'I love my Auntie Helen', says Otago students

Otago University's student association must be a place many politicians have feared to tread.

But yesterday Prime Minister Helen Clark was welcomed with open arms.

Dozens of people were forced to stand outside the student association hall in Dunedin as hundreds packed in to hear the Prime Minister speak.

She was greeted with applause from the students when she spoke about Labour's plan to cut interest from student loans and restated her Government's intention to keep New Zealand nuclear-free.

But the biggest cheer came when Helen Clark was handed a mock sword and asked to see if she could slay the "debt monster" - a dressed-up character representing the national student loan burden.

"I would like to ask the debt monster where he would like the sword to go in," she said. With a thrust of the weapon, the debt monster was slayed.

"And that's him finished off," Helen Clark declared.

Outside the hall, a student perched up a tree shouted, "I love you, Helen".

She responded by blowing a kiss.

A group of students carried a banner saying "I love My Auntie Helen". Each got a warm handshake from Helen Clark.