Dunedin's student population has been warned that now is not the time to party.
Despite many official orientation events being cancelled, there is concern that students may continue to hold some of the traditional parties thrown at the start of the university and polytechnic year, including during Flo-week, the week before orientation when large themed flat parties are held.
These were planned to take place from February 14 to 28.
Prevention officer Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said police expected large gatherings in the student quarter.
Police would help to ensure current Covid-19 restrictions were followed, and would be enforcing them, he said.
Officers would visit flats before Flo-week started and the police response would be "graduated".
"We aim to engage, educate, and encourage compliance.
"What we’re trying to get across is that now’s not the time to party."
He said students, like all other groups, were allowed gatherings of up to 100 people if they all had vaccine passes and 25 if they did not.
If the graduated approach failed, fines and enforcement were options, Snr Sgt Bond said.
There was a $1000 penalty for failing to wear a mask and a $4000 penalty for hosting a party of more than 100 people.
Pre-Covid it was not uncommon to see crowds of more than 1000 people in the Castle St area of Dunedin, he said.
University of Otago proctor Dave Scott sympathised with student disappointment at the disruption to the beginning of the academic year.
However, he urged students to be careful.
"If a large public gathering occurs, the risk is that health providers will be overwhelmed," Mr Scott said.
Unprecedented times called for social responsibility, he said.
Otago University Students’ Association chief executive Debbie Downs remained confident students would behave well and be informed of new guidelines before they arrived in Dunedin.
"The reality is that everyone has to adhere to the same protection framework rules no matter who they are."
The OUSA Facebook page included advice for incoming students, such as registering any parties with Good One Dunedin, chilling beverages, and eating much pasta, she said.
Otago Polytechnic has also cancelled multiple orientation events, and chief executive Megan Gibbons believed polytechnic students would do the right thing.
"We expect that the great majority of our students will exercise common sense and make responsible decisions around any social activities that they engage with on their return to tertiary study," she said.
Otago University vice-chancellor David Murdoch announced earlier this week that all lectures in at least the first portion of the semester would be held online.
Tutorials, labs, and smaller classes would probably be held in person, where possible, he said.
He also emphasised the importance of vaccination.
"One thing you can do to help yourself and the university community is to get boosted, ideally before you come to Dunedin," Dr Murdoch said.
A university spokeswoman said it was not expected that many students from other parts of the country would fail to return to Dunedin because of the situation.
She said during the 2020 lockdown about half of all students returned home, while during last year’s lockdown the majority stayed on campus.
