Weekend power cuts that left thousands of Western Bay of Plenty homes without power, some for more than 24hours, were caused by strong winds and trees says Powerco Network Operations Manager.

About 1450 Katikati homes lost power on Saturday afternoon when a tree was cut down and fell across powerlines.

Photo: File.

PowerCo's Phil Marsh says the weather impacted on restoration efforts with specialists called out to deal with the cuts.

'There are considerable safety issues and by far the safest approach is to get in the experts with specialist skills and equipment.”

A mini tornado caused further power cuts in Mount Maunganui just after 8am on Sunday.

'Nearly 700 properties were left without power when a roof went through the lines. Supply was fully restored to these customers by 9.45am.”

Power was disrupted to a further 250 customers when a tree fell across the lines on Maungarangi Road cutting power between 8.45am and 1.30pm on Sunday.

Further faults on Powerco's electricity network left 465 properties without power in the Brown Road area on Saturday, and 28 customers in Welcome Bay and Paengaroa on Sunday.

Phil says extra crews were called in to help with the large number of jobs.

'The field staff worked hard to repair damage to the network as quickly and as safely as possible.”

Powerco is New Zealand's second largest electricity and gas distribution utility with around 400,000 consumers connected to its networks.

Powerco's electricity networks are in Tauranga, Thames, Coromandel, Eastern and Southern Waikato, Taranaki, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu and the Wairarapa. Its gas pipeline networks are in Taranaki, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Wellington, Horowhenua, Manawatu and Hawke's Bay.