'O-Week' or Orientation Week is the Otago equivalent of Freshers' Week.
New students are most commonly known by their seniors as 'freshers' or simply as 'first-years'.
O-week is organised by the Otago University Students' Association and involves competitions such as 'Fresher of the Year' whereby several students volunteer to carry out a series of tasks throughout the week before being voted to win.
Other competitions include that of different faculties facing off with each other.
The OUSA also organises events each night including various concerts, a comedy night, hypnotist plus bigger events at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Typically there is a Highlanders rugby game scheduled during the week.
Local bars organise events also with a range of live music and promotional deals.
Historically events have included the Cookathon and a Miss O-Week competition hosted by The Outback.
The Cookathon was held by a local pub (the Cook) with the premise that your first drink costs you about $20 which gives you a t-shirt, three meal vouchers and reduced price on drinks then you spend the rest of the day binge drinking and 'telephoning' the occasional jug with mates.

Traditions
Each year the first years are encouraged to attend the toga parade and party dressed in white sheets wrapped as togas.
Retailers called for an end of the parade after property damage and disorder during the 2009 event.
However, the OUSA took it upon themselves to reintroduce this tradition, with a festival like event taking place at the stadium.
2012 Toga Party saw an unofficial world record.
A clocktower race also occurs, in the style of Chariots of Fire.
Students must race round the tower and attached building, beginning on the first chime of the clock at noon and completing before the chimes cease.
Unlike Chariots of Fire, the task is possible with a couple of students completing each year.
'O-Week' or Orientation Week is the Otago equivalent of Freshers' Week. New students are most commonly known by their seniors as 'freshers' or simply as 'first-years'. O-week is organised by the Otago University Students' Association and involves competitions such as 'Fresher of the Year' whereby several students volunteer to carry out a series of tasks throughout the week before being voted to win. Other competitions include that of different faculties facing off with each other. The OUSA also organises events each night including various concerts, a comedy night, hypnotist plus bigger events at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Typically there is a Highlanders rugby game scheduled during the week. Local bars organise events also with a range of live music and promotional deals. Historically events have included the Cookathon and a Miss O-Week competition hosted by The Outback. The Cookathon was held by a local pub (the Cook) with the premise that your first drink costs you about $20 which gives you a t-shirt, three meal vouchers and reduced price on drinks then you spend the rest of the day binge drinking and 'telephoning' the occasional jug with mates.
Traditions
Each year the first years are encouraged to attend the toga parade and party dressed in white sheets wrapped as togas. Retailers called for an end of the parade after property damage and disorder during the 2009 event. However, the OUSA took it upon themselves to reintroduce this tradition, with a festival like event taking place at the stadium. 2012 Toga Party saw an unofficial world record. A clocktower race also occurs, in the style of Chariots of Fire. Students must race round the tower and attached building, beginning on the first chime of the clock at noon and completing before the chimes cease. Unlike Chariots of Fire, the task is possible with a couple of students completing each year.
University of Otago