Party leaders expected to join Ashburton folk at tragedy memorial

Flowers placed outside the Ashburton Winz office. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader David Cunliffe are expected to be among those attending today's public memorial service dedicated to the victims and survivors of the shootings at the Work and Income office on Monday last week.

Hundreds of Ashburton people are expected to turn out for the civic service at 12.15pm in the Mid-Canterbury town's Baring Square East.

The 45-minute service, organised by the Ashburton District Council and the Ministers' Association, is open to anyone who wishes to pay their respects and remember the lives of slain Work and Income workers Peg Noble and Leigh Cleveland.

The council is closing its offices for an hour to allow staff to attend.

Mayor Angus McKay said some shopkeepers had indicated they would also shut for it.

"It's important for the people of Ashburton to remember the event, to remember all those affected - from victims, staff and other service agencies involved - and to move on and work towards Ashburton becoming the safe place it has always been," Mr McKay said.

The Ministers' Association will speak on behalf of the families. Work and Income will be represented by chief executive Brendan Boyle and the community by the mayor.

Ms Cleveland, 55, was buried in Alexandra on Saturday and Ms Noble, 67, was farewelled at the Ashburton Event Centre on Monday.

Lindy Curtis, 43, who was critically injured in the shooting, is recovering in hospital.

Meanwhile, police have recovered a tablet computer and are continuing to look for a car linked to the man accused of the shootings, Russell John Tully.

A police dive squad continued to search the Ashburton River yesterday.

Divers were looking for any unrecovered personal items that might be related to the investigation, including an additional firearm and ammunition that may have been in the man's possession.

Tully, 48, has been charged with two counts of murder and one of attempted murder and has been remanded in custody.