The NZ Police have been aware of a threat made via an online post directed at students of the University of Otago.

According to Stuff.co.nz, the threat was posted by a person known as NZ Robot” on an anonymous online message board on Monday night.

The threat read: “If you're in Dunedin, I wouldn't recommend coming to Otago University of Wednesday”.  The post included a picture of a gun, and was signed off “see you in hell you magnificent bastards”.

The threat comes days after 10 people were killed in a shooting spree at a community college in Oregon in the U.S.

Stuff.co.nz says the person made reference to mass shootings, and the gunman responsible for killing 32 people at Virginia Tech in 2007.

The Police says specialist staff are actively investigating the post with the assistance from the High Tech Crime Group in Wellington.

“Police would like to reassure University staff and students, and the wider Dunedin community, that appropriate measures are being taken in relation to the post,” says Inspector Mel Aitken, acting Area Commander: Otago Coastal.

Aitken says The Police will be maintaining a high visibility presence at the university and surrounding area, and taking “other appropriate steps” which the organisation cannot discuss publicly.

He says The Police are mindful of the possibility of copycat threats following several high profile events overseas.

The University of Otago has a roll of more than 20,000 students.