18 Dec 2016

Gisborne power restored four hours early

10:06 am on 18 December 2016

Electricity is being gradually restored across Gisborne this morning, after crews completed repairs to high-voltage lines faster than expected.

Work under way to repair the powerlines damaged in the fatal plane crash near Wairoa on Monday.

Workers repaired powerlines after the crash on Monday. Photo: RNZ / Michael Cropp

Power was switched off at 6am for the work and was expected to remain off until about 2pm, however Eastland Network general manager Brent Stewart said hard-working crews in ideal weather finished the job about 9.30am.

Mr Stewart said Eastland was restoring power gradually and everyone should have power within 15 minutes.

The high-voltage lines were badly damaged near Hangaroa on Monday, when a top-dressing plane crashed into them, killing two people and leaving 40,000 without power for more than a day.

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