Ashburton to get new Winz office after shooting

File photo / NZ Herald

Work and Income's Ashburton clients will be able to meet with clients face to face again when the Ministry of Social Development establishes a new base in a modular building on the Ashburton police site on Havelock St.

The service is expected to resume in late November and will include Work and Income, Studylink and Senior Services.

Ashburton's Cass Street Community Link building has been closed since September 1 after two women were shot and killed and another injured in the Work and Income offices. Russell John Tully has been charged with their murder.

Regional MSD commissioner John Henderson said Ashburton police had been very supportive throughout the tragedy and several locations had been considered before securing a base on the police site.

"We have assessed several options. There are various factors we needed to consider with a temporary premises and the police site was the most appropriate in the short term. It enables us to resume delivering our service to the community as we continue to work on finding a long term site," he said.

Staff have been told about the new base and clients would also be informed about the temporary site, Mr Henderson said.

While it had not been easy for clients who were unable to access case workers since the shootings, people had been very patient and most had been happy to have issues dealt with by phone, he said.

"I understand the closure of the Community Link has inconvenienced some people and in the interim we continue to provide a service support team for Ashburton clients so they can be case managed over the phone, so in most cases they don't need to travel."

Child Youth and Family is working from a base at Ashburton College, but no client meetings are conducted on the school site. The full range of MSD services will be provided from the police station site, with the first cluster moving in, in late November and Child Youth and Family relocating in mid-December.

Clients who need urgent assistance should ring 0800 559 009 for Work and Income, 0508 326 459 for Child, Youth and Family, 0800 552 002 for Senior Services and 0800 88 99 00 for StudyLink.

- Ashburton Guardian