There is growing concern about sections of Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti with communications almost completely wiped out by the storm.
Wairoa in particular is a black hole, with cellphones, landlines and internet all down, and the lone satellite phone had run out of battery.
Late last night the Wairoa District Council sent an email to media advising a Star Link internet terminal had been activated, allowing them to send limited information to authorities outside the town.
Telecommunications Forum, which represents phone networks Spark, Two Degrees and Vodafone, as well as internet providers like Chorus, was trying to provide satellite internet links to the region yesterday.
Corin Dann spoke to Forum's chief executive Paul Brislen.
