The normally calm campus atmosphere will be replaced by the sound of simulated gunshots and shouting as 128 people participate in a live shooter and hostage emergency exercise.
University of Otago deputy proctor Andrew Ferguson said the exercise was not a direct response to a shooting threat on campus made on the online forum ''4Chan'' last year.
However, the institution was aware it was ''not immune'' to such incidents and it was important to test response procedures.
''We need to be as prepared as much as is possible, and the 4Chan threat last year was a reminder that incidents, either real or not, can happen.''
While the event was not real, the need to prepare the university for active shooter and hostage situations was, he said.
''Testing them in a full-scale emergency exercise with emergency services is invaluable for all parties.
''Police will be testing their responses and training staff in a real life environment, and St John will be setting up a triage station to deal with volunteer victims with simulated injuries.''
In addition to the exercise, a campus-wide emergency broadcast warning would be tested between 9.30-10.30am for two minutes.
Parts of the campus would be closed from 8am-4pm, as well as areas within the Richardson building.
Signs had been placed around campus informing
staff and students of the exercise.
In November last year, thousands of staff and students stayed away from campus for a day following an anonymous online threat to carry out a shooting on campus.
Mr Fergus said no progress had been made in finding the person who made the threat.
In 2014, the university carried out an emergency exercise involving a crane falling over.
