Anger as big freeze worsens

South Island residents still without power were angry yesterday at the slow response to their plight.

As the big freeze entered its sixth day, thousands were still without electricity - some without water or telephones - with many facing weeks before lines are fixed.

"People could have died out here and no one would have known," said Graeme Hunter from Waipopo, a small community near Timaru.

" ... we didn't hear from anyone outside the area until the Red Cross got here on Thursday. And now we've been told the power could be off for another three weeks. In rural areas, you expect a power cut for a day or two in the winter, but to me it seems ridiculous in this day and age that it will take three weeks to get things running again."

Yesterday, Civil Defence Minister Rick Barker's flying tour of the worst-affected regions was delayed when his helicopter broke down. When he arrived in Fairlie at noon, he praised the rural communities who rallied through what some locals say is the worst snowfall since 1943.

MetService predicted more wintry blasts for the South Island today, which could bring snow as low as 300m in Canterbury.

Thunderstorms and hail were forecast for the North Island, a repeat of yesterday's weather when lightning struck North Shore Hospital, cutting off power and forcing it to use a back-up generator.

Some telephones were cut off after the 8.30am lightning strike, which damaged three houses in the suburb of Westlake, where a house's chimney exploded, the fireplace blew out and the wiring was fried.

The strike hit a Westlake Girls' High School sports ground during a soccer match. No players were injured but sparks flew from spectators' umbrellas.

Renata Caminada, whose windows were shattered, said her neighbour only escaped injury because he was in the toilet.