Power and phone companies are unsure if a helicopter severing power lines was responsible for a mass phone failure yesterday.
The helicopter was spraying farm land when it severed three power lines about 2.30pm, 12km north of Whangarei.
About 30 minutes later a Telecom phone exchange failed.
A Northpower spokesman said he was not aware of any connection between the two incidents. The accident cut power to 450 homes for up to two and a half hours.
A Telecom spokesman said it seemed likely the severed lines had interrupted power supply to an exchange supplying thousands of customers cutting phone service for about 10 minutes, but technicians were still not absolutely certain.
The Civil Aviation Authority said the incident was minor and it would not send an investigator out into the field.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)
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