Storms cut power to 4000 homes

This tree came crashing down on Kelvin Davis' home in Kaitaia on Saturday.

More than 250 houses in the Far North district were still without electricity yesterday morning after inclement weather over the weekend brought down power lines and sprung emergency services into action.

Top Energy lines' crews were busy repairing the network and restoring power during and after the storm which left about 4000 without electricity at its height on Saturday evening.

The majority of faults were caused by trees either falling on power lines or bringing them down, lightning strikes and a car slamming into a power pole in Te Kao on Saturday evening.

Top Energy spokeswoman Philippa White said it had been a gruelling weekend for the crews and that some families have been waiting since the weekend until yesterday morning to get their power back on.

Affected areas included Okahu, Pukenui, Te Kao, South Road, Herekino, Taipa, Omanaia, Opononi, Oruru, Ohaeawai, Takeke, Horeke, Rangiahua, Waipapa, Kawakawa, and Towai. Lines were down in Toatoa Rd, Paranui, Otaua Rd, Waima Rd, Punakitere Rd/Taheke turn off, and Pipiwai Rd.

One Northlander affected by the storm was Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis who enlisted the help of a friend to remove a tree that fell on his Kaitaia home on Saturday. Power was not disrupted though.

The unforeseen weather event forced him to cancel a trip to Whangarei on Sunday to take part in a march against child abuse following the death of 3-year-old Moko Rangitoheriri. The tree took a corner of the house and the Sky dish out but fortunately he had not booked the Parker fight.

"Luckily the house is still water proof. The biggest issue was not being able to go to the march on Sunday," he said.

The Labour MP was busy with clean up and filing insurance paperwork yesterday.

Northpower linesmen were also busy attending to faults on Sunday.

Spokesman Steve MacMillan said 3000 residential and business premises in Kaipara and 1500 in Whangarei were without power overnight on Saturday. A further 2800 had a brief interruption to their supply s.

Rain, at times heavy, and showers are forecast for Northland for most of this week including the weekend. In Whangarei, wind is expected to change to southwesterly from tomorrow before turning to northwesterly on Saturday.

Fine days are forecast for Monday and Tuesday before showers return on Wednesday.

For Kaitaia, showers are forecast right through until Wednesday while the same is in store for Kerikeri except a fine day on Monday. Dargaville will see mostly showers.