The Wireless

Storm leaves tens of thousands powerless

09:31 am on 9 July 2014

Power line repair crews will be out in force at first light Wednesday assessing the damage caused by severe winds that swept across the top of the country, Radio New Zealand reports.

More than 23,000 homes and businesses in Northland and Auckland were without electricity overnight.

Areas affected include Dargaville, Maungaturoto, Kaiwaka, Waipu, Poroti, Pakotai, Parakiore, Matapouri, Parua Bay, Hikurangi and Whangarei City.

Vector said there are currently about 11,000 customers in Auckland cut off, down from 17000 at the height of the storm.

Metservice said Northland was hardest hit, with winds gusting to about a160 kms an hour at Cape Reinga.

It said while the rain is easing over the very top of the country, the slow moving front is now heading past Auckland towards the Coromandel, and high winds are likely to continue.