Hundreds across South Island and Wellington without power
Stormy weather and a Transpower fault caused widespread power outages across New Zealand's South Island, affecting 25,000 customers at the peak. While most power has been restored, crews continue to address individual faults amid lingering strong winds and unseasonably warm temperatures.
Why it matters
The event highlights infrastructure vulnerability to extreme weather and the impact of climate-driven temperature anomalies on regional utility stability.
About 300 customers remain without power in Otago and Southland on Sunday evening after a day of stormy weather and a Transpower fault cut electricity to thousands. Powernet said it hoped at least 150 of those customers back on tonight. The remaining 150 customers are individual faults identified throughout Southland and Otago. Strong winds, lightning strikes and a Transpower outage left approximately 25,000 customers without power around lunchtime on Sunday. An Invercargill resident told the ODT their power blinked off briefly before returning. The Transpower outage was restored after a couple of hours, while crews worked on weather related outages throughout the day.
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