Mail scare empties office tower

The head of a company sent a suspicious package containing white powder believes it was a random act.

Three Vero Insurance staff members had to be decontaminated after opening an envelope containing the powder yesterday morning.

It sparked a security alert in downtown Auckland and police, fire and decontamination specialists were called to the Shortland St site.

Several hundred people were evacuated shortly after 9am from the Dorchester building, where Vero is housed on the 12th floor, and cordons were put up to prevent people entering the area.

Roger Bell, the company's chief executive, said: "We have no reason to believe it was anything other than random."

He said the envelope was not addressed to anyone and contained nothing but the powder. It was opened by a staff member, who called two others over to look at it.

"Police were called and we now wait to hear the nature of the powder."

Mr Bell said he spoken to the three Vero staff after they were decontaminated. They were well, but shaken by what had happened.

Cordons were lifted about 11.30 and the Dorchester, also known as the Auckland Club Tower, was reopened in the early afternoon.