Over 5500 properties still without power in lower South Island after wild weather

About 5600 properties remain without power in the lower south after the wild weather that battered the country last week.

PowerNet says 3900 customers are without power in Southland and 1700 in South Otago.

A state of emergency remains in effect for Southland and the Clutha district.

A boil water notice is also in place for most of the Clutha district.

Emergency Management Otago Group controller Matt Alley said progress to restore services in the Clutha District was continuing despite plummeting temperatures and snow.

"Emergency responders are working tirelessly to restore services, however, this work is expected to slow down because the damage is so widespread. This is still a difficult time for those without power. It's heartening to hear so many in the community supporting each other," Alley said.

"People's safety and the restoration of essential services remains our priority. We encourage everyone to continue checking on others and to pass on information. Support services, financial assistance, and welfare centres are in place to help people."

The Lawrence reservoir level was very low and some residents had reported having no water.

Many roads in the Clutha District remained closed due to downed power lines, however, detours were in place to ensure access to all communities.

Emergency Management Southland said it had 31 generators that were being circulated in the community to support critical infrastructure, dairy sheds and community hubs.

"The large generator situation is under control and the need now is for smaller generators for residential use. Emergency Management Southland is not supplying these, but they can be sourced from retailers such as Mitre 10 and other hardware stores/electrical supply stores," Emergency Management Southland said.

"We are aware that generators are being shared by neighbours, so it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how many generators are in use across the region and how many people they are supporting. We thank these communities who are supporting each other to get through."

Eight schools were closed in Southland on Tuesday due to power or water outages.

Insurance claims for FMG, New Zealand's largest rural insurer, had already topped $10 million and were expected to climb further.

More than 900 weather-related claims had been received by Saturday with about half of them from Southland and Otago, however, claims had also been flooding in on Tuesday.

The types of claims include damaged roofs, farm buildings, fencing and irrigators.

Winton deer farmer Cam Nelson said it would cost him about $100,000 to repair the damage to trees on his property and about the same amount to repair fencing.

The government's $150,000 donation to mayoral relief funds would not go far.

"I suppose it's something but it's definitely not going to be enough," Nelson said.

"If I'm $200k in the hole with the damage, other people are going to be in big holes like that as well."

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