The tail of ex-tropical Cyclone Pam continues to whip across the Chatham Islands with damaging wind gusts.
MetService said Cyclone Pam remained a "very intense mid-latitude cyclone" that was moving southeast away from the Chatham Islands at about 20km/h.
Gales of up to 120km/h have been battering the islands since Monday night and were expected to last through to tonight.
Heavy swells of up to 9m wouldn't be easing until tomorrow.
Chatham Islands Civil Defence spokeswoman Rana Solomon said the area remained in a state of Civil Defence emergency.
Civil Defence staff were today visiting homes in the worst hit areas on the island to ensure people were safe.
"Our response people are out and about in the areas that have no communication and no power. They're just double-checking they're okay and how we can assist them, i.e. emptying out their freezers and bringing them in to areas there are power, and making sure they're safe," she said.
The council was expecting power to be reconnected to the houses in two days' time.
Winds were still gusting very strongly, Ms Solomon said, and rain was falling intermittently.
"We're getting a backlash of the tail and we don't expect it to actually change until midday tomorrow."
Civil Defence staff would check the effect on buildings and property once the winds had died down, Ms Solomon said.
"The winds are still very strong," she said.
Chatham Islands mayor Alfred Preece said 12 people were bunkering down in an evacuation centre this morning.
"A lot of other families have moved in with other family members.
"We've had a blustery old night, but it has sort of calmed down briefly, about 3am, and has ramped up again this morning."
Mr Preece said there was some damage, but he was reluctant to elaborate until the storm had subsided.
"We've got power lines down, we've got trees down ... we're not too concerned about little bits and pieces until it has passed."
Schools and businesses would remain closed this morning, and a call would be made later today as to whether they would re-open tomorrow.
By Sophie Ryan of NZME. News Service
