Gale-force winds caused power blackouts in Wanaka for the second day in a row yesterday, as a powerful northwest frontal system blasted across western parts of Central Otago.
Forecast blustery gales have swept through Wanaka, Hawea, and Queenstown since Wednesday, creating issues for utilities providers and minor cleanup jobs for some council contractors.
Wanaka police were called out yesterday morning to monitor live power lines that had come down across properties, posing a potential danger to pedestrians and motorists.
Delta systems control manager Graeme Johnson said about 20 households were without power yesterday, while linesmen worked for more than two hours to fix the burnt-out low-voltage cable.
On Wednesday, Meadowstone households and other western areas of Wanaka were left without power during lunchtime, after a faulty piece of equipment "tripped a feeder" to cause the electricity fault, Mr Johnson said.
Queenstown Lakes District Council spokeswoman Jo Blick said the strong winds had caused some minor cleanup duties for contractors in Arrowtown, when the gusts brought down tree branches.
A group of visitors in 12 campervans found they were trapped at the remote Kidds Bush Department of Conservation campsite on Lake Hawea yesterday morning, as a large mountain beech tree had crashed down on to the access road during the night. The tree was cleared about 11am.
