Thousands facing power misery

Christchurch man Russell Horrell was rescued from his van (pictured in the background) at the flooded Taumarere River near Kawakawa. Photo/Peter de Graaf

Thousands of Northlanders were to wake up to a particularly cold morning, with more than 17,000 homes and businesses without power overnight as the big storm brought chaos to the region.

Emergency services, linesmen, volunteers and home owners were today mopping up after the storm tore off roofs and ripped up trees, flipped trucks near Kaiwaka, flooded bridges in the Bay of Islands and brought down power lines across Northland.

Top Energy said about 11,000 Far North households were without power overnight following extensive damage to the region's electricity network by the severe storm. The areas that continue to be most impacted by the loss of power are Pukenui, Awanui, Te Kao, Te Hapua, Mahiniapua, Peria, Towai, Russell and Opononi. About 6500 Northpower customers were without power overnight across the Kaipara and Whangarei District.

Two motorists stranded in the middle of raging floodwaters were pulled to safety early yesterday by a police officer riding a digger bucket.

The drama unfolded about 6.30am at the bottom of Lemon's Hill, where State Highway 11 crosses the usually sedate Kawakawa River.

Heavy overnight rain had swollen the river, flooding a 200m section of highway just north of Kawakawa.

Christchurch man Russell Horrell had been at a conference at the Copthorne Hotel in Waitangi. He had spoken to a police officer warning motorists about the flood but thought his van was heavy and high enough to get through.

"What I didn't know is that the air intake for this van is down low. It took in water and petered out."

That left Mr Horrell stuck in the middle of the flooded highway. He was still dry inside his cab so decided to sit it out. About 15 minutes later a young woman driving a rental car also tried to get across.

Senior Sergeant Peter Robinson came across the two stranded vehicles and at the same time local farmer Harry Shepherd was driving his tractor on his way to move some cows. Mr Robinson climbed into the front end loader of the tractor and Mr Shepherd drove slowly towards the cars through the floodwaters.

By this time the water was about one metre deep and rising, so urgent action was needed to get the people out. Mr Shepherd drove the tractor into the flood water and Mr Robinson stood in the loader and pulled the people to safety.

On Otiria Rd, Moerewa, the Shortland family began moving stuff from a carport and vehicles to higher grounds from 5am yesterday after their house was completely surrounded by floodwaters.

They tied an aluminium dinghy at the front door in case of evacuation.

Two north-bound trucks were blown off the State Highway 1 as the drivers slowed to handle the treacherous conditions in Northland yesterday on a straight stretch of road just south of Kaiwaka.

Northland police Highway Patrol Constable Gregg Chisnall said the driver of the truck and trailer unit was taken to Whangarei Hospital by ambulance after suffering leg injuries.

Pine trees about 50m tall were bowled over by strong winds and fortunately they fell into a cow paddock and not across State Highway 1.

Dairy farmer Jack McLean said the strip of pines were about 20 years old and lined the boundary fence on the highway just south of Waipu.