Councils, Powernet, Emergency Southland Update

The number of people still without power across Otago and Southland has dropped to around 3,000, with 1,900 in Southland and 1,120 in South Otago.

PowerNet Chief Executive Paul Blue says crews continue to make strong progress restoring power, but some properties will remain disconnected for several more days due to the extent of storm damage. Customers urged to report individual faults.

“We’re now getting into the really challenging portion of this work, where there is substantial damage that takes a lot of resources to fix but only restores power for a small number of customers,” Mr Blue said.
“This means we can expect our numbers of people without power to drop more slowly, and some of those without power may still be waiting for several days.”

More than 400 customers have submitted online property fault forms, which PowerNet says is helping crews identify remaining isolated outages faster.

Mr Blue urged customers to complete the online form if their property remains without power even after their area has been restored.

“In some cases, the feeder supplying power may be live, but an individual property could still be disconnected. We may call customers directly to gather more information to help restore their power. Please rest assured these calls are legitimate — we’ll never ask for banking or personal information.”

PowerNet is reminding people not to touch trees or debris near power lines and to always assume fallen lines are live.

Customers can log individual faults at powernet.co.nz or by calling 0800 808 587, but phone wait times may be long. The company is asking the public to keep phone lines free for emergencies.

Southland District Council Update
Free Waste and Iron Disposal This Weekend

Following last week’s severe winds, the Southland District Council is offering free disposal of urban green waste and iron cladding in Winton this weekend.

A vacant yard on Florence Road, north of Southbuild ITM on State Highway 96, will be open from 9am Saturday (1 November) until 5pm Sunday (2 November).

Residents can drop off:

Green waste (branches or trunks up to 150mm in diameter)
Iron roofing sheets and clean iron cladding (nails and supports must be removed)

Due to limited space, only car trailer-sized loads will be accepted.

Council says the initiative aims to remove dangerous loose iron and debris across the district. The operation will be reviewed on Monday, with potential reopening if demand remains high.

Residents are urged to use chainsaws safely and seek professional help if inexperienced. Normal transfer station hours remain in place for other waste types.

Parks, Reserves, and Cemeteries
All Southland District Council parks, reserves, open spaces, and cemeteries remain closed following the storm.

“We have more than 200 parks and reserves and roughly 15,000 trees,” Council staff said. “Our arborists are assessing damage and risk levels, but it will take time before we can safely reopen.”

The public is asked to remain patient and stay out of closed areas until inspections are complete.

Invercargill City Council Update
There’s some good news for city residents, with Anderson Park and playground now safely reopened.

Thomsons Bush has also reopened, with one track open for use. Most sports fields in Invercargill and Bluff are now open, except:

⛔ Waikiwi Domain

Cemeteries:

✅ Eastern Cemetery and Bluff Cemetery – Open
⛔ St John’s Cemetery (Waikiwi) – Closed

Residents are reminded to:

Respect closed gates, barriers, and taped-off areas.
Report hazards to 03 211 1777.
Stay patient as crews continue safety checks and clean-up work.

Emergency Management Southland Update
State of Local Emergency Continues

Southland remains under a state of local emergency after the October 23 storm. The declaration was extended by Southland Mayor Rob Scott on advice from Emergency Management Southland to maintain coordinated recovery efforts.

Today’s focus includes:

Tree and debris clean-up across the region.
Welfare and support services for affected residents.
Safety assessments of parks and reserves.

Support contacts:

Welfare Support: 0800 890 127 (9am–3pm) | [email protected]
Mental Health Support (24/7): Call or text 1737 | 1737.org.nz

Community hubs remain open for power, Wi-Fi, and showers, and the Southland Rural Support Trust continues to host community BBQs, with more events planned.

Mayoral Relief Fund:

Initial contributions include $75,000 from Government and $50,000 from MPI (shared with Clutha).
Donations and applications can be made via the Emergency Management Southland website.

Weather & Roads:

No flooding concerns at present.
Drive carefully and check MetService.com for the latest forecasts.
Report waterway or floodbank damage to Environment Southland 0800 76 88 45