Update: 8:15 am – Power is still out to about 2500 households in Wairarapa, Manawatu, Whanganui and Taranaki, and another 4000 around Waiouru, Ohakune and Taihape.
Powerco network operations Phil Marsh told Morning Report the main cause of the cuts were falling trees, flying debris and snow-laden branches that broke off onto lines.
The company had about 150 crews out yesterday but he said it was a huge job to get the repairs done and access was difficult.
“Some of our contractors actually got stuck themselves.”
The company planned to send out helicopters to assess the wider damage and some might not get power back on until the evening.
Ross I’Anson from the Transport Agency said the Central Plateau remained closed including State Highways 41, 47, 4, 49, and SH1 right around the mountains and down to Hunterville.
SH56 at Opiki and SH53 from Featherston to Martinborough are also closed due to flooding.
In the South Island, the Inland Road Route 70 from Peketa to Waiau and Porters Pass SH73 remain closed due to snow.
Mr I’Anson said some highways could be closed for at least the rest of the day.
The only ways from Auckland to Wellington are SH3 via Hamilton and New Plymouth to Bulls and then on to SH2 down to the capital. Or via the East Cape on SH35.
Flooding, slips and snow has closed local roads in regions in the south and from Wellington right through to the Central Plateau. Check the Transport Agency’s website for more info.
The threat of evacuations in the Hutt Valley appears to have eased, with river levels in Lower Hutt and Wainuiomata receding and only light rain expected there today.
Wellington Airport is warning passengers to expect delays. Only jets flew in and out of the city during the storm meaning that even when the weather improved there would still be a backlog of turboprop aircraft to clear.
Ferry services were expected to resume sometime today.
The ski town of Ohakune remains cut off by road, with every main highway surrounding Mount Ruapehu still closed.
Ruapehu District Council said snow clearing would start again this morning and it was optimistic the roads would be open later today.
Horizons Regional Council said it opened the Moutoa floodgates in the early hours of this morning and the Mangaone Stream spillway in Palmerston North was expected to be open later this morning.
The worst of the rain appears to be over in Wellington but Mark Owen from the Transport Agency said there was still lots of surface flooding in some areas and slips were still a danger.
-RNZ
