The associate Social Development Minister is blaming attention-seeking copycats for a significant rise in the number of assaults on Work and Income staff.
CORRECTION: This story states that there was a surge in assaults on WINZ staff and that 46 staff members were attacked in a year. This is incorrect information that was based on figures released to Radio NZ by WINZ. In fact, 11 members of staff were attacked in a year. WINZ has apologised to Radio NZ for supplying incorrect information.