Crackdown planned for Dunedin's rowdy scarfie parties

Dunedin authorities believe some student drinking events have become "too dangerous to continue" - hence a crackdown. Photo / Thinkstock

Authorities are planning a blitz on rowdy student street parties in Dunedin.

The city council yesterday agreed to a liquor ban that would permanently include the North Dunedin student area, and allow police to end events such as the Hyde St keg party, which Mayor Dave Cull said was "too dangerous to continue''.

Mr Cull told the council's planning and environment committee there were serious concerns about the possibility of injury or death at such events.

"This is not about control, it's about keeping people safe,'' he said.

The Dunedin Hospital's emergency department was "overflowing'' on the night of the party but concerns ran deeper than that.

Young people ended up choking in their own vomit in gutters, and if emergency services needed to intervene for that, or for couch fires, such was the crush in Hyde St, they would be unable to.

He said Otago University and the council were both concerned about the city's reputation.

The committee yesterday voted to begin public consultation on a proposal to extend Dunedin's city centre liquor ban to permanently include the North Dunedin student area.

It also considered reviewing liquor restrictions in the central city to add a requirement for police to warn people in the first instance, unless it was impractical to do so.

They supported a report by a council officer that said Dunedin currently only extended its permanent city centre liquor restriction into North Dunedin for events likely to "lead to excessive alcohol consumption and subsequent street disorder''.

But some of these events were "impromptu'' and occasionally organisers changed the times or deliberately avoided announcing the date too early, making it difficult for the city to respond.

It emerged that the push for the ban had come not just from police, but from former university vice-chancellor Prof Sir David Skegg and present vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne.

Otago University Students' Association president Logan Edgar said he was not convinced the Hyde St event could be policed "properly and efficiently''.

And he questioned the city's decision to attempt to ban a "cultural celebration'' that could be seen all around the world.

He gave mardi gras celebrations as an example, and said the city was happy to take the economic benefits students provided, but not accept the difficulties.