A woman starting a new life in Rotorua experienced a raft of emotions in her quest to get her benefits sorted.
Jenny Salvidge's appointment was one of hundreds that were cancelled due to a security threat made to staff at the Rotorua Community Link offices on Pukuatua St.
The threat was made on Thursday afternoon but the centre remained closed yesterday while police looked for the man who made it.
"I get that it's for the safety of the staff but this makes my life hard," Ms Salvidge said when she arrived.
"I have to get my new tenancy agreement in so I can get my rent sorted for next week, as well as a food grant. We've come over from Whakatane and didn't know it was closed."
She said she did not know how to use the internet so could not get sorted online and needed her tenancy agreement sighted in order to get all her benefits arranged.
Her predicament was shortlived, thanks in part to the Rotorua Daily Post. Ministry of Social Development community liaison adviser Julie Hill was called by staff to talk to the Rotorua Daily Post and was able to help Ms Salvidge out by taking photos of the agreement and calling the contact centre.
"Although I'm not a case manager, at the end of the day I was able to help, but it's not possible to help everyone," Ms Hill said.
"We've been helping where we can today over the phone and we've been encouraging people to get online."
Ms Salvidge was relieved.
"This is a new beginning for me. The people who make these threats are idiots. They ruin everything for everyone else. There are a lot of people who need help."
Another woman, who did not want to be named, said she had been waiting three weeks for an appointment after having her benefit stopped. She arrived at the offices with her newborn baby, hoping to be able to receive help and feed her family.
"They [the person who made threats] have made things more complicated for us, for the ones who have been waiting for appointments," she said.
"I've got three kids, my youngest is only two weeks old but I had to make it here today."
A police spokeswoman said a threat was made to a staff member on Thursday and as a precaution the office was closed.
"We believe we know who that person is and we're actively looking for him."