Farmers unhappy at speed of power restoration after tornado

Bay of Plenty farmers who lost power after a tornado hit on Good Friday want to ensure it is restored quicker next time.

The tornado and lightning left downed powerlines and poles and cut power to about 3500 Powerco customers, 40 of whom had to wait until yesterday to get it back.

Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers president Derek Spratt said some dairy farmers were without power for 36 hours, forcing them to miss three milkings.

Missed milkings can reduce milk production in cows, he said. It was lucky the problem came late in the season, when cows were giving less milk and most farmers were looking to dry off their herds late next month.

Federated Farmers members would to meet Powerco representatives to discuss quicker ways of getting power restored to farms, he said.

Business owners in Katikati were still mopping up the mess and airing out their properties today after water poured into shops on Friday.

Most kiwifruit orchards, due to be picked over the next few weeks, missed the brunt of the tornado.

But Pongakawa avocado growers Helen and Andre Hickson said the tornado felled at least 12 avocado trees and 25 melia trees.

- Bay of Plenty Times