Govt plans to partially sell some state assets, including power companies, could free up to $10bn, but critics say the move will lead to higher electricity prices and put too much control of strategic assets in foreign hands.

Cutting Auckland's carbon emmissions by 40 per cent by 2025 is among a raft of environmental goals announced by Mayor Len Brown this morning.

Wind generation has grown 10-fold since 2003, to more than 4 per cent today. This year alone wind capacity will grow nearly 25 per cent as three new wind farms are commissioned.

Electricity has been restored to the 5500 Wairarapa households that suffered power cuts after strong winds snapped power poles yesterday.

Power has been restored to Napier after a felled tree shortcircuited a cable supplying electricity to more than 21,000 people.

The death of a man whose breathing apparatus stopped during a power cut has been referred to a coroner.

New technology is lighting up cities and saving energy.