Update, 5.45pm: Trees are down and power is still off to over 250 properties across the Western Bay of Plenty.

A strong westerly with rain squalls and gusts up to 44km per hour swept through the Tauranga region between 2pm and 3.30pm.

There are still 228 properties without power in Paengaroa following a power cut affecting 530 properties at 3.08pm.

In Te Puke 44 properties still have a power outage following a powercut at 3.09pm affecting 191 properties there.

A tree came down on a property in Paengaroa. Photo: Erina Crichton.

Earlier, 3.33pm: Hundreds of properties in Paengaroa, Te Puke, Oropi, Tahawai and Waitao are without power on Saturday afternoon.

Powerco is reporting power was cut to 530 properties in Paengaroa at 3.08pm.

A powercut at 3.09pm in Te Puke is affecting 191 properties there.

In Oropi, a power outage at 2.58pm is affecting 339 properties.

An outage also occurred in Tahawai at 1.32pm with 84 properties affected, and Waitao with 34 properties affected.

MetService is reporting wind gusts up to 44km per hour between 2pm and 3.30pm.

SunLive readers in Te Puke are also reporting very strong winds.

A site investigation is underway for all these locations and the estimated time for power to be restored is unknown.