Otago Polytechnic evacuated over emailed bomb threat

Otago Polytechnic has been evacuated and all campus buildings have been locked down following a bomb threat.

The emailed threat was sent to a department group email address at the polytechnic.

Chief executive Andrew McSweeney said police were providing advice, but the polytechnic had taken a precautionary approach.

He said the polytechnic immediately sent an email and text to all students and staff shortly after 12pm telling them to leave.

"We are locking down all campus buildings as people are evacuated and have implemented a walk-around campus to check for any people who didn't receive the notifications."

The Dunedin and central campuses were expected to remain closed for the rest of the day, McSweeney said.

The measures were precautionary, he said.

Caregivers of students at its residential village Te Pā Tauira had been contacted.

The polytechnic planned to text and email students and staff to let them know when the campus was reopened.

The polytechnic understood a similar threat was made to other educational institutions.

Police have been contacted for comment

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.