Faster detection of fallen lines
Using smart meter data, Northpower enhances network visibility to quickly detect fallen power lines, improving safety and response times.
Annual Report 2026
27 May 2026
Restoring power after Cyclone Tam
Cyclone Tam swept across Northland in April 2025, just ahead of Easter, delivering widespread damage to our electricity network and testing our teams across the region.
Wind gusts of up to 150km/h and sustained heavy rain brought down trees, overhead lines and utility poles across our entire service area. Faults were logged from one end of the network to the other. At the height of the storm, 28 feeders were out, with hundreds of individual faults reported.
Our response began before the storm had fully passed. Field crews began working to restore power overnight on the Wednesday and worked continuously through the Easter long weekend and into the following week. Our teams worked around the clock to safely reconnect communities as quickly as possible, often operating in challenging and hazardous conditions.
Support from across the wider organisation played a critical role in our efforts to reconnect customers as safely and quickly as possible. Crews from our Hamilton depot travelled north to assist on the ground, providing much needed additional capacity at peak times. Their willingness to step in made a meaningful difference to the pace of recovery.
Behind the scenes, our office based teams worked closely with field crews to coordinate resources, manage logistics, and keep communities informed as restoration progressed. Every role mattered, and the effort was genuinely collective.
The community response reinforced the value of this work. We received many messages of appreciation from customers acknowledging the commitment of our field staff — particularly for working through severe weather and across public holidays to restore power.
Our community said:
“Very much appreciate your mahi and having lights, [hot] water and cooking facilities back in action.”
“All of you have done an absolute amazing job. Being out in this weather can’t be easy. So thank you.”
Cyclone Tam was a major test of our network and our people. It highlighted the vulnerability of overhead infrastructure in extreme weather, and demonstrated the resilience, skill and teamwork across our organisation.
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