Changes to Council customer service area

Visitors to the Kāpiti Coast District Council’s Civic Building in Paraparaumu will notice a new customer services counter set up from Monday 30 October following changes to improve staff safety.

The changes include the introduction of two stand-up sections and a perspex screen above the remaining seated sections. The seated sections allow the counter to remain accessible for those in wheelchairs, or those who need or prefer to sit, while the new stand-up sections provide customers with the option of completing a transaction without having to sit down. The perspex screen above the seated sections has been designed to deter people from reaching or jumping over the front counter.

Corporate Services Group Manager Wayne Maxwell says the Council worked with a security expert to look at whether the existing set up struck the right balance between accessibility for the public and staff safety.

“Tragic events like the shooting at the Ministry of Social Development office in Ashburton meant all public organisations needed to look at their public counters.   

“The health and safety of our staff is incredibly important to us as an organisation. We need to take steps that give us confidence we’re doing all we can to keep our staff safe while also making it as easy as possible for our customers to do business with us.”