Citizens Advice Bureau Tauranga has ramped up its service in the face of a big increase in enquiries.

Bureau manager Kim Saunders says people need to know they are still available, just not face-to-face.

They have been getting all sorts of enquiries from people caught up in Covid-19 complications.

'Immigration inquiries, lots of employment enquiries – what they can do and what employers can say or not say - people who are supposed to be moving. There are no settlements being done now until it is over.

'Immigration is another one. People are due to leave the country but can't.”

She said there were now 24 volunteers working in the wider Tauranga area. People can phone the 0800 367 222 national number and speak to a person straight away. Or they can phone the local number 07 578 1592 and leave a message which will be returned by a local person. The other option is to email the nquiry to tauranga@cab.org.nz.

'It is business as usual for us only we are not here in person. Initially it had a huge impact on us but people are realising they can't do anything,” Kim says.

She says they are now fully up and running in the new lock-down environment and 'raring to go”.