The Ministry of Social Development has pleaded not guilty this morning to charges over the deadly Ashburton Work and Income shootings.
The charges were brought by WorkSafe New Zealand in March after an investigation into the shootings last September, in which two workers died.
The charge under Section 6 of
the Health and Safety in Employment Act alleges the ministry failed to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employees while at work.
Work and Income (Winz) is a service delivery arm of the ministry.
Russell John Tully, 48, has been charged with murdering Work and Income front-counter workers Peggy Turuhira Noble, 67, and Susan Leigh Cleveland, 55, on September 1 last year.
