Crisis averted post-haste

By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE

An anthrax scare in Tauranga yesterday afternoon got a quick response from emergency services.

"It went like clockwork. We were all very well prepared for it," said Senior Sergeant Bruce Glover.

The alarm was raised when a worker at Tauranga's New Zealand Post depot in Chapel St emptied a bag of mail that had been collected around the city and spotted white powder on the sorting table.

The work area was cordoned off and about 20 staff were evacuated.

Fire Service officers in protective clothing took samples, which have been sent for analysis.

The depot was closed for about two hours.