The Cook Islands community are rallying around to help the grieving family of Ashburton mum Cindy George and her three children as they prepare to say goodbye.

A poisons expert says carbon monoxide could be an "insidious" killer, leaving its victims little or no time to act.

The grief and shock of devastated family and friends as they crossed the red and white police emergency tape on Thomson St was shared throughout the small township today.

The father of three children found dead inside an Ashburton home with their mother cannot stop crying because he misses his "beautiful kids" so much.

The woman and children found dead in an Ashburton house yesterday have now been identified by police.

When Sid Bentley died he may have been broken in spirit, heart and body, but he died surrounded by friends.

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

The man accused of killing two women at Ashburton’s Work and Income office last year appeared via video link at the Christchurch District Court this morning.

Two men were arrested after gang-related disorder in Ashburton yesterday.

A shed storing vintage steam engines in Ashburton was seriously damaged in a suspicious fire early today.

Life in the quiet Mid-Canterbury farming hub of Ashburton takes a step closer to normality today when its Work and Income office reopens for the first time since September's double-shooting tragedy.

A suspicious fire in an Ashburton garage where a family of three were sleeping was reported by a distressed child in the dead of night.

For rural friendliness and city fun, this gem has it all, finds Elisabeth Easther.

Nearly 100 jobs are set to go at Work and Income - but the government says even more new roles will be created.

Work and Income's Ashburton clients will be able to meet with clients face to face again when the Ministry of Social Development establishes a new base in a modular building on the Ashburton Police site on Havelock St.

New charges, including a second attempted murder count, have today been laid against alleged Ashburton Work and Income double killer Russell John Tully.

PM John Key and Labour leader David Cunliffe are expected to be among those attending today's public memorial service in Ashburton for the Winz shooting victims.

Hundreds of people are expected to gather for a public memorial service this week dedicated to the victims and survivors of last Monday's Work and Income shootings.

An investigation is underway after a bomb threat hoax at the Foxton Work and Income office last night.

Police investigating the double fatal Work and Income shooting in Ashburton say they have found a mountainbike and personal items which may belong to the suspect.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett and Work and Income staff were among about 300 mourners at the funeral of Susan Leigh Cleveland in Alexandra today.

The morning began like all others for three women in the Winz office.

Public servants will observe two minutes of silence at 9.51am on Monday to remember those who lost their lives a week earlier in the Ashburton Work and Income shootings.

Ashburton police are appealing to the public to help them locate a black mountain bike and any other items belonging to alleged Winz double murderer Russell John Tully.

Police investigating the Work and Income murders had possession of the alleged shooter's gun for two days before telling the public they had located it.

Surrounded by friends at the club where they spent most Thursday nights, Peggy Noble's partner of 11 years stood in her honour.

A security review of Work and Income offices is being carried out following the double shooting at an Ashburton office on Monday.

As the small town of Ashburton comes to grips with yesterday's horror shooting, locals are turning their attention to planning memorials to honour the slain.