Whangarei District Council has organised more training for staff in how to deal with aggressive people, after a safety contractor was punched in the face.
Whangarei Photo: Lisa Conze / CC SA 1.0
Mayor Sheryl Mai said the woman was working as a City Safe ambassador in the city's central mall when she was hit by a bystander.
Staff were concerned about a growing number of security-related incidents involving aggressive members of the public, Ms Mai said.
Those working upstairs from Work and Income sometimes had to contend with beneficiaries looking for someone to rage at, she said.
Some council customers also became volatile over matters like rate bills, and parking tickets.
Whangarei's City Safe ambassadors have since had extra training in dealing with such people.