Police have charged a 52-year-old man after an alleged telephone threat today which forced a lock-down of the Winz office building iin Gisborne.
The Lowe Street offices were closed at about 10.15am after a phone call to Work and Income's national contact centre.
The offices were reopened at about 11.15am after the man presented himself at the Gisborne police station.
"The man has been charged with threatening to kill," said Senior Sergeant Steve Sutherland. "It is alleged he threatened to shoot staff at the Gisborne Winz office unless his wishes were met.
"He has been released on bail and will appear in Gisborne District Court on Monday."
Mr Sutherland said police were advised immediately after the call and officers were sent to the building.
"Police take threats very seriously and we will prosecute anyone who makes these phone calls or threatens staff in any way."
Winz adopted a "zero tolerance" approach to threats against the department's staff following the shooting tragedy at the Ashburton Winz office earlier this year.
From the Gisborne Herald
