Hundreds have lost power in Hawke's Bay this morning as severe gales batter the region.
Unison relationship manager Danny Gough suspected many of the power outages were due to the severe winds and confirmed crews were working on the network.
A total of 489 customers lost power in Waimarama this morning at 9.13am and by 10am power cuts to hundreds more were reported in Havelock North, Clive, Haumoana, Eskdale, Te Haroto, Glengarry and Putorino.
Mr Gough said these power outages were most likely the result of the severe weather and affected customers in exposed, high country areas.
This morning Civil Defence reported taking a number of motorists whose cars and trucks were yesterday stranded on the Napier Taupo Rd back to their vehicles to retrieve them.