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Two Dunedin graduation ceremonies postponed by a threat that raised the possibility of a shooting will likely take place on Friday and Saturday.
The threat prompted police to recommend the cancellation of two Otago University graduation ceremonies on Wednesday and the postponement of the Otago Polytechnic ceremonies on Friday.
University of Otago Vice Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said she hoped the postponed ceremonies were still ahead on Saturday. The final decision will be made on Friday afternoon.
hamish mcneilly / Things
Students on the University of Otago campus, hours after a graduation ceremony was canceled due to an online threat.
“We continue to work closely with law enforcement on this matter and are hopeful that we can still continue with our planned graduation ceremonies this Saturday,” Hayne said.
The Maori graduation ceremony from the university was still scheduled for Friday at 2pm.
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The threat was received on Tuesday, the same day that the royal commission of inquiry released its findings on the terrorist attack on March 15, 2019. The postponements have so far affected 1,168 students.
The mosque terrorist had lived in Dunedin for 18 months prior to the attack.
hamish mcneilly / Things
Students participated in an impromptu graduation ceremony on Castle St, Dunedin.
The University of Otago forwarded the comment online to police.
On Thursday, the Otago Polytechnic postponed Friday’s graduation ceremony after receiving advice from the police.
The polytechnic was scheduled to hold two ceremonies at Dunedin City Hall, preceded by a parade through downtown Dunedin beginning Friday morning.
“Safety of students and staff is Otago Polytechnic’s number one priority,” said Executive Director Megan Gibbons.
The southern district commander, Superintendent Paul Basham, told the media Wednesday that police were taking the threat “very seriously.”
Hamish McNeilly / Stuff
The Southern District Commander, Superintendent Paul Basham, and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Otago, Professor Harlene Hayne, at a press conference Wednesday.
He declined to discuss the details of the threat while it was under investigation, but said teams of specialists began investigating it Tuesday afternoon and he was confident that the police would move quickly.
Basham confirmed that the threat was specific to graduation ceremonies and there was nothing to suggest it was broader.
There was a noticeable increase in police presence in the city on Wednesday, particularly along George St, where the graduation procession normally walked.
Basham appealed directly to the person behind the threat, urging her to “do the right thing” and turn herself in.
It is not the first time that the university has been the target of online threats.
Hamish McNeilly / Stuff
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On October 5, 2015, a person known only as “NZ Robot” posted a threat on the 4chan online anonymous message board.
The threat, which included a picture of a weapon, read: “If you are in Dunedin, I would not recommend coming to the University of Otago on Wednesday.”
A major investigation, dubbed “Operation Varsity,” was launched, but no attacks occurred and no one was arrested for the threats.
Police tracked the threat around the world to a Colombian telecommunications company based in the city of Medellín.
Anyone with information on the current threat should call the investigation team on 105 and quote file number 201208/6592, or they can speak anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
