A Gisborne man has been charged with threatening to kill over a phone call made to a Work and Income office.
Police said the 52-year-old phoned Work and Income's national contact centre this morning, telling them that if his wishes were not met, he would go to the Gisborne office and shoot staff.
The North Island office was closed as soon as the threat was made while police investigated.
They found the man an hour later and charged him with threatening to kill. He appeared in the Gisborne District Court and was released on bail until Monday.
In September this year, two Work and Income staff in Ashburton were shot and killed. One other worker also shot was seriously injured.