A Dunedin student, originally from Wellington, is understood to be the woman who died after an incident at an out-control party at the weekend.
Two others were seriously injured following the party, which was attended by hundreds of people at a Dundas St flat, known as The Manor, on Saturday night. The injured people were expected to make a full recovery, according to police.
Partygoers have described their terror at being caught in the crush, caused by throngs of people colliding into each other – some leaving the party, some trying to make their way in – on a stairwell of the two-storey house.
Queen Margaret College principal Jayne-Ann Young said the school was "deeply saddened to hear this terrible news". The college's head of senior school was travelling to Dunedin to support former students.
As police were yet to name the young woman who died, Young said it would be inappropriate to comment. However, she said: "Our condolences, prayers and thoughts are only with her family and friends today."
Flowers had been left outside the house on Sunday as police carried out a scene examination inside. Police were called to the party about 11.55pm on Saturday. They arrived within six minutes to find people leaving the property in a state of "shock".
A witness, who declined to be named, said they were about halfway up the internal stairs when people coming down started pushing into each other.
"They started to fall backwards and when the people at the top started falling it was kind of like dominoes – everyone went down and the people at the bottom of the stairs just ended up in a pile of people."
The man said about 50 people ended up in a pile about 1 metre high near the front door. As he and about 15 others frantically tried to pull everyone out, more people kept coming down the stairs, making the pile-up worse. To his anger, other people were still trying to force their way inside to party.
By the time police arrived the group had managed to clear most of the pile, aside from a few people lying on the ground unconscious.
The witness said the woman who died was found at the bottom of the pile, and was one of the last people to get out.
"I just thought she was unconscious like everyone else."
Several people carried the woman across the road where police and ambulance staff tried to resuscitate her.
Another student, a first year, said the party started to get big about midnight. People heard a rumour Campus Watch was coming and there was a rush for the front entrance, he said.
The University of Otago and the university's student association have both expressed sadness at the "deeply shocking" event.
University vice chancellor professor Harlene Hayne said the university was working with police and was providing support to the family of the student who died.
"Many members of the student community are badly affected by what occurred last night. Our staff are working with them today, and will continue to do so, at this very difficult time," she said.
A Dunedin student told Stuff the party was to be the last held at the flat before the university took it over next year.
A university spokeswoman confirmed it would lease the building next year and would review what the building would be used for over the coming weeks.
Otago coastal police area commander Inspector Marty Gray said it was too early to say if anyone would be charged in relation to the "tragic" incident.
The young woman's parents, who live outside of Dunedin, were told of their daughter's death on Sunday morning, Gray said. They were being offered support by police and Victim Support.
"It's the news no parent wants to hear."
Gray said there were "several hundred" people at the party. There were no "structural issues" with the property that had contributed to the incident.
Police were focused on providing support and were working with the University of Otago, he said.
"If you were at the party and have not spoken to police, we would ask you to please get in touch, to help us piece together what happened."
The all-male flat is two blocks away from Castle St North, where a balcony collapsed during a secret concert on March 4, 2016
