Kerre McIvor: Embattled Winz staff need everyone's help

The Ashburton Winz tragedy left Peggy Noble and Susan Cleveland dead, and Lindy Curtis. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The tragic shooting of three women at the Winz office in Ashburton on Monday was shocking. Two women were killed and one is still in a serious condition in hospital. Three families have been left devastated and the community is reeling.

The senseless attack has unleashed a string of nutters who have seen the deaths of two women as an opportunity to terrorise Winz staff in their local regions.

Winz staff are, for the most part, trying to help. But they are constrained in what they can offer and to whom they can offer it because of tight rules and regulations implemented by the Ministry of Social Development.

There must be a way to make the environment safer for the staff and clients without resorting to bullet-proof glass.

When an ACC employee was murdered in the office in 1999, ACC did a security review to try to improve staff safety. A range of measures was introduced - improved layout, increased security, enhanced staff training and a remote claims unit.

Clients deemed a threat to ACC staff are not able to meet face-to-face and must use phone or email.

Since the policies were introduced, there hasn't been one major threat to staff, says ACC.

Many people who come into Winz are embarrassed, hopeless, helpless and upset. Others are aggressive, bitter, entitled and bullying. It's a big ask for Winz staff to deal with such a range of human emotion day in and day out.

They need all the help they can get from a government that's asking them to deliver messages some people don't want to hear.

We must do all we can to ensure there will be no more shooting of the messengers.