• Power and water issues continue but community support and generator sharing is easing pressure
• Welfare teams remain active checking residents and maintaining support at community hubs
• Surrey Park in Invercargill has reopened but all other city parks remain closed for safety
Southland is continuing its recovery following severe weather that caused widespread outages and damage across the region. Many communities are still without power and some areas remain reliant on generators, but the situation is steadily improving thanks to the efforts of locals, emergency teams and community organisations.
Emergency Management Southland say generator requests have slowed, though some households still need access to smaller residential units. Thirty-one generators are currently in use across the region, helping maintain key infrastructure, dairy sheds and community hubs. Most have come from outside the region, but locals and even Fire and Emergency New Zealand have stepped in to lend equipment. Residents have also been sharing generators among neighbours.
If you have urgent welfare needs or require a generator, you can call the Welfare Line on 0800 890 127 or email [email protected]. The line is monitored between 9am and 4.30pm.
PowerNet reports around 4,800 customers in Southland and 2,000 in Otago still have no power. Some reconnections are taking longer due to the level of damage to lines and poles. Residents are being reminded not to approach or clear debris from downed power lines, as they remain extremely dangerous.
Water conservation is also being encouraged. Many households are experiencing low pressure while reservoirs refill. Most wastewater systems are back online, though Otautau and Winton are still using generators to operate treatment plants.
Emergency Management Southland, DairyNZ, the Rural Support Trust and others are hosting a series of community BBQs to bring people together. No registration is needed—just turn up from 5.30pm to 8pm:
- Tuesday 28 October – Drummond Rugby Club
- Thursday 30 October – Tokanui Tavern
The weather has turned colder with reports of snow flurries in some areas. People are urged to dress warmly, limit heat loss by closing doors and curtains, and take care on icy roads.
Welfare teams have been visiting affected towns to provide support and check on residents. They’ve recently been in places such as Waikaia, Riversdale, Omaui, Makarewa, and Wyndham. Eight schools were closed today due to ongoing outages, including Central Southland College and Winton School.
In Invercargill, Surrey Park has reopened following a full safety assessment. However, all other parks remain closed due to unstable trees and waterlogged ground. While fallen trees will eventually be turned into firewood for community use, this won’t happen until it is safe to process them. Residents are asked not to collect wood themselves in the meantime.
Authorities are urging everyone to continue looking out for neighbours, stay informed through official sources, and be cautious around storm-damaged areas.