Rockfall at Te Puna Quarry Park has prompted the temporary closure of a pathway. Photo/supplied
Rockfall at Te Puna Quarry Park has prompted the temporary closure of a pathway. Photo/supplied
More than 1500 properties were without power yesterday as strong winds and rain hit the Bay of Plenty.
Metservice and the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence advised of a severe weather warning as stormy conditions wreaked havoc in other parts of the North Island .
A deepening sub-tropical low moved over the Bay of Plenty yesterday morning and brought with it 130mm of rain overnight to the Gisborne Ranges. Gusts of 168km/h were recorded at a site on White Island, but also 113km/h in the Mamaku hills and even 80km/h gusts at Rotorua Airport.
A person was taken to Tauranga Hospital in a serious condition after this car crashed into a power pole on SH2 near Te Puna Rd. Photo/George Novak
At Tauranga Airport, winds reached 60km/h and were blamed for several power outages affecting at least 526 homes in Athenree, 327 in the Wairoa River area, 66 in Brookfield and 325 in Hairini.
Part of Te Puna Quarry Park was closed after a rock fall blocked one of the walking paths.
A Western Bay of Plenty District Council spokesman said fences had been put up and, due to expected rainfall, the pathway would be closed until remaining overhanging rocks could be safely removed. Powerco network operations manager Phil Marsh said strong winds had caused damage to the network, bringing lines down.
He warned people to tie down backyard gear to prevent outdoor furniture or trampolines becoming "missiles".
Metservice meteorologist John Law said in the 24 hours leading up to 4pm yesterday, 20mm of rain fell in Tauranga. Of this, 6mm was recorded from 11am to 12pm at Tauranga Airport.
Law said conditions would gradually ease up today with winds turning south-easterly.
"There will still be a few showers and a bit of cloud but generally it gets better towards Thursday, which is probably the best pick of the week."
Another 679 properties in Te Puna were left without power after a car crashed into a power pole on SH2 near the Te Puna Rd roundabout shortly after 9am.
Looks like the wind will pick up in the Bay of Plenty too!
Fire trucks can be seen on SH2 near Te Puna Rd roundabout where a car crashed into a power pole, cutting power to more than 600 Te Puna properties. Photo/supplied
A person was seriously injured after the car they were travelling in crashed into a power pole north of Tauranga, shutting power off to more than 600 properties.
The person was taken to Tauranga Hospital in a serious condition after the crash on State Highway 2 at the Te Puna Rd roundabout, a police communications spokeswoman said.
The force of the crash, which happened just after 9am yesterday , toppled the power pole cutting power to 679 properties.
"It was a single-vehicle crash but other vehicles stopped to help," the spokeswoman said.
The Serious Crash Unit was notified but police acting head of road policing Sergeant Wayne Hunter said it appeared the crash was not weather-related.
Naked Meats' Jayden Welten said they were among the properties affected by the power outage.
"We are about to shut up shop. A couple of people have already gone home and, looking across the road, the fire engine is still there," Welten said.
