STUDENTS and organisers have won praise after the Hyde Street party passed largely without incident today.
About 3600 students flooded the street with brightly-coloured costumes from early Saturday for the sold-out all-day event, which was organised by the Otago University Students Association and finished at 6pm.
By late afternoon, seven people had been taken to Dunedin Hospital by St John ambulance for a mixture of intoxication and alcohol-related injuries.
Five came directly from Hyde St, while two others were came from other parts of the city but were believed to be ``offspring'' of the main event, a St John spokesman said.
Police had also made 10 arrests, but all of those involved people without tickets trying to sneak into the event, an OUSA spokeswoman said.
Behaviour inside the event was good, which was ``a pretty good result'', she said.
``Everyone is really happy.''
University vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne, who attended the event, also praised organisers, saying she was ``delighted''.
``Together, the students created their own unique carnival atmosphere. Their costumes and themed flats were creative and fantastic, and it was great to see so many young people enjoying the music and dancing.
``I didn't see poor behaviour, instead I saw vibrant and engaging young people letting their hair down after working hard during the week.''
She praised OUSA's staff and volunteers for their work in organising the event, as well as Police, St John, Dunedin City Council and university staff for making ``a world of difference to this event''.
Earlier, the street was humming as students streamed in to attend the event, overseen by a small army of 400 staff and volunteers from OUSA, the university and others.
Police, security and St John staff were a visible but low-key presence in the street, and the lifting of an earlier ban on offensive costumes, together with a plea be respectful, seemed to have worked, organisers said.
Jedi from Star Wars mixed with surf life savers from Baywatch, while military personnel manoeuvred alongside a full cricket team, clad entirely in whites, in the middle of the street.
Their ball was soon lost in the clusters of fairies or tie dye-clad party-goers that gathered in front of flats turned over to DJs.
And, as the hunt for the cricket ball continued, R2D2, C-3PO and the Tin Man wandered past as the Joker from Batman grimaced at a camera and Jesus watched on serenely.
A few students were already showing signs of excess by mid-morning, while others perched upside down over kegs, egged on by their mates.
But the crash of one person's breaking bottle quickly drew the attention of others, who swept the glass into the gutter and out of harm's way, and the dancing continued.
And, far from the riots or roof collapses of the past, students were happy to dance, smile, laugh and, of course, drink.
For Rotorua-born student Soltice Morrison (21), perched on the front veranda of a Hyde St flat, the annual party showed off the university lifestyle at its best.
``It's a great social event. People go to great lengths to find awesome costumes.
``This is like culminating the Otago student life in one day, in a safe and controlled environment,'' she said.
Hyde St resident and marketing student Cody McIlroy (22) agreed, saying it was a chance to enjoy the company of friends at a big event before the final year of their studies was over.
``Any chance for a good dress-up is awesome. That's what it's about, it's really, really cool,'' he said.
OUSA president Hugh Baird said the annual party was showing ``no signs of slowing down'', but was improving each year, helped by increased security, organisation and plenty of free food.
Caterers were expected to dish out 7000 sausages, 5000 churros, and countless chicken and coleslaw buns over the day, while St John provided a triage unit for anyone who needed help, he said.
The party, originally known as the Hyde St Keg Party, was believed to have started in 1995, and was run by students and residents themselves until 2013.
The OUSA stepped in to organise the event after 2012's event drew a crowd estimated at 10,000 people, and led to the ``infamous'' roof collapse, he said.
Revenue from ticket sales, together with funds directly from OUSA, covered the cost of staging the event, and OUSA had introduced new measures, including a ban on glass, to try to keep people safe, he said.
The students' attitude to this year's event had been ``fantastic'', which helped improve the image of the party and the city, he believed.
``We're trying to change it so the perception isn't that it's just a big sort of chaotic, out-of-control party, but more of a festival sort of atmosphere.
``Everyone realises it's not complete chaos here and there's no riots and all the rest of it. It's just a fun, sociable time and a great atmosphere.''
Mayor Dave Cull walked down the street during the party and emerged, unscathed, from the throng of revellers to praise organisers' ``fantastic'' work.
``I think it's extraordinarily well organised and it has been getting better every year in terms of organisation, safety measures, support and all that kind of thing.
``I think what sends a positive message is that students are taking responsibility for the event, they're taking responsibility for how it's run, the safety measures, and for cleaning up in the morning.
``That's what sends a good message.''
