Overnight Outages and Damage After Fierce Winds Lash Southland

Word About Town Bargain Chemist Coming, Hunting & Fishing Relocating

Overnight Outages and Damage After Fierce Winds Lash SouthlandWord About Town Bargain Chemist Coming, Hunting & Fishing RelocatingAfter years of speculation over whether Aussie chain Chemist Warehouse or New Zealand’s own Bargain Chemist would move into the old Farmers building on Dee Street, the wait is over. Property owner Gaire

What’s On Invers – Invercargill & Southland News 24/7Mike Sanford

Emergency Management Southland has issued a warning that tens of thousands of homes and businesses across Southland may be without power overnight, and some outages could last well into the weekend. This follows a severe wind event that has caused significant damage to homes, roads, and infrastructure throughout the lower South Island.

MetService has now lifted the Red Wind Warning for coastal Southland, but the aftermath of the storm is far from over. Emergency Management Southland Controller Lucy Hicks urged people to remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

“There are trees and powerlines down across the lower South Island, and road closure signs are limited due to the wind,” she said. “Power is still unavailable across large parts of Southland. Tonight, we encourage people to stay put, stay warm and dry. This might mean staying with friends, family or neighbours.”

PowerNet teams have been working throughout the day to assess the damage caused by the powerful winds, with safety remaining their top priority. The storm brought down dozens of power poles, left lines hanging across roads, and caused trees to fall onto live wires. Staff are managing "incredibly dangerous situations" and are focused on securing the most hazardous areas first before restoring power to essential services such as water supplies and treatment plants.

The scale of damage across South Otago and Southland has been described as "unprecedented", and crews are still working to determine the full extent. Many areas are likely to remain without electricity overnight, with some customers possibly facing longer outages.

PowerNet stressed that members of the public must not attempt to handle or clear downed lines themselves. “If you come across downed lines, broken poles, or damaged infrastructure, please do not approach it or attempt to make the area safe yourself. This is incredibly dangerous and you must treat all of our infrastructure as live at all times.”

The public is urged to call PowerNet on 0800 808 587 to report significant damage such as fallen trees on lines or snapped poles. However, residents are asked not to call to report power outages, as the call centre is prioritising emergency situations.

If you are medically dependent on electricity or do not feel safe due to damage in your area, call 111 immediately. For property damage, contact your insurer or landlord.

Due to strong winds, State Highway 6 Invercargill is CLOSED between Bainfield Road and Renfrew Street. Road users are advised to avoid the area.

The recovery from this weather event is expected to last several days, and residents are being advised to prepare for ongoing outages and disruptions to water and communication services.