Fireworks were fired at police officers and firefighters responding to a series of call-outs on Castle Street, Dunedin’s well-known student party hub, on Wednesday night.
Police and Fire Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) were called multiple times between 9.30 pm Wednesday and 12.30 am Thursday, after five couches were set on fire along the street, Stuff reported.
Sergeant Matthew Lee said the disturbances began when fireworks were set off in the street. “When police arrived, some partygoers fired fireworks at officers, which is reckless and dangerous,” he said. “Thankfully, no one was injured.” Around 80 people were gathered in the area at the time, as reported by Stuff.
Despite repeated warnings, several revellers continued to shoot fireworks at emergency staff. As a result, two 19-year-old men and one 20-year-old man were arrested for disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence. They were taken to Dunedin Central Police Station and issued formal warnings, while two also received infringement notices for discharging fireworks in a public place.
FENZ Otago acting district commander Craig Geddes expressed deep disappointment over the incident, particularly as firefighters were already battling a large vegetation blaze in Tomahawk, also believed to have been caused by fireworks, Stuff reported.
“Crews had to withdraw to a safe position to avoid serious injury from being deliberately targeted,” Geddes said. “It’s extremely disappointing that student behaviour is tying up our personnel who could be responding to genuine emergencies,” as quoted by Stuff.
He added that couch fires release intense heat, posing serious risks to nearby homes and property. Video footage obtained by Stuff appeared to show a burning couch stuffed with fireworks, making the situation “very unpredictable.”
Geddes noted that while couch fires had declined in recent years, this year had seen a concerning resurgence. “Most students in Dunedin are responsible and here for the right reasons,” he said. “But there’s a small group who are alcohol-fuelled and making poor decisions,” reported Stuff.
The University of Otago also condemned the behaviour, calling it “totally irresponsible and completely unacceptable.” A university spokesperson said the Proctor is investigating the incident and reminded students that targeting people with fireworks is a serious offence under both New Zealand law and the Student Code of Conduct.
Meanwhile, around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, police were also called to Cumberland Street, near Castle Street, after another couch was set alight. Tenants were unaware of the fire until alerted by passersby. The blaze was quickly extinguished, causing no property damage.
Police said CCTV footage is being reviewed as part of the investigation into the series of incidents.
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