Wild weather causes power cuts in the wider Whanganui region

More than 500 customers lost power last night due to the strong winds, with crews currently working to restore power to the area around Pauls Road and Anzac Parade. Photo / Logan Tutty

Strong gale-force winds have caused multiple pockets of power outages in the Whanganui region over the last 24 hours.

Wind gusts got up to 85km in the region with the wild weather causing havoc with Powerco's electricity network, leading to outages in Waitotara, Aramoho and Marton leaving more than 500 households without power.

At 9pm on Tuesday evening, 481 customers around the Pauls Rd/Anzac Pde area in Whanganui East lost power when lines were brought down. A field crew are on site repairing lines and broken cross-arms. 61 customers are still without power, which is expected to be restored by 5.30pm.

At Waitotara 69 customers lost power around 5pm on Tuesday, with 18 still without power this morning. Power is expected to be restored by 5pm.

Field crews were on standby to respond ahead of the gale-force weather, with trees falling on powerlines causing significant damage around the area.

Thirty-eight customers in the Papaiti Rd area past the Top 10 Holiday Park in Aramoho lost power from 5.30pm after trees were blown into lines. Field crew returned this morning to continue work in the area, with all customers power being restored.

Power was also cut to 27 customers near Waverly due to winds last night just after 9pm. Power was restored just before 2pm this afternoon.

In Marton 167 customers lost power just after 9pm when trees damaged powerlines. Power was restored by 2.45am.

Powerco is working to restore power to remaining customers, with power expected to be back on by midday.