Horizon Networks wishes to advise customers that cyclone Cook has caused significant damage to power infrastructure supplying the Whakatane and Opotiki districts. As at 4:30pm the following areas remain without power:

• Whakatane District
  • Otawairere, Burma Road
  • Ruatoki and Sisams Valley
  • Awaiti South and side roads, Melville Road, Colebrook Road
  • Poplar Lane
  • Fermah Road, Butler Road
  • Te Teko, SH30 to Rotorua
  • Eastbank Road and McLeans Road
  • McKee Road
  • Haumea Road
  • Supplies in the evacuated area of Edgecumbe
• Opotiki District
  • East of Opotiki up to Hawai
  • Otara Road to Waioeka
  • Ohiwa, Kutarere, Waimana, Matahi and Waiotahi Valley

Further to our last update we have restored a further 5,500 customers, there remains 3,500 customers without power across the district. The additional supplies have been restored in the following areas:

• Whakatane
  • Awakeri, Hallets Road, Otakiri, Braemar Road
  • Matata, Herepuru Road, Manawahe Road
  • Galatea with the exception of Haumea Road
  • Supplies in the evacuated area of Edgecumbe
• Opotiki
  • Opotiki township, Waiotahe Drifts

We are aware parts of the Network in areas that have been restored continue to be without power, if repairs are required they will be carried out once the main backbone supplying the various areas have been restored. 

We’re sorry to say that despite our best efforts we have been unable to restore all supplies today, we ask those customers who have not yet had their power restored to prepare for the night without power. Unfortunately given the widespread damage caused, customers should plan to be without power for up to 3 days. Dairy farmers who are concerned about milking and businesses who would like to trade and are without power we recommend that you make arrangements to install generators.

Some of our staff have been working throughout the night, and we have brought in additional staff to assist with the repairs. To manage the Health, Safety and Wellbeing of our staff we will be finishing repair work at sunset. Horizon will have rostered staff available throughout the night to attend to any further outages and will resume repairs in the morning.

We thank everyone for their continued patience.

Please be aware we have had multiple reports of lines down around the district, please stay well clear of any low hanging lines and those on the ground.

The weather forecast is predicting further rain for the district over the coming days, this may result in further outages and delays in restoring supply across the region due to slips and trees. Even customers fortunate to have had their power supplies restored today should prepare themselves for further extended outages. 

Horizon Energy apologises for any inconvenience this may cause and advises all customers to contact their retailers in the first instance and to treat ALL lines as alive at ALL times.

For more information about preparing for natural disasters or civil emergencies, please visit the Civil Defence website at www.getthru.govt.nz

People can also follow the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bopcivildefence or visit the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence website at www.whakatane.govt.nz/news/severe-weather-event-updates-april-2017#latest for the latest updates.

For radio updates listen to your local radio station.