Powerco General Manager Network Assets, Richard Krogh, said 600 consumers were without supply following damage to lines supplying Marton and areas around Pahiatua and Mangamaire between 1pm and 2.30pm today.

"Our crews were already in the area repairing damage from the storm which struck the North Island earlier this week. They have reported that winds have been increasing in strength throughout the afternoon, and subsequently caused these new outages," Mr Krogh said.

"The total number of customers in Powerco’s operational area without electricity supply is currently 2200, with the majority of those located in the Wanganui, Rangitikei and the Manawatu," Mr Krogh said.

In the past three days Powerco has restored supply to more than 38,000 consumers affected by the storm which began early Saturday morning.

"We have since restored supply to 300 consumers in the Pahiatua and Mangamaire area. We expect to reduce the total number of consumers without electricity supply to approximately 1000 by the end of the day.

Powerco is New Zealand’s second largest electricity and largest gas distribution utility with around 400,000 consumers connected to its networks. Powerco’s electricity networks are in Tauranga, Thames, Coromandel, Eastern and Southern Waikato, Taranaki, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu and the Wairarapa. Its gas pipeline networks are in Taranaki, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Wellington, Horowhenua, Manawatu and the Hawke’s Bay.