University Campus Watch staff called council environmental health inspector Judy Austin and a security guard in last Wednesday after the tenants, who accepted the pig was theirs, refused to clean up the remains despite several requests, Ms Austin said yesterday.
She found fly-covered skin, blood and entrails lying on the street and a head and trotters at the rear of the property.
The head had earlier been seen in the front yard, which opened directly on to the footpath.
"My main concern was the number of flies in the area that could have been spreading disease to the neighbours. It was definitely a health risk. Wild pigs can carry diseases such as E-coli, trichinosis and brucellosis, so the risk of having an outbreak of disease was possible."
The students, two men and a woman, were unco-operative, she said, describing one man as "the rudest student I have ever encountered".
The trio continued to refuse to remove the remains and issued the visitors with a makeshift trespass notice.
However, Ms Austin said environmental health officers have a warrant under the Health Act allowing them to enter properties. The flat was entered and a pig carcass removed.
Campus Watch then fined the tenants $100 under the Litter Act, and they and Ms Austin supervised as the students disposed of the remains and cleaned the yard and street with water and bleach.
Council environmental health team leader Ros Macgill said yesterday the council had the power to prosecute the students under the Health Act but had decided not to do so because of cost and time.
She had recommended the university proctor, Simon Thompson, take further disciplinary action.
Contacted yesterday, Mr Thompson said he had not yet spoken to the students but intended to do so. Until he had, he could not say what further action might be taken.
