The university was updating its smoke-free policy and intended to ban smoking within 6m of any buildings on the Dunedin campus, vice-chancellor Prof Sir David Skegg announced yesterday.
Smoking would be banned from outdoor areas at the university's Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill campuses.
The building it used as a base in Auckland was already smoke-free.
But Prof Skegg said it had not been possible to ban smoking altogether on the Dunedin campus because some buildings were located "a considerable distance" from public spaces beyond the campus.
"Smoking in the open area constitutes no risk to other people, but there are frequent complaints about people smoking by doorways and near windows or air vents.
"While we aspire to achieve a completely smoke-free environment in the future, it is necessary to consider the rights of a significant number of staff and students who are addicted to smoking . . .
"It is hoped these measures will be seen as striking an appropriate balance between [smokers] and the preferences of many other members of the university community," he told the university council.
A university spokesman said the new policy would be introduced shortly, once staff had been informed and arrangements put in place.
The decision drew mixed reactions from students smoking outside the University Union building yesterday.
Philosophy student Patrick Macrae (21) said he believed the ruling was "fair enough".
"It's just another rule to keep people in check.
"I find smokers are arrogant about their habit," he said.
"They flick their cigarette butts on the ground and don't care about the mess they make."
He was not fazed by the idea of standing in the cold and rain.
"I'm from Dunedin. It won't stop me from smoking."
Nathan Ladbrook (19) agreed a ban on smoking within 6m of doorways was appropriate.
But he said a boundary 6m away from a wall with no doors and closed windows made no sense.
Another student, who declined to be named, said he would continue to smoke within 6m of university buildings because the ruling would be "almost impossible" to enforce.
The balcony at the University of Otago Staff Club is a popular smoking spot for some customers.
Club supervisor Joanna Coad yesterday said as the ruling was university policy, customers would have to abide by it.
"Those who do smoke will be understanding, I think."
