600,000 people contact Citizens Advice Bureaux

Almost 600,000 people contacted Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) in the past year, up 22,000 on the previous year.

Inquiries about immigration increased by 48 per cent and those relating to interpretation and translation increased by 64 per cent over the same period from 2003 to 2004, CAB chief executive Nick Toonen said.

"The increase in the volume of inquiries relating to immigration is evidence of the need to continue building on the work we are already doing for our migrant communities both at a local and national level," he said.

The free service provided information in a number of languages

CAB would use Awareness Week this week to publicise their person-to-person service.

"More and more organisations are moving their services online," Mr Toonen said in a statement.

"However, this has its drawbacks because you can't get the same type of service by tapping into a computer. There are some things that need to be discussed person-to-person, this is what our service is all about."

CAB gave information, advice and support on a range of topics including, immigration, consumer rights, education and training, work and unemployment, income support and benefits, health and counselling, housing and tenancy, and personal, family and community issues.

The organisation, which also has an advocacy role in social policy development, has 89 locations nationwide from Kaitaia in Northland to Invercargill in Southland.

- NZPA