Police are at the Work and Income building on Aldwins Rd, Linwood, Christchurch.

A man who threatened to shoot staff at a Canterbury Work and Income office has been charged by police.

Acting district commander Detective Superintendent Peter Read a 50-year-old man made verbal threats to security staff outside the Work and Income office in Linwood just before 12pm on Friday.

The man told staff he would return with a firearm, Read said.

"Police spoke to the man on the phone and met with him shortly after 1.30pm."

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The man would appear in court on February 11.

"Police would like to reassure members of the public that no firearm was sighted by the security staff and nor was one located during a search of a residential property," Read said.

No-one was injured, but the Linwood Work and Income office stayed closed while police spoke to staff and found the person who made the threats.

All Canterbury branches had since reopened.

A Ministry of Social Development spokesman confirmed a man had threatened staff.

"Ministry of Social Development sites in the Canterbury area [were] temporarily closed as a precaution following a threat received [Friday] morning," he said.

"We are contacting people to reschedule appointments and can confirm no benefit payments or assistance will be affected as a result."