500 still without power in Taranaki 9th March 2012
Some residents of south Taranaki face a second week without power as the local power company works on to repair its battered network.

Powerco says lines crews are working through the Taranaki Anniversary Weekend to try to restore supply to about 500 customers who have been without power since a storm brought down 600 power lines and destroyed transformers last Saturday.

The customers are in Whanganui, Patea, Waverley and Waitotara Valley where damage to the network is most severe. Most are in rural areas.

The company says a small number of customers will not have supply restored until next week.

Power was cut to 30,000 properties when the storm swept through quickly on Saturday.

Powerco network operations manager Phil Marsh says people should turn their mains switch off if they leave their property while waiting for supply to be restored.

"We're trying to get around to everyone to let them know what the situation is with their power, and to make sure they're holding up OK," he said.

Much of Patea, which has a population of about 1000, was badly damaged, with roofs blown off homes and the main street scattered with sheets of iron and trees, when the storm hit.