Wind and rain block roads, cut power around Christchurch

Wind gusts up to 130km/h and heavy rain closed roads and cut power in pockets around Christchurch this morning.

The wind toppled a pine tree and dislodged several large rocks on Sumner Rd, closing one lane on the Evans Pass route between Christchurch and Lyttelton Port.

A Christchurch City Council spokesman said the road would need to be closed later this morning to allow contractors to remove the debris.

Another slip on Main Rd between Governors Bay and Allandale was making it difficult for residents in the southern bays of Lyttelton Harbour to get to work in Christchurch via Dyers Pass Rd.

The route through Lyttelton Tunnel remained open.

A MetService spokesman said most of the weather problems appeared confined to Banks Peninsula, with 34mm of rain recorded at Le Bons Bay in the last 24 hours. Only 11mm of rain was recorded at Christchurch Airport in the period.

Winds were gusting up to 130km/h in parts of the peninsula.

A number of power outages were caused by trees and branches being blown on to power lines.

An Orion spokesman said about five areas had been affected between Wainui, on Banks Peninsula and Darfield, west of Christchurch.

Only a few hundred consumers would have been affected and power was being restored as contractors made repairs.

The winds were forecast to ease later today.

- NZPA