Southland continues to grapple with the aftermath of a fast-moving and unusually intense wind event that swept through the region, prompting a coordinated emergency response and leaving thousands without power.

At a briefing earlier today (26 Oct), Minister for Emergency Management Mark Mitchell, Emergency Management Southland (EMS) Controller Lucy Hicks, and PowerNet CEO Paul Blue provided updates on the situation and the ongoing recovery efforts.

Community Support and Facilities

EMS Controller Lucy Hicks confirmed that several community hubs and facilities have been activated to support residents affected by the outages. These include:

• Wyndham Camping Ground
• Gore Events Centre
• Mataura Living Well Church
• Calvin Church (Gore) – showers available
• Stadium Southland – showers available
• Riverton Rugby Club
• Tuatapere Hall – available if needed
• Colac Bay Marae – available to open if required

EMS is maintaining contact with 21 community response groups outside Invercargill, focusing on restoring essential lifelines and coordinating generator support. Fuel supplies remain stable, and stockwater systems are beginning to recover.

Power Restoration Challenges

PowerNet CEO Paul Blue reported that approximately 9,500 of Southland’s 50,000 customers remain without electricity.

While crews are working tirelessly, some areas may face delays of up to a week before power is fully restored.

We understand it’s slow going for some, but we will get to you, said Blue.

He urged residents to stay away from downed trees and power lines and to have generators installed by qualified electricians.

PowerNet has 160 staff in the field, with numbers expected to rise to 220 by Tuesday. Support is also coming from other power companies across the country.

Three generators delivered via Hercules aircraft are now powering cell towers, and EMS is prioritising smaller generators for farms.

However, Blue warned that power may go off again briefly during safety checks.

Government and Emergency Response

Minister Mitchell praised the efforts of the Emergency Management Centre and emergency agencies, calling the situation “an unusual event” due to the high winds.

He acknowledged the resilience of the Southland community and emphasised the importance of a whole-of-community response.

Mitchell highlighted rural and animal welfare concerns and said central government is prioritising generator deployment and staff support.

He also noted the tragic death of a man in Wellington due to a fallen tree, urging Southlanders to remain vigilant around damaged trees and slips.

“This was the speediest onset I’ve seen,” said Lucy Hicks, describing how the wind event escalated from orange to red alert within minutes. She added that the region was fortunate not to have seen serious injuries.

Staying Warm and Safe

With a cold blast forecast over the coming days, residents without power are advised to take precautions to stay warm:

• Close doors and windows, and draw curtains to preserve heat.
• Wear extra layers of clothing.
• Don’t wait until you’re cold—it’s harder to warm up again.
• Never use outdoor gas appliances indoors.

Authorities continue to urge residents to check on neighbours, especially the elderly, and to prioritise safety above all.