Abandoned homes in the Christchurch suburb of Redcliffs. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Abandoned homes in the Christchurch suburb of Redcliffs. Photo / Brett Phibbs
7.25pm
The first power generator airlifted from Australia kicked into gear in Christchurch today as energy provider Orion closes in on restoring power to the earthquake-ravaged city.
The 7-1/2-tonne apparatus, which can power up to 200 properties, was freighted from Townsville to Christchurch by the New Zealand air force onSunday.
It had to be dismantled to squeeze into the C130 Hercules and then reassembled before being transported to a location in Sumner, one of the suburbs worst affected by the February 22 disaster.
More generators from Gough Power Services are also scheduled to be brought across the Tasman.
A spokesman for Orion said about 3300 consumers in Christchurch's struggling eastern suburbs were still without power but it was hoped that number would be halved by late tomorrow.
Most Christchurch residents have had power restored to their properties, with only 8900 households still without electricity
Ninety-eight percent of Christchurch has power but that excludes those in the central business district.
