Rotorua crash cuts power to hundreds, traffic disrupted

Workers at the scene on Pukehangi Rd. Photo / Ben Fraser

A crash this morning caused a power outage to hundreds of households in Rotorua.

Police were called after a vehicle crashed into a power pole on Pukehangi Rd about 11.15am.

As of 4pm a section of Pukehangi Rd remains closed as power company staff work to repair the damaged pole.

A cordon was set up at the intersection of Bloomfield St with access for residents only.

“The southbound lane [of Pukehangi] is blocked and traffic control is being put in place,” a spokeswoman said earlier.

“Ambulance was notified but [there is] nothing to suggest there were any injuries,” the spokeswoman said.

According to the Unison website, power was initially out to 658 customers in the Pukehangi and Sunnybrook area.

A partial restoration subsequently reduced that number to 400.

Unison initially said the estimated full restoration time was about 2.15pm.

Power was out to customers in the Pukehangi and Sunnybrook area. Photo / Unison

As of 4pm 177 customers are still without power according to the Unison outages website. Estimated restoration time for the remainder was 5.14pm.