There were mainly localised electricity supply issues across Hawke's Bay during the day, when
the strongest gusts were about 150km/h at Cape Turnagain, at the opposite end of the region.
The peak giusts were marginally lighter than the nationwiide high for the day, about 155km/h in the Canterbury high country.
Elsewhere in Hawke's Bay there were peaks of 95km/h early in the afternoon on the Takapau Plains between Waipukurau and Dannevirke, and 80km/h at Hawke's Bay Airport, near Napier, about 6am.
Fenz
said the Nukaha fire
threatened a couple of properties, but added that the main challenge was the downed powerlines:
"We had to isolate power".
The fire covered about 60m by 40m along a river bank and was soon controlled but access was limited until firefighters were certain that it was fully contained.
"Fingers crossed it isn't an all-day affair," he said.
Police announced soon after 1pm the fire was out and the road reopened.
One fire engine from Wairoa, one from Nuhaka, and two water tankers were used in fighting the fire.
Police had few other reports of problems on the roads as a result of the wind, although tree branches were at one stage said to be blocking a State Highway 5 passing lane near Glengarry.
