Storm brings widespread power cuts

Bad weather raged through the North Island yesterday. Photo / Chris Loufte

Bad weather that lashed the North Island yesterday left thousands without power and put the bite on the Taste of Auckland Festival.

Rain hammered down causing traffic chaos - outages, which affected thousands of homes, also cut power to traffic lights in parts of East Auckland.

And while there is some relief in sight today with bright spells forecast, another front sitting over the South Island is expected to move over the lower to central North Island this week, continuing a miserable November.

Taste of Auckland director Rob Eliott said the decision to close the festival - at Western Springs for the first time - was made just before 3pm because of severe wind gusts. Those affected will be able to reuse their tickets today and refunds are also available through iticket.co.nz.

The event organisers were in discussions with their insurers to discuss recouping any revenue lost, Eliott said. The closure followed earlier damp and cold days at the festival on Thursday and Friday.

The stormy weather cut power to 18,000 homes across St Johns, Mt Wellington, Ellerslie, Remuera, Mission Bay, Glendowie and Panmure. Power to all but 800 homes was back on by 9pm.

The strong winds and heavy rain also kept emergency services busy.

Police and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter searched for a group of kayakers who were reported to be in trouble off Stanmore Bay, on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

Taste of Auckland was rained out on its second-to-last day. Photo / Chris Loufte

It is believed the group eventually found sanctuary at nearby Army Bay.

A woman was also critically injured after a crash in Huia Rd, West Auckland. Police said it appeared she lost control of her car before colliding with a power pole.

The serious crash unit is investigating the incident, which also meant power outages to more than 200 homes in Laingholm.

A woman was injured near Napier when a branch from a tree hit during strong winds.

The woman was walking to Shine Falls, just north of Napier, with her husband when she was injured.

She was taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital with head and upper body injuries.

MetService forecaster Frances Russell said the heavy weather was caused by a front moving over the country which was expected to stall near Northland today.