Power outages in lower North Island due to high winds

File photo / NZ Herald

Hundreds of households lost power this evening after high winds wrecked electricity lines in the lower North Island and a car crash caused a blackout in Taranaki.

Lines company Powerco said it noticed the MetService's severe weather warnings earlier and had additional staff on stand-by in case of emergencies.

Earlier this afternoon about 1500 customers, mostly in the Manawatu, lost power.

Affected areas included parts of Bulls, Feilding, Himatangi, Marton, Ratana, Turakina and Waitotara.

Powerco spokesman Neil Holdom said at 7.30pm fewer than 900 customers nationwide were without power.

He said the company hoped to restore power to most of these areas this evening.

Today's car crash at Egmont Village, where a vehicle hit a pole, caused additional power cuts in Taranaki from about 4.30pm. Powerco said it hoped to resolve that issue by around 9pm.

Mr Holdom said anybody who saw power lines down in their neighbourhood should get themselves, their families, and their pets inside, and call 111.

However, Mr Holdom believed the worst was over and weather was improving in most parts of the North Island. MetService has now lifted strong wind warnings for Kapiti Coast, Manawatu and Wairarapa.

However, severe weather warnings are in place for Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel, and Wellington.

MetService said gales were likely in the upper North Island and Wellington on Monday.

"In particular, gales are likely with a front crossing the upper North Island this evening, then again on Sunday as a low crosses the Auckland area," MetService said today.

"Further gales are likely Monday in a very strong southwest flow, and these could be severe across Northland, Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula.

This severe weather watch remains until at least 9pm tonight, when it will be reviewed.