18 Dec 2020

Woman in court after Otago Uni graduation ceremonies cancelled over threats

4:47 pm on 18 December 2020

A woman has appeared in court in Auckland on charges relating to threats targeting graduation ceremonies at the University of Otago.

Outside the Auckland District Court on Albert Street.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Police allege she was threatening to carry out an attack using guns and explosives "of a magnitude surpassing" the 15 March terrorist attacks in Christchurch.

Eight ceremonies were postponed and Otago Polytechnic was forced to do the same for its planned graduation.

The woman appeared in the Auckland District Court this afternoon, where she was granted interim name suppression.

She was remanded on bail and aspects of the hearing were heavily suppressed.

She is due to appear back in court in February.