The University of Auckland Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
Auckland University's student association says a fake threat made against students on social media has caused anxiety among the university community.
Police are reassuring the public that a threat made on social media against Auckland University on Thursday night was not real.
Police were made aware of the threat last night, a spokesperson says.
"Police have actively investigated the report and there is no evidence to suggest the threat is real.
"We have been working closely with the university to provide reassurance."
Police would not go into further detail regarding the specifics of the threat or who it was against.
A spokesperson for Auckland University told RNZ the university has been working through the night with police to "investigate a potential security threat made against the university on social media".
The incident was unrelated to the Employment Court hearing underway with microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles, it said.
"This morning, the police informed the university that there is no evidence that the threat is real.
"The Vice-Chancellor has advised staff and students that they are safe to come onto campus today."
Exams and other activities would proceed as planned, the spokesperson said.
"All staff and students were contacted and advised of support facilities if they needed it."
'We condemn this disgusting piece of behaviour'
Auckland University Students Association (AUSA) president Alan Shaker says the situation caused anxiety among students.
"Threats like this, whether real or not, are completely unacceptable.
"We condemn this disgusting piece of behaviour and want to let our students know that support is available."
He said the threat, deemed not to be real by police, was made on a Discord server.
"From what I have seen and heard, the threat was against trans students and Muslim students. As soon as AUSA was made aware of the threat, we communicated with the university immediately."
A student who also reported the threat to security and police told RNZ the threat was made on a Discord server and was against trans students.
Shaker said when the threat was brought to AUSA's attention on Thursday night he communicated with the university immediately. The university was "responsive to my concerns very late into the night yesterday".
"To my knowledge, they acted as promptly as they could by organising an Incident Management Team and informing police immediately."
There was initially increased anxiety among students, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor's statement on Friday morning eased some concerns "but of course a threat of this nature will still shake up students and cause anxiety across many members of our university community", Shaker said.
He said he has been in contact with relevant university personnel who say they are in touch with the rainbow and Muslim communities for ongoing support.
