About 10 thousand homes across Southland and Otago still have no electricity

Storm recovery work is well underway.

Southland, Clutha and Kaikoura remain under a state of emergency.

Additional support's been deployed from across the country to help re-connect power and communications networks.

PowerNet chief executive Paul Blue says power's been restored to customers who are relatively easy to connect, but now we're now facing a long tail.

He says the devastation's snapped many poles, so some customers could take significant time to get back online.

Emergency Response Minister Mark Mitchell says a big focus has been setting up generators in rural areas so farmers can keep milking cows.

He says authorities are working hard to get information out to communities so they understand how that's going to be phased.

Another weather system is expected to bring heavy rain, winds and some snow to most of the country overnight and tomorrow.