Students lap up St Patrick's Day
A dancing pea, Dipsy the Teletubby, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and several Luigis — a green theme was thriving in Dunedin yesterday.
Thousands of young people dressed up for a day of partying to mark St Patrick’s Day, one of the city’s biggest student events.
Music sounded through the street in student areas such as Castle St as revellers flat-hopped, decked in green with drinks in hand.
Among those celebrating were Tara Meyer, Kayla Symes and Courtney Henderson, who were part of a flat group with matching DIY shamrock tops.
"We saw a TikTok video, we shared it between each other and then five of us sat down on Saturday night and we had a few drinks together and we painted our shirts," Miss Henderson said.
The creative process involved stencils and stamps, and making do with tiny paintbrushes.
At Dunedin’s Lakehouse flat complex, festivities were under way after three weeks of organising for an event to cater to as many as 10,000 people throughout the day.
Flatmate Alex Margerison said the planning was "absolutely paying off" and the party — a yearly flat tradition — was going well.
One student said the day was a true Dunedin experience, which people travelled to the city to take part in.
"It’s going really good. We’re enjoying it," another said.
Many had started drinking early — one student near Castle St said they had been up since 4am to do the traditional "six before six".
Those in another group were just starting the day when they spoke to the Otago Daily Times about 9.30am, but said they loved St Patrick and planned to get drunk.
At a smaller flat party in Royal Tce, fourth-year students had opted for a comparatively leisurely start of about 6am.
"We started with some Irish music early in the morning and a couple of beers, and then we fired up the barbecue at about 7am," one resident said.
The flatmates had planned ahead with a bulk shop for food and alcohol.
The day was about hanging out with friends and having "a good time with everyone", he said.
Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said there had been a couch fire in Leith St yesterday morning, as well as two arrests.
A 19-year-old man was arrested at 7.50am and charged with disorderly conduct. A 19-year-old woman was also arrested yesterday and faced a wilful damage charge.
A St John Hato Hone spokesperson said responders had attended 13 incidents in the north Dunedin area which appeared St Patrick’s Day-related as of about 5pm yesterday.
"Our ambulance officers treated and transported eight patients who were in a minor to moderate condition to Dunedin Hospital.
"Additionally, ambulance officers assessed and treated one patient in a minor condition at the scene of one incident, and attended four incidents where they were not required."
