To cries of "whose streets? our streets"  between 500 and 600 protesters marched down Castle St this afternoon and delivered a petition to the University of Otago proctor, at the university clocktower building.

They gathered at the corner of Castle St and Dundas St, and began marching about 1.10pm.

Protesters, led by Otago University Students Association (OUSA) recreation officer Josh Smythe, waved placards including one saying "The vigilante burglar must go" and others saying "Get out of our flats" and "Hey proctor, leave my bong alone".

Scott, who earlier this week admitted going into a student flat while the flatmates were sleeping or out, and taking three "smoking" cannabis bongs,  came out to meet Mr Smythe, who gave him a hug.

He was greeted with applause from the crowd. Scott said he was happy to repeat his apology.

"I feel I've learnt from this error, and I give an assurance that it won't be repeated."

He thanked the students and returned into his office, with some of the students yelling insults at the proctor and criticising his remarks as "scripted".

Smythe told the crowd the students had three requests to make of the proctor.

"We're going to ask that he doesn't come into student flats without asking, or unless it's an emergency, because that's an important part of his role as pastoral care.

"We are going to ask that he doesn't take property from student flats, and we're going to ask that he, as he just acknowledged, will treat us as equals within this community."

The demands presented to the university administration asked for no disciplinary action to be taken off-campus against students by Campus Watch or the proctor.

National media were present and members of Campus Watch could be seen watching the protest from a distance.

OUSA president Caitlin Barlow-Groome said she was pleased with the turnout and also with the number of people watching the protest.

"I think that this is the beginning of the fight. There are massive changes that need to be made."