Disciplinary figures released to the Otago Daily Times showed the total was almost 40% up on 2011, when fines amounted to $10,670. The spike came despite a decrease in the number of unruly students stung with fines, which fell to 106 from 136 in 2011. This came to an average fine of $140 per student last year compared with $78 per student in 2011.
By far the most common behaviours resulting in students receiving fines were breaking glass (34) and setting fires (30).
The provost, who deals with more serious cases than the proctor, fined two students $250 and $300 for fire lighting.
Other punishments dished out to students penalised under the university's code of conduct included orders to make charitable donations and carry out community service. In the most serious cases - dealt with by vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne - the university could exclude students from the university. Six students were excluded for a semester by Prof Hayne for incidents she dealt with last year - including four for lighting fires.
Separate disciplinary figures released by the university showed the proctor dealt with 512 students last year, down from 533 in 2011.
However, the number of cases deemed serious enough to be passed on to both the provost and vice-chancellor increased.
The provost dealt with 25 students compared with 14 the previous year and the vice-chancellor dealt with 15 cases, up from eight the previous year.
A breakdown of the behaviour which led to students receiving disciplinary action, included in an annual report to the university council, showed decreases in disorder offences, which fell from 181 in 2011 to 171 last year, and glass breaking, which fell from 93 to 75.
However, the number of students ''in varying states of intoxication'' caught climbing on to the roofs of university facilities more than doubled from 50 in 2011 to 102 last year.
The report also noted the start of last year was ''very busy'', with a third of all students (169) seen by the proctor during the year seen in the first two weeks of the academic year.
The report also said CCTV footage had been ''invaluable'' in helping verify incidents and identifying offenders.
Thirty-one students were given police diversions last year, with disorderly behaviour (10) and theft (8) the most common offences.
