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Several hundred homes in Coromandel Peninsula, Hauraki Plains and north of Auckland were still without power or hot water last night after the week's storms which wreaked havoc with electricity networks.
Hot water had been restored to most homes across the North Shore and Rodney, north of Auckland, but the Withers family of Rothesay Bay was still forced to rely on friends for hot showers. They left for a holiday yesterday.
Steve and Kathryn Withers and their two teenage daughters also endured a night without power and two days without a phone. Kathryn had tried to contact power retailer Genesis, but gave up when faced with a 50-minute calling queue. "Imagine if it was a real disaster," she said. "It wasn't that bad a storm. It's very Third World.
"There's an elderly couple next door and they're having to go to their daughter's for a shower."
Rodney District Council has supplied about 100 generators and 200 gas heaters, food and water to those affected. Spokesman Mike Isles said neighbours rallied to look after each other, with holiday parks opening their shower blocks to residents.
Network operator Vector said it focused on restoring the main line, which supplies power. A separate network controls hot water. It was hoped remaining local faults would be fixed by tonight.
On the Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki Plains, 65 properties were without power yesterday evening. Ross Dixon of Powerco said it aimed to have all power back on this afternoon.
