Unison searching for cause of Hawke's Bay power problem

Unison crews are out searching for the cause of a series of power outages and surges across parts of Napier and Hastings this morning. PHOTO File HBT14401213

Unison crews are scouring the power network across Napier and Hastings to uncover what has caused a string of power surges and minor outages this morning.

"We are not sure at this stage what has happened and we have crews out searching and patrolling the lines to find out what it is," Unison spokesman Danny Gough said.

There were also power surges reported in Greenmeadows, Flaxmere and Napier South, and this may have led to water being cut off in large parts of the Hastings district, and schools throughout Flaxmere being closed.

Mr Gough said it was not certain whether the power outage and a burst water main were connected.

One Greenmeadows resident said there had been two surges while a Napier South homeowner described a "small surge" there.

The main outages were reported in parts of Hastings and Havelock North where power went off about 7.15am before returning just after 8am.

It affected about 5000 users.

"It could be bird strike or failed equipment, we're just not sure at the moment," Mr Gough said.

The region's network is fed by a main 33,000 volt line and any impact or issues with that line would likely result in a ripple affect down the lines into various areas.

Unison crews were patrolling by vehicle and on foot to find where the problem lay.

In Hastings the water was off for about an hour from 8am, but the timing meant hundreds of children got a day off after the Ministry of Education asked all Flaxmere schools to close for health and safety.

A Hastings District Council spokesperson said the council was advised the water was off in Flaxmere, St Leonards, Fernhill and Omahu for about an hour due to a power surge.

Flaxmere Primary School principal Robyn Isaacson said the water was still off when school opened at 8.30am, but had been restored by 9am.

She said it was a legal requirement of the Ministry of Education to close schools if there was no water and no working toilets.

"About 400 of our 500 pupils went home but we still have 100 kids that were not able to go home and we will carry on as normal with them."

All staff had remained at the school to carry on teaching the children who had remained.

Other schools and pre-schools to close due lack of water included Irongate School, Flaxmere College, Kimi Ora Community School, Peterhead School and Te Kāinga Pōtiki ō Pāharakeke.