Police were called to Herbert St in Masterton on Thursday after a power pole was knocked down by a car, with the driver then driving away from the scene.
A police media spokesman said that at around 7pm the car crashed into the pole, badly damaging it.
"The power pole was shattered and there was a point where it looked like it would topple over.
"The council and the power company were called. The car that caused this left the scene."
He said police inquiries were ongoing to try to locate the vehicle.
