Power out to more than 800 in Bay of Plenty with strong gusts to continue this afternoon

Power is out to more than 200 properties in Te Puke. Photo / File

More than 800 properties across the Bay of Plenty are without power as a result of the windy weather.

According to Powerco, weather-related outages include 196 properties in Aongatete, losing power at 11.51am because of power lines down and 470 properties in Lower Kaimai losing power at 1.02pm when a toppled tree brought down lines.

Power to 26 properties in Te Puke was lost at 10.46am and 118 in Te Poi at 11.12am.

Powerco network operations manager Karen Frew said crews were on the ground fixing the storm damage to the network as quickly and safely as possible.

Frew said wind-blown debris and falling trees were a constant threat to the electricity network, particularly in stormy conditions.

She said property owners were legally obliged to keep their trees clear of power lines. If a tree is within four metres of the overhead lines, an approved contractor must cut or trim it.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand were also called to a tree across the road on State Highway 2 in Te Puna at 11.21am.

Gustily winds throughout the region

The tree blocked the northbound lane and has since been removed using a chainsaw, a spokesman said.

A MetService media spokeswoman said there has been strong south-westerlies across the region for the last two hours, averaging around 45km/h across the region.

She said Tauranga has had strong gusts since mid-morning, reaching speeds of 83km/h between 10.30am and 11.30am.

Rotorua had gusts of wind up to 74km/h.

The gusts will continue for the next two hours, she said, settling this evening, but could still be strong.

Although the south-westerly winds would continue tomorrow across the Bay of Plenty, it would be "much lighter" than today.

There is a potential of frost in sheltered areas tomorrow, with temperatures reaching the mid-teens in Tauranga and a maximum of 13C in Rotorua.