More gusts as clean-up continues

Rough weather is expected to continue in the Hawke's Bay

MetService is warning of more high winds today as parts of Hawke's Bay clean up after weekend gusts that toppled trees and left a woman in hospital.

A frantic four-hour chainsawing effort was required north of Lake Tutira in Northern Hawkes' Bay on Saturday to clear the road so an ambulance could get to a woman injured by a falling tree. The woman, who received head and face injuries, was recovering in Hawke's Bay Hospital yesterday.

She and her partner were returning from a visit to Shine Falls, off SH2 between Napier and Wairoa, when the couple realised their route back was blocked by fallen trees.

The incident happened on Heays Access Rd as the couple were trying to find a way out of the area.

Putorino volunteer fire brigade and other locals worked to clear the road from both ends so an ambulance could reach the woman. One of those involved in chainsawing fallen trees on the road, stock manager Lou Stephens, said about 20 trees had to be cut and pushed out of the way to clear a path for the ambulance.

Heays Access Rd - along with other rural pockets across the region - also lost electricity over the weekend as the strong winds blew trees onto powerlines. Unison spokesman Danny Gough said the power company's repair crews had been flat out repairing lines over the weekend, mainly in rural areas. At the height of the disruptions, about 800 rural homes were without power.

The weather also contributed to problems on the water yesterday, with a Napier Port pilot boat and the volunteer Coast Guard called in to assist a small vessel caught out by high winds and rough seas near the port.

Coast Guard skipper Daniel Pollett said the three people on board 5m fibreglass boat were "very happy to get home" after receiving a tow back to land.

MetService duty forecaster Frances Russell said a severe weather watch was in place for the region with rain expected today along with north-westerlies gusting in the afternoon.