Ashburton victims remembered

FAREWELL: Kaitaia Work and Income and CYF staff offer "prayers of hope" during a service for the Ashburton shooting victims. PICTURE/PETER DE GRAAF.

Under normal circumstances almost 1500km separates Kaitaia and Ashburton.

At Te Ahu on Friday that distance vanished as Kaitaia Work and Income staff held a service for two Ashburton colleagues killed by a gunman on September 1.

The gathering, which was timed to coincide with a service in Ashburton, drew about 100 people. They included Work and Income and CYF staff, ministers, representatives of community organisations, police, iwi and the council, as well as sympathetic members of the public.

Victims Peggy Noble and Leigh Cleveland were remembered with karakia, waiata, a mihimihi, and a series of "prayers of hope" offered by emotional Work and Income and CYF colleagues.

CYF Kaitaia manager Trudy Brown asked the audience for support and patience because the Ashburton tragedy was forcing changes in the way frontline staff interacted with the public. The number of security guards had been increased immediately but more changes were coming.

"We want to reassure staff and the public that these measures are necessary, because safety is paramount," she said.

A condolence book full of personal messages and signatures would be sent to Ashburton, "to show that even up here in Kaitaia we feel your loss".

All Ministry of Social Development offices around the country were closed for an hour on Friday to give staff time to reflect on the events of the past two weeks, Ms Brown said.

Melanie Dalzell spoke on behalf of Far North Mayor John Carter, and Work and Income service Centre manager Justine Rae thanked the people of Kaitaia for their email messages, morning teas and flowers.

"The support has been overwhelming," she said.

Jesse Graham, of MSD's Make it Happen Te Hiku project, was pleased the turnout and show of public support - but she wasn't surprised.

"This is a community that's good at coming together."

Kaitaia and Ashburton were far apart but people all over the country shared similar issues, she said.