Powerco Network Operations Manager Ross Dixon said around 40,000 consumers on Powerco’s network had been affected since the storm hit around midday Saturday. The customers currently without power are spread around the Hauraki Plains and the Thames Coast Highway where the storm caused the most extensive damage.

"There are isolated customers in ones and twos with their power off across the affected area and there is still a lot of work to be done before we restore power to everyone. We are at the point where we are reconnecting power customer by customer and there may be up to 50 customers without power overnight tonight," he said.

"We expect to have power back to all affected customers tomorrow."

Mr Dixon said the extremely high winds had caused trees, branches and in some cases building debris to tear down overhead lines and poles.

With more heavy rain and high winds forecast this week Mr Dixon urged anyone seeing power lines down to treat them as live at all times, keep well clear and contact emergency services without delay.

Powerco is New Zealand’s second largest electricity and 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, Hawke’s Bay and Tasmania.

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