Storm-hit homes still in the cold

SPARKS are flying from householders left without electricity and hot water after the storm that hit Auckland last week.

High winds and torrential rain buffeted the region on Tuesday night, downing numerous trees and damaging hundreds of roofs.

While the cleanup of damage didn’t take long, five days later hundreds of residents – mainly on the North Shore and in several West Auckland suburbs – are still left in the cold.

Yesterday many vented growing frustrations on the Facebook pages of their power suppliers.

Several yesterday told Sunday News of their frustration. Mumof-two Pauline Malpass from the North Shore suburb of Hillcrest said her family had been without hot water since Tuesday.

After several days of cold showers, they had managed to ‘‘beg’’ hot showers from friends living nearby.

She said energy officials were unable to say when her house would have hot water again.

In the immediate hours following the storm, 90,000 homes were left without power in the upper North Island.

Energy supplier Vector Power said in a statement yesterday it was continuing to reconnect power and hot water to homes affected by the storm.

It said as of yesterday afternoon, it was aware of 40 properties that remained without power.

Hot-water supplies had been restored in New Lynn, with work continuing in other West Auckland areas of Kelston, Henderson, Titirangi and Swanson.

Neil Reid