The buzz is back. Virtually a student-free zone over summer, North Dunedin and the tertiary campuses are humming again.
At the University of Otago on Friday, a steady stream of students, the first-years travelling in pairs or groups for moral support, completed course confirmation requirements and queued for all-important student ID cards which will get them into "oleven" Orientation events this week.
Otago University Students Association president Harriet Geoghegan and her team is ready for "oleven" and beyond.
"There's a buzz in the air again. It's exciting," she said on Friday.
Dunedin police are ready too.
Twenty-five extra officers had been rostered on throughout this week, Dunedin area commander Inspector Dave Campbell said on Friday.
Additional officers had also been rostered on for weekends over the next few weeks.
Student behaviour during Orientation has improved since the chaos of the George St toga parade two years ago where participants and onlookers pelted each other with eggs, flour bombs, water and faeces, tossed rubbish around and damaged some vehicles and shop fronts.
The parade has not been held since.
Ms Geoghegan said she was not expecting any trouble at official Orientation events this year.
"The problems in the past have happened in uncontrolled environments where extras from outside can come in and cause trouble. All our events this year are indoors, supervised, and staffed by security and volunteers."
Police would be taking a "very firm line on offending" throughout the central city and North Dunedin, Insp Campbell said.
Particular attention would be paid to drunken behaviour and drink-driving.
While he said student behaviour during the first few weeks of the new academic year had "improved a bit" last year, police were aware drunken behaviour was still a problem, especially later at night, near central city bars, on the street and in the North Dunedin student flatting area.
The end of Orientation Week did not mean the end of [bad behaviour], Insp Campbell said.
"We know it continues after Orientation too. That's why we have extra people on at weekends for a while."
The "oleven" programme includes night-time music gigs, a toga party for first-years, comedy shows and performances by a hypnotist, as well as daytime competitions and activities.
Otago Polytechnic students can attend Orientation Week events too.
The Otago Polytechnic Students Association has organised daytime activities on the Forth St campus this week including an "Amazing Race" challenge, a Mad Hatter's tea party and a staff v students soccer match.
