Update: 3.45pm Power has now been restored to the remaining properties in Maketu that had a power outage on Saturday due to strong winds.

There were 650 properties without power in Maketu this morning as well as many other properties around the North Island following the strong winds.

Extensive damage to Powerco's network caused by high winds blowing trees and other debris into power lines, resulted in outages for thousands of customers.

Bay of Plenty and Taranaki have taken the hardest hit with winds and crews had to stand down overnight due to the dangerous conditions. Work restoring power continued at first light today.

Update. 2.40pm: There are 61 properties in Maketu still without power due to strong winds on Saturday.

Crews are working to restore power to these remaining properties and the restoration time is estimated to be 6pm.

Power has been restored to the properties in Te Ranga.

Update, 12.30pm: There are 61 properties in Maketu still without power due to strong winds on Saturday.

Crews are working to restore power to these remaining properties and the restoration time is estimated to be 4pm.

There are 21 properties in Te Ranga with a power outage. The power cut occurred at 11.01am, and estimated restoration time is 4.01pm. The cause of the outage is unknown at this stage.

Power has now been restored to the properties in Tauriko that had a power cut at 8.34am.

Update, 9.40am: Powerco advise that there has been a power cut to 41 properties in Tauriko this morning. The outage occurred at 8.34am and power is expected to be restored by 1.34pm.

In Maketu, there are still 596 properties without power due to strong winds on Saturday. Power is expected to be restored by 12noon.

A SunLive reader is also reporting a power cut to their property in the Minden area near Te Puna.

Earlier, 7.45am:

There are still 650 properties without power in Maketu this morning as well as many other properties around the North Island following strong winds on Saturday.

Extensive damage to Powerco's network caused by high winds blowing trees and other debris into power lines, has resulted in outages for thousands of customers.

Severe weather has caused multiple outages and challenging conditions for crews says Powerco Network Operation Manager Karen Frew.

The decision was made to stand down crews overnight due to the dangerous conditions, with work continuing from first light today.

Bay of Plenty and Taranaki have taken the hardest hit with winds continuing throughout the day on Saturday, however all areas supplied by Powerco have been affected throughout the day.

Despite the fact crews have been out in force trying to battle severe weather conditions to restore power to those affected, continued high winds and poor visibility meant some customers were without power overnight.

It was a decision that has been made to keep crews safe, says Karen who released a statement on Saturday night.

'Our crews have been out all day working to get the power back on to customers when it has been safe to do so. Unfortunately, the continued severity of the weather has meant that at times it has been too dangerous for them to be up power poles working in those gusts.

'The conditions are still extremely challenging, not to mention the fact that many of them have been working since the early hours of the morning. So, for safety reasons, we will be standing crews down for the evening at 9pm, except for those who will be on hand to respond to any emergencies during the night. The rest of our crews will start work again at first daylight.

'We know that this is a difficult message for our customers who are still without power to hear and we are very grateful for their continued patience and understanding as we look after the safety of our crews,” says Karen.

Customers are advised to check Powerco's outage map for current outage information, including estimated outage times available at https://outagemap.powerco.co.nz/outagesandfaults/.

Powerco reminds people that if anyone comes across downed lines, keep yourself, your children and livestock well away and, once safe, call Powerco's 24/7 emergency line on 0800 27 27 27.

Powerco is New Zealand's second largest electricity utility and gas distribution utility with around 1.1m customers across 446,000 connections connected to its networks. Powerco's electricity networks are in Western Bay of Plenty, Thames, Coromandel, Eastern and Southern Waikato, Taranaki, Whanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu and the Wairarapa. Its gas pipeline networks are in Taranaki, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Wellington, Horowhenua, Manawatu and Hawke's Bay.