Crews Working 24/7 Restoring Power, Roads, Parks Closed

RNZ
Due to the state of emergency in Southland and the lack of power affecting the ability to communicate important safety messages, RNZ is instigating special information bulletins for the Southland and Clutha regions with information provided from emergency organisations in the area.These will start at 5pm today (Friday 24 October) after the news and weather and will continue to run after the 7am, 12pm and 5pm bulletins for as long as they are needed.A reminder that you if you have no power you can listen to these bulletins on your car radio. Here are the main frequencies:- Invercargill: FM 101.2 or AM 720- Queenstown: FM 101.6- Wanaka: FM 101.0- Alexandra: FM 101.5- Dunedin: FM 101.4 or AM 810

A full list of frequencies is available here: rnz.co.nz/listen

Emergency Management Southland
A huge thank you, Southland! We’re blown away by the incredible community spirit shown across the region over the past few days. From businesses to emergency personnel, so many have worked tirelessly to support one another in our communities.

For those of you still without electricity, it’s a good time to start thinking about food safety. After more than two days without power, perishable foods may not be safe to eat. Consuming food that has gone off can put you at risk of illness from bacteria.

If food in your freezer has been thawed and has been at room temperature for two hours or more, you will need to dispose of it—don’t refreeze or use defrosted food when the power comes back on.

Always wash and dry your hands before preparing food. To conserve water, keep some in a bowl with disinfectant. Please make sure all utensils are clean before use and cook food thoroughly.

To everyone who’s cooked a meal for friends or extended Whānau, lent a hand, checked in on neighbours, shared a cuppa, or opened your doors to those in need—thank you. Your kindness and generosity are what make Southland so special. It’s tough times like these that remind us how proud we are to be Southlanders.

To request additional support call 0800 890 127 between 8am - 9pm.

St John Stay safe, stay connected: Mobile phone tips during severe weather

If mobile networks go down, you may still be able to reach emergency services but it’s important to know your options.

Dial 111 as usual first. Even if your provider’s network is affected, most phones will try to connect using any available network for emergency calls. If that doesn’t work, move to higher ground or a more open area where coverage is usually better.

If you can’t connect by mobile, use a landline or any other available means to raise the alarm — including a satellite device, radio, or by asking someone nearby for help.

Keep your phone charged, carry a power bank, and know how to switch networks manually. In remote areas, having a backup communication option can make all the difference.

If life or safety is at risk, don’t wait for coverage to return — try every option to call for help.For further advice, please contact your mobile network provider.

PowerNet is warning thousands of people in Southland and South Otago may be without power until next week, after severe winds lashed the regions on Thursday.

Chief Executive Paul Blue said Friday’s focus had been on understanding the extent of the damage before repairs could begin. “Essentially the backbone of our Southland and South Otago electricity networks are broken – and we have to repair the backbone before we can begin to stand them back up,” he said.

Damage was caused by broken poles, trees coming down on lines, and flying debris. “In some cases the wind gusts were so strong they simply blew our poles and lines over,” Mr Blue said. “The sheer scale of this damage means we will be working throughout the weekend, and well into next week before all customers have power back on. We are also working with neighbouring lines businesses and contractors to support our teams with the network restoration.”

PowerNet has restored electricity to some parts of its networks, focusing on wastewater, water, and healthcare services. Challenges for crews include access to fuel, damaged telecommunications, and blocked roads. “We’re very grateful for the kindness of our communities and for the patience and understanding of most of our customers. We know the next several days will be tough for many of you still without power, as it will be for our crews who will be working hard to get you reconnected,” Mr Blue said.

Invercargill City Council update

All parks and reserves remain closed over the weekend. “We’ve got a huge clean-up ahead – including assessing trees that may still come down. This is why you need to stay away. We need to keep everyone safe. A huge thank you to the Parks team for all their hard mahi, and for everyone who is staying away and letting us do our jobs.”

Transfer stations will reopen under restricted hours. The Invercargill Transfer Station will open Saturday 8am–6pm, Sunday 9am–6pm, and Monday 8am–6pm. The Bluff Transfer Station will open Saturday 11am–2pm, Sunday 10am–12.30pm, and Monday 2pm–4pm.

AB Lime remains on generator power, meaning green waste at transfer stations will be limited. “A huge shoutout to the crews who have been working around the clock to clear fallen trees and get the sites open again!” council staff said.

Environment Southland update

Environment Southland staff are working to support recovery following Thursday’s storm, which resulted in a state of emergency for the region.

Extreme winds and patchy network coverage have disrupted many of the council’s monitoring sites. “Due to conditions in the region, some sites might take longer to get back online,” staff said. Teams are working across Southland to maintain data and restore damaged equipment.

The catchment operations team is aware of fallen trees on the Ōtautau and Mataura flood banks, as well as debris on Invercargill walkways. People are asked to report any large trees or damage. The Kingswell walking track behind Southland Hospital is closed due to fallen trees.

The navigational safety team is urging caution on the water. “Debris is likely to be floating around Fiordland, Southern Lakes, and coastal areas, especially near river mouths. The Harbourmaster is checking Bluff Harbour today for any damage.”

Power outages have caused difficulties for farmers, with some likely to dump milk. “If that’s necessary we’re asking them to use effluent ponds and let our compliance team know so we can follow up later.”

Farmers with full or near-full effluent ponds may need to irrigate on wet pastures. “We’re asking them to choose paddocks carefully to avoid runoff into tile drains or discharges to waterways. Our compliance team is here to help farmers, and anyone uncertain can reach out for support.”

Environment Southland remains available 24/7 for urgent environmental incidents on 0800 76 88 45.

Residents are encouraged to download the Antenno app, used by all four southern councils, for direct updates and to report non-urgent matters. “Our message to Southlanders is to stay safe, and thank them for working with us while we get things back on track.”

Southland District Council roads update

Southland District Council has confirmed a number of roads are reopening after extensive cleanup efforts.

Roads open: Woodslea Downs Road, Otautau Wreys Bush Road, Wyndham Valley Road, Irving Road (Rakahouka), and Tyneholm Road.
Expected to open tonight (24 Oct): Braid Road, Kenilworth Road, and Matheson Road.
Closed or impassable: Mavora Lakes Access Road.

Drivers are urged to take care as debris, branches, and loose power lines may still be present in some areas.

Gore District Council update

Gore District Council said there are still trees down across the district and power outages in several rural areas. Power may be out for some days while crews work to repair damage and restore lines.

PowerNet is advising residents to only call if they see a broken pole, downed lines, or trees across powerlines. To report this kind of damage, phone 0800 808 587. Do not approach any damaged equipment, and if there’s an emergency or threat to life, call 111 immediately.

Several local roads remain closed due to fallen trees and downed powerlines. Power companies are working to make areas safe, but delays are expected. Some roads may not have warning signs, and unstable trees or debris may still be present — please drive carefully.

If you require welfare assistance, email [email protected] or call 03 209 0330. “Please be cautious when out and about, as loose branches and trees could still fall. Stay safe and be patient.”

👉 For updates and a map of road closures, visit www.goredc.govt.nz/council/strong-wind-weather-event.

Regional recovery

Across Southland and South Otago, hundreds of workers remain on the ground repairing lines, clearing fallen trees, and reopening blocked roads. The priority remains restoring essential services and ensuring safety in affected communities.

PowerNet continues to coordinate with emergency services, neighbouring network companies, and contractors from around the South Island to speed up repairs. Councils are urging people to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from damaged parks and reserves.

As Mr Blue said, “We know this has been incredibly tough for our communities. Our crews are doing everything they can — and we’ll keep going until every customer is reconnected.”