Power, traffic, cows come to halt as pole shattered

A logging truck crash cut power to 1300 customers in Northland yesterday.

A power pole was smashed and electricity cut to 1300 customers when a fully loaded logging-truck's trailer flipped at Poroti early yesterday.

The driver took a bend near the Poroti Tavern, Mangakahia Rd, too fast about 4.30am en route from Waimatenui to the port at Marsden Point, said Whangarei police Senior Constable John van Pomeren.

"One of the logs speared a rather large power pole with a transformer sitting on top of it."

One lane of the road was closed until the trailer and logs were removed and the transformer pole replaced by midday.

The incident left many farmers unable to milk cows until the Poroti sub-station was functioning again about 8am.

Wright Rd residents had been expecting a power cut some hours later while Northpower moved four power poles. Dairy farmer Graham Wright said there had been only a brief window for milking.