Southland power supplier, PowerNet say nearly 400 homes in the region are still without power. Photo: Supplied / PowerNet
Southland power supplier, PowerNet says nearly 400 homes in the region are still without power.
The electricity network company on Saturday said three of its networks had been badly disrupted by stormy weather overnight, and warned affected customers to prepare for extended blackouts to last for days.
They were OtagoNet, Electricity Invercargill and The Power Company, which services Southland.
At that time, PowerNet said some customers could remain without power into Monday and people who were medically dependent on electricity should plan accordingly.
By 8.45pm Saturday, 1600 properties were still without power, reduced from about 8000 customers earlier in the weekend.
A PowerNet spokesperson said staff had worked throughout Saturday in difficult conditions to restore power to most of the impacted homes.
They said it was expected at least 80 percent of the remaining homes would be reconnected by the end of today.
The strong winds on Friday and into Saturday had kept firefighters busy in the lower South Island, including calls for help with roofs lifting off houses and fallen trees.
MetService forecasters issued strong wind warnings, including for gusts up to 130km/h in places.
Elsewhere, a heavy swell warning remains in place for parts of Wairarapa from 1am this Morning, and is expected to last until late Monday.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
