6 Jan 2017

Two arrested over shooting of power lines in Far North

10:53 am on 6 January 2017

Two men have been arrested after power lines in the Far North were shot at in early December, leaving much of the upper North Island without power.

Power lines against a bright blue sky.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Power to more than 30,000 homes and business was cut to all areas, from Kaikohe north.

The insulators on three pylons feeding power to the area were damaged.

At the time Transpower said the damage was intentional, after bullet casings were found at the base of the transmission towers.

Police said today a 28-year-old man and a 46-year-old man have been arrested and charged with criminal damage in relation to the outage.

They will appear in the Kaikohe District Court next week.