Disrespect toward Council Staff Symptomatic of Declining Standards

Ruapehu District Council (RDC) Mayor Don Cameron has been in discussions with other Ruapehu government agencies and institutions following the shooting at the Ashburton WINZ office last week.

Mayor Cameron said that all of Ruapehu’s government agencies and institutions are united in their feelings of shock, sadness and outrage about the events in Ashburton.

“In addition to providing our solidarity and support to WINZ we have all been in discussions around how to best provide security and a safe working environment for our staff,” he said.

“Of particular concern is the spate of other abuse and threatening behaviour of some people toward other WINZ offices and staff that has occurred since the shooting.”

“This behaviour is symptomatic of the lack of respect and rudeness directed at Council, teachers, the Police and other government agency staff that we often have to deal with.”

“There is strong agreement that we have all slowly allowed our ‘skin to thicken’ against the increasing lack of respect and abuse that our respective staff get from members of the public from time to time.”

Mayor Cameron said that he feels that society in general has allowed this lack of respect to ‘creep up’ to the point where it has almost been ‘normalised’ and seen as ‘just another day at the office’.

“As far as RDC is concerned we will never accept abusive, disrespectful behaviour toward our staff to become seen as the normal course of business,” he said.

“Council management have instructed RDC staff to have absolute zero tolerance toward any rudeness or lack of respect toward them.”

“We have complete support from the Police on this who will respond immediately to any abuse of our staff.”

“RDC has a set of values that are all about showing respect toward the people we deal with and it’s not too much to expect this to be reciprocated.”

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