Southland remains under a local state of emergency following the damaging winds on Thursday 23 October. The emergency declaration, which was extended by Southland Mayor Rob Scott on advice from Emergency Management Southland, allows authorities to maintain control over the recovery efforts. It will remain in place until at least Friday 7 November.
Safety remains the top priority across the region, with most parks, playgrounds, cemeteries, and reserves in Invercargill, Bluff and surrounding areas still closed. Authorities are urging the public not to enter these areas or collect firewood, saying, “They are dangerous and by entering you put yourself and potentially our emergency responders at risk if you need their assistance.”
Damaged trees and debris continue to pose a risk, with local councils assessing the full scale of the storm’s impact and managing the clean-up. People working to tidy their properties are being reminded to take care and avoid injury. In rural areas, creating green waste piles from fallen branches is recommended, although they are currently too wet to burn.
Support remains available through community hubs offering power, Wi-Fi and showers. Authorities are encouraging people to “check on whānau, friends, and neighbours — especially those needing extra help”, as the stress of the situation continues. Welfare support can be reached by calling 0800 890 127 or emailing [email protected], and mental health support is always available by calling or texting 1737.
Electricity is slowly being restored, but outages remain widespread. As of 2.30pm on Sunday 3 November, 681 properties were still without power – 260 in Southland and 421 in South Otago. PowerNet reports that there may be additional outages as they continue to identify faults. They advise residents: “If your power goes off again and doesn’t come back on after four hours, give us a call.”
Anyone whose neighbours have power but they don’t should submit a new form on the PowerNet website or call 0800 808 587. Damage within property boundaries must be assessed by a licensed electrician to ensure readiness for reconnection.
Community BBQs are also being organised, hosted by Rural Support Trust, Emergency Management Southland, DairyNZ and others. Residents are encouraged to follow Southland Rural Support Trust on Facebook for upcoming events and information.