student behaviour ● Vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne’s bid to bring students into line fails ● Dunedin’s multi-agency approach to campus area unrest not working

Student disorder, Dunedin (newzeeland.wordpress.com) 1[Archives: newzeeland.wordpress.com]

### ODT Online Mon, 25 Mar 2013
Students blame authorities
By Rosie Manins and Eileen Goodwin
Drunken disorder in the student quarter is being exacerbated by police and council intervention, university students and Castle St residents say, citing a Saturday night incident as a classic example. At least one private Castle St party was shut down by a Dunedin City Council noise control officer about 10pm, forcing people out of the flat, on to the street.

$$$ ● About 300 people had gathered on the street by 11pm, when four Dunedin firefighters arrived in an appliance to extinguish two couch fires.
$$$ ● The size of the crowd prompted them to call for a back-up appliance and crew from Roslyn, as well as for police attendance.
$$$ ● At the same time, four Willowbank firefighters in an appliance were called to a Dundas St mattress fire.
$$$ ● They were finished in time to respond as back-up in Castle St, so the Roslyn crew was stood down, then immediately called out to back up a St Kilda crew, attending a fire in Harrow St.
$$$ ● In total, seven furniture fires were extinguished in the student area on Saturday night.
$$$ ● More than a dozen police officers, including a dog handler and two paddy wagon crews, arrived in Castle St to disperse the crowd about midnight.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said if people’s behaviour on private property was excessive and had to be curtailed, it made no sense for them to assume such behaviour in public was acceptable.
Read full article

Student disorder, Dunedin. (newzeeland.wordpress.com) 2[Archives: newzeeland.wordpress.com]

What do we think of OUSA…
Close down the Hyde St party never to return?

### ODT Online Sun, 24 Mar 2013
Moves to increase safety at Hyde St keg party
By Vaughan Elder
The Otago University Students’ Association has settled on a range of measures to make this year’s Hyde St keg party safer, including a ”one-way” policy from as early as 2pm. An estimated 5000 people attended last year’s party, which was marred by 15 arrests, the collapse of a roof overloaded with partygoers and 80 people requiring treatment by St John. The OUSA has been looking at ways to make this year’s April 13 party safer. OUSA president Francisco Hernandez said apart from limiting numbers, it had settled on a range of measures, including a ”one-way door” policy, with non-resident party-goers who leave the street barred from returning. It was also looking at making it a 10am to 5pm party, he said.
Read more

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

24 Comments

Filed under DCC, Events, Media, Name, People, Politics, Property, Site, University of Otago

D Scene – Stabbing DCC over Undie 500, alcohol and the ghetto

### D Scene 23-9-08
Front cover: Burning issues
The council and the liquor industry have come in for scathing criticism for contributing to the boozy and couch-burning culture of Otago University students. We investigate as the fallout continues from the latest mayhem.
See pages 4-7

Try the mirror (page 3)
By Dave Wood, acting editor
So Undie 500s trigger the mayhem at the North Dunedin student enclave. Health authorities, a university researcher, and a lecturer point the finger firmly at the council, saying its decisions – and lack of decisions – are much to blame.

Undie fallout continues (page 4)
By Michelle Sutton
Dunedin City Council and North Dunedin’s student ghetto are copping blame for the latest boozy student chaos.

Council failed to act on recommendations: Kypri (page 4)
By Michelle Sutton
Dunedin City Council is blasted for its part in booze problems leading to this month’s Castle St carnage. Senior researcher at Australia’s Newcastle University, Dr Kypros Kypri put 11 recommendations to the Dunedin City Council in 2003.

PHS points finger at city Council (page 5)
Drinking to get drunk is a social norm among Dunedin students, but they cannot be blamed solely for the problems that then arise, say local health authorities.

Student behaviour ‘moronic’: Ellis (page 5)
One of Otago University’s most infamous scarfies, TV personality and All Black Marc Ellis, calls the Castle St riots “moronic”.

Dunedin is the couch-burning capital of the world, reckons television builder John Cocks (Cocksy). MC at the building industry’s southern region young apprentice of the year awards, he observed: “When you buy a couch here, they ask, ‘Do you want petrol with that?’ ” (page 6)

Society needs to ‘look at self’ (page 6)
By Michelle Sutton
Middle-aged New Zealand needs to look at itself before blaming students for the drunken riots against police, says Kevin Mechen of the Dunedin City Council.

Chaplains ready for disgraced students (page 6)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Campus chaplains are bracing themselves for months, maybe years, of effects on disgraced students from the Undie 500 mayhem in Castle St. University of Otago ecumenical chaplain Rev Greg Hughson supported many in court after the Undie 500 two years ago.

Student ghetto to blame (page 7)
North Dunedin’s student ghetto is singled out as a major factor leading to Castle St’s carnage at the Undie 500 weekend. Otago University music lecturer Graeme Downes offer some insight in his blog about events that led to 67 arrests, about 80 percent of whom were Dunedin students.

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STS to tell members to pay (page 9)
Stop The Stadium will recommend to its members to pay almost $10,000 to the Dunedin City Council. President Dave Witherow says the committee will recommend paying the costs at a special meeting for members, to be held on October 18. The special meeting will also deal with STS’s future actions.

Building a bar (page 19)
Dunedin’s youngest pub baron and former scarfie Richard McLeod tells D Scene about building a bar empire with his mate James Arnott, and the Liquor Licensing Authority decision that threatens to topple it over. Michelle Sutton reports.

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

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Undie 500 – police reviewing footage

### ODT Online Sat, 19 Sep 2009
More Undie arrests likely
By Debbie Porteous

Police warn they are likely to make more arrests next week after they review footage of the Undie 500 disorder in Dunedin. A team of officers has been assigned to review police video footage, still photographs and other evidence, to identify others involved.
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Post by Elizabeth Kerr

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The headaches of Mayor and Vice Chancellor

UPDATED

### TVNZ News 10:56AM Monday September 14, 2009
Dunedin picks up the pieces after riots
Source: ONE News
Dunedin picks up the pieces after riots (Source: ONE News)
After a weekend of Undie 500 student chaos in Dunedin, community leaders are now asking how can they stop it happening again.
Read more
Video (5:16)

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### Channel 9 News September 14, 2009 – 3:44pm
67 People charged following weekend fracas
Dunedin Police have laid charges against 67 people after a weekend of disorder in North Dunedin. Mayor Peter Chin is taking the weekend’s fracas to heart, as he has a strong connection with the University.
Video (1:35)

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### RNZ National Monday, 14 September 2009
Morning Report with Geoff Robinson & Sean Plunket
06:39 Student car rally in spotlight after raucous weekend
Audio Ogg Vorbis MP3 (4:16)

07:12 Diversion not available to those in Undie 500 unrest
Audio Ogg Vorbis MP3 (4:09)

08:15 Calls for Dunedin City council to do more to prevent unrest
Audio Ogg Vorbis MP3 (10:16)

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### ODT Online Mon, 14 Sep 2009
Castle St disorder ‘madness’: Key

Prime Minister John Key has called the chaotic aftermath of Undie 500 rally in Dunedin “madness”, saying some of the alleged rioters had blighted their lives.
Read more

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The Dunedin North working party is out of its depth on this one…

### ODT Online Mon, 14 Sep 2009
Editorial: Too lenient, too long

The news from the wider Dunedin campus area had been relatively good for the first seven months of this year, to judge from statistics published on Saturday: clearly, higher education seemed to be having some effect.
Read more

Other stories in ODT:

67 charged over Undie unrest
Mayor riled after 80 arrests
Drivers regret rally becoming riot magnet
Student chaos spurs congregation bylaw call
Minimum liquor pricing sought
Undie 500 delivers for foodbanks
Drivers regret rally becoming riot magnet

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What would real tourists say – not Undie 500 followers – if they visited on the weekend that was. Folks, council heads have been in the sand…

### ODT Online Mon, 14 Sep 2009
Visitors rate city as less ‘clean, pure
By Chris Morris

Tourists in search of a "clean and pure" Dunedin experience are less impressed than previously with what they find, a survey has found.
Read more

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