Warkworth resident Helga Moran told the Herald the power went out at her home about 7.15pm.
“I’ve got heaps of clothes on [to keep warm], my Macpac jacket, a merino scarf, long-johns, it’s freezing,” Moran said.
“I’m a tramper, you see. I’m 74 years old and always ready for these things. I’ve got a flask of warm water and some taro I cooked earlier tonight, so warm water and warm taro.
“I’m looking outside and it’s completely black. The only light is from cars driving around. There’s a big moon out there, which is one advantage,” Moran said.
She later phoned Newstalk ZB at about 8.40pm to say the power had been restored to her home in Warkworth.
Another resident told the Herald she would be going to sleep early this evening as there was “no point in sitting in the dark”.
“My house is warm, but why would I sit up staring into the dark? I am going to lie in bed and listen to [Newstalk ZB’s Marcus Lush].
“That’s all you can do,” she said.
“There are no lights on in Warkworth. It’s all black. What a time for it to happen!”