February 16, 2023
No quick fix to power outage crisis
The Minister for Emergency Management, Kieran McAnulty, says more than 200,000 homes are without power and it might take days to reconnect them all.
Cyclone Gabrielle brought down power lines and affected facilities across the North Island.
Transpower declared a grid emergency after Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne lost supply.
“The lines companies and the mobile providers have given their best assurance they will reconnect things as quick as they can. Some people may be without power for days. The problem being of course is that as long as the weather continues like it is, it is going to hamper things, so the only assurance I can provide people is as soon as possible,” Mr McAnulty says.