KEY POINTS:
A family had to turn to an independent contractor to get their power back on after six days in the dark.
Sophie Erskine, her husband and their 2-year-old son finally had their power restored last night.
Mrs Erskine had rung Genesis every day after a fallen tree cut power to their East Coast Rd home on Auckland's North Shore to find out when it would be restored.
At 8.30 on Sunday night linesmen finally arrived to inspect the damage but left again after telling the Erskines it was their problem, not the power company's, because the line had snapped from the house to the power line, not the other way around.
"They said there was nothing they could do because the line had come down on our house and we had to get an independent contractor."
Mrs Erskine was frustrated it had taken so long for the linesmen to arrive, just to say they couldn't do anything.
"If I had known that, I could have rung [an independent contractor] five or six days ago and not lost a fridge full of our groceries and spent our next two weeks wages on living day to day," she said.
It is hoped insurance will cover the cost of the contractor.
SHARING THE SHOWERS
In Parakai, guests at Black Pete's Bar & Grill, which also has cabins, flats and hot pools, have been forced to share showers.
Owners Peter and Sue Williams said some of the nine cabins and nine flats have been without power since last Tuesday, meaning guests are showering in a bathroom off the bar or in other guests' showers.
A kitchen block for the cabins is also without power.
"Some power points are working but then some lights aren't working. We have extension cords and leads running from one end to the other plugging people in. It's really dangerous," said Mrs Williams
"They all seem to understand but their patience is running a bit thin, not with us but the power company."
Mrs Williams estimated the couple could have lost up to $2000 on Tuesday night when the bar and restaurant were without power.
POWER PROMISE
Five Helensville homes in Rimmer Rd were still without power last night.
Donna Greig, who has lost up to $300 worth of food and been forced to shower at work, said she was told each day that the power would be back on at noon but it was always pushed out to 5pm.
It still hasn't been turned on.
"It's a pain and an inconvenience.
"Everyone is grumpy and fed up. It's not like it's the South Island where they're all snowed under."
BABY TO RELATIVES
Further along Rimmer Rd, Hayley Clark was forced to send her 6-month-old son to relatives because she can't heat her home. "Normally he sleeps through every night but he was waking up absolutely freezing even with a hot water bottle and layers of clothing," she said.
The family have a generator to save their tropical fish but Hayley Clark says she's already lost $200 worth.
* Meanwhile, the Robinson family, who featured in yesterday's Herald after spending six days living by candlelight, had their power restored at 4pm yesterday.
- Edward Gay, Alanah May Eriksen
