Auckland homes and businesses with no power nearly a week after being cut off by a storm could be waiting another six days to get it back.
Power poles were brought down around the Auckland area by the strong winds. Photo: Vector
Between 500 and 1500 properties still have no power and some also have no hot water, the lines company Vector said.
Some families and businesses now face their seventh night in the dark and some may not get power back until next Sunday.
Vector said its crews will work day and night until everyone is connected but smaller faults may not be fixed until this weekend.
Its list of restoration times by suburbs on its website showed that customers in Browns Bay, Devonport, Takapuna, Sunnyvale, Silverdale and Parkhurst may all have to wait until Sunday and faults in many other suburbs are not due for repairs until Friday or Saturday.
Work may be affected by heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds today, it warned.
Cutovers have continued to criticise Vector for its poor communication and delays in restoring power.
Shop owner Maureen Ballard who has just been reconnected after several days without power said she has lost several thousand dollars worth of business.
She had no insurance to cover the loss and will be seeking compensation from Vector, she said.