The Ministry of Social Development has pleaded not guilty in the Wellington District Court to failing to ensure its employees were safe at work.
It follows last year's shootings at the Ashburton WINZ office in which two staff were killed and another seriously injured.
Russell John Tully is charged with murdering Peggy Noble and Leigh Cleveland and the attempted murder of two of their colleagues, Lindy Curtis and Kim Adams.
Work Safe New Zealand laid one charge against the Ministry under Section 6 of the Health and Safety in Employment Act, after the shootings.
Judge Hobbs remanded the case until 6 August for another preliminary hearing.