A Hastings man will serve the community as punishment for carrying a concealed knife into a Work and Income office just hours after the fatal Ashburton shootings.
Lucky Eriha was arrested by armed police shortly after 3.20pm on September 1, after an employee at the Hastings Work and Income office, on Eastbourne St West, overheard an indirect threat from him.
The 38-year-old told a friend after leaving the office he would "get [his] sub-auto and shoot them" if his application for a grant was not accepted by staff.
Upon later visiting the office, the friend notified staff of the threat before Eriha returned to "make a complaint" about his grant.
Police arrested Eriha within 10 minutes of the call from the Work and Income worker where he was found in possession of a small kitchen knife, hidden in his underwear.