Work is underway to repair damaged powerlines across the South Island following Thursday's wild weather. Photo: Ingrid Leary
Southland and the Clutha district remain under states of local emergency, after extreme winds on Thursday toppled trees and powerlines, and knocked out power, water and communications.
Amid widespread damage, many farming communities are isolated.
Those without power are encouraged to stay with friends or family out of town, or in unaffected areas.
Some lower North Island households are also without power.
Here's what you need to know:
Tens of thousands without power
The latest update from PowerNet is 17,800 customers in Southland and Otago are without power, with warnings some more remote areas may not be restored for another week.
Southland District Mayor Rob Scott said that would be a "mammoth task".
He said lines company PowerNet spent Friday understanding the extent of the damage, before beginning repairs Saturday.
Crews from all over the North Island are being brought in to Wairarapa, Tararua, Manawatū and Taranaki to help fix broken lines and poles.
Lines company Powerco said about 900 properties were still without power in those regions.
Teams relieving local staff would work throughout the weekend to reconnect households.
On Saturday morning, Emergency Management Southland confirmed that power was on in Winton and Te Anau although said it was "still a bit patchy".
Water treatment plants back online in Southland District
The Southland District Council has said all of its water treatment plants are back online and are pumping good drinking water.
They are urging residents to refrain from flushing toilets if possible.
In Clutha, work was underway overnight to get a generator running at the Ōwaka water treatment plant.
Clutha District Council was also placing water tanks in Waihola and Clinton overnight or on Saturday, so people can fill their own containers.
Tapanui residents should boil tap water until further notice.
In Lawrence, the water reservoir was critically low and could run out, due to the prolonged power cut, so residents should conserve water.
People can fetch water from the tanker at the Tuapeka Transport yard.
Meanwhile, power has been restored at the Milton water treatment plant and wastewater plant.
Emergency Management Southland said water would take time to reach the town and could be discoloured initially.
The Gore District Council has assured residents that water is still safe to drink, despite an increase in nitrate levels from power outages and conditions from Thursday's storm.
The council said an urgent sample was taken on Friday that showed 9.5 milligrams per litre, and the maximum acceptable value in drinking water is 11.3 milligrams per litre.
Residents are being advised to fill any bottles or containers, but those who are pregnant or have a toddler are being urged to use an alternative source.
Residents with no water can fill containers at Coster Park, in Bridge Street, Mataura, where there's a tap with potable (drinking) water.
Its Coopers Well pump was out of operation, due to the power cut, and an urgent sample taken on Friday showed nitrate levels had increased.
While those levels were still within quality standards, people should fill bottles and containers as a precaution, and those pregnant or with toddlers may want to avoid drinking tap water.
Internet, phone lines down
Power was cut to nearly 90 cell towers in the south, bringing them offline.
Telecommunications would take days to restore in most places and, in remote rural areas, this could be closer to a week, Emergency Management Southland said.
If there was an emergency, people may still be able to ring 111, even without a network connection.
"Even if your phone says you have no service, try the call. It can take up to 30 seconds to attach to a new network."
Roads dangerous
People should drive with extreme care, with powerlines, poles and trees still strewn across roads.
People were being urged to conserve petrol.
NZ Transport Agency said it would work through the weekend.
Emergency Management Southland said there was no fuel shortage in the region, but there were some issues getting fuel delivered.
The power outage had made it difficult to get the pumps going in certain areas, it said.
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