MEDIA RELEASE

12 December 2016, 4pm

Dark night ahead for Gisborne residents

Residents in the Gisborne district face a dark night ahead after a fatal light plane crash west of Tiniroto caused a major power outage around 9am this morning.

Tairawhiti Civil Defence controller Patrick Willock said power was unlikely to be restored until tomorrow night at the earliest.

Power to East Coast residents had been supplied by generators until 2pm this afternoon and will be restored for two hours over dinner time and then turned off again. An intermittent supply will be provided to the East Coast tomorrow.

“Before the evening, we ask people to check on their neighbours, especially if they are elderly.”

Civil Defence brought in 10 generators from Tauranga and will distribute them to fuel and food outlets, and elder care facilities on a priority basis later this afternoon.

Fuel is expected to be on line between 4pm and 6pm at Caltex Gisborne, Gladstone Road and BP Kaiti. These service stations also provide LPG gas.

Some food outlets are providing their own generators, for example KFC and McDonalds. Tairawhiti Civil Defence has organised for generators to be provided at Pizza Hut and Carl’s Junior.

Police have put on extra staff tonight to provide increased surveillance on a dark night without street lighting.

Gisborne Airport has remained open throughout. A generator is in place and fuel is available for the helicopters needed to fix the line.

Parents are advised to contact their school to confirm their child’s school is open tomorrow.

Wainui Beach School closed today due to a lack of water. Many Wainui residents rely on electricity to pump their water. While residents can bucket water out of their tank, Civil Defence will have a water tanker at Wainui Surf Lifesaving Club by 5pm today and again from 7am tomorrow.

Most Gisborne GPs have been unable to function today.

ends

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