Ex-Cyclone Tam: More than 6000 properties still without power

More than 6000 properties are without power after another night of wild weather.

Over 5500 homes remain without electricity in Northland, online outage maps by Top Energy and Northpower show. Some have been disconnected since Wednesday evening, after Cyclone Tam brought down powerlines, and lines companies are warning power in some areas may not be restored for days.

Vector is showing outages dotted across the Auckland region, particularly in areas just north of the city.

Waipā Networks is also reporting “a number of faults” across its networks, which run through Te Awamutu, Cambridge and the surrounding areas.

In Coromandel, which is currently weathering the worst of the storm, Powerco is reporting 1130 properties are without power.

Several townships on both sides of the Coromandel Peninsula – all popular holiday destinations for Easter Weekend – have been cut off by road.

Flooding has closed State Highway 25 on both sides of the Peninsula – at Hikuai, 12km south of Tairua, and at Manaia on the Thames Coast side. Towns such as Tairua, Whitianga and Coromandel township have no safe state highway access.

State Highway 25A (Kōpū to Hikuai) is reduced to one lane due to a slip and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says drivers should take “extreme caution”.

It’s advising road users not to drive into flooded areas.

There are also reports of surface flooding on State Highway 2 at Waikino in the Karangahake Gorge.

In Paihia, State Highway 11 (Marsden Rd) is closed between Williams Road and Bayview Road because of coastal inundation. A small local detour is in place.

Orange heavy rain warnings are currently in place for Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane (including Rotorua and the Kaimai Range) and northeast of Omaio, Gisborne/Tairawhiti north of Tokomaru Bay, and Tasman northwest of Motueka. All extend until at least this afternoon, though some will continue to be in effect into tomorrow.

A heavy rain watch is in place for Tongariro National Park, and another is due to come into play at midday for Bay of Plenty about and east of Whakatane, and southwest of Omaio.

RNZ is the statutory civil defence lifeline radio broadcaster and will be providing vital information and updates as they come to hand. Check out the frequencies here.

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