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.