Ministry pleads not guilty to charge over Ashburton shooting

The Ministry of Social Development has pleaded not guilty this morning to charges over the deadly Ashburton Work and Income shootings.

The charges were brought by WorkSafe New Zealand in March after an investigation into the shootings last September, in which two workers died.

The charge under Section 6 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act alleges the ministry failed to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employees while at work.

Work and Income (Winz) is a service delivery arm of the ministry.

Russell John Tully, 48, has been charged with murdering Work and Income front-counter workers Peggy Turuhira Noble, 67, and Susan Leigh Cleveland, 55, on September 1 last year.

He is also accused of attempting to murder two other staff members - Lindy Louise Curtis, 43, who was shot in the leg and badly injured, and Kim Elizabeth Adams.

The Ministry of Social Development entered a plea of not guilty to the breach in Wellington District Court this morning.

A case review hearing will be held in Wellington on August 6 at 10am.

Wellington District Court heard the hearing could take up to two weeks.

The Ministry's lawyer Brent Stanaway told Wellington District Court the trial could take up to two weeks.No date is yet set for the trial.