The blizzards caused faults on both the main power supply lines between Gisborne and Tuai in Hawke's Bay due to sudden build-ups of snow weighing down the lines.

The road from Gisborne to Wairoa was blocked by snow on the 4th. All roads were clear on the 5th.

Snow fell in the Gisborne hills on the 3rd. There was a thaw on the night of the 3rd, followed by more heavy falls of snow on the 4th in areas ranging from Tiniroto to Matawai and up the East Coast hills. A partial thaw overnight on the 4th eased conditions somewhat in the Gisborne hill country, although many areas were still affected by snow and slush.

The snowstorms were described by hill country farmers as the worst in 10 years.

The power failure on the 4th was one of the worst in Gisborne's history. Power was cut to the city and district from 10:28am until just before 3:30pm.

The power failure had widespread effects in industry. The worst caterers affected by the power cuts were small shops, mostly supplying schools. One large catering firm supplying thrre shops was completely unable to cope. Production at the hosiery-manufactoring factory was brought to a halt as was production at the canneries. The Refrigeration Company was also affected and bowser operators spent the day hand-pumping petrol into cars.. A Supreme Court murder trial was delayed by the lack of lighting.

The ground was blanketed with snow in much of the Tahunga, Waerenga-o-kuri, Hangaroa and Tiniroto districts early on the 4th.

The Cook Hospital was working under emergency conditions with a standby plant.

Heavy snowfalls in the Hangaroa area blocked traffic on the 4th.

The Koranga and Te Wera School was closed on the 4th as the school bus was abandoned.

The situation at Matawai was slightly better on the morning of the 5th than it had been on the 4th.

At the end of the Rakauroa-Tahora road there were 5 ft (1.5 m) snowdrifts on the 4th. Snow covered trees and shrubs.

A tractor was used to two cars over a 4-mile (6.4 km) stretch of the snow-covered road on the afternoon of the 5th.

Early on the 5th snow was still falling at high levels but was not settling.

Farms in the Te Wera area, near Matawai, were well covered with snow on the 3rd and there was a partial thaw that night. There was a further heavy fall of snow at 6:30am on the 4th and conditions were much colder that day. On the morning of the 5th, snow only remained in the areas were it had fallen the heaviest.

At least one new-born lamb died during the snowstorm.

Children in the Te Wera area could not get to school on the 4th as the school bus got stuck in the snow at the junction near the main Matawai road.

The Tiniroto area was covered by up to 1 ft (30.5 cm) of snow on the 4th.

Motorists in the Tiniroto area had a hazardous time on parts of the highway before it was cleared.

The Tiniroto School was closed on the 3rd and 4th because no childen were able to get there in the heavy snow. The school bus was only able to complete half its round on the morning of the 5th, leaving only 11 pupils at the school that day.

The Gisborne-Opotiki State highway was closed at Trafford's Hill at 1pm on the 4th due to icy conditions. The road was reopened at 2:15pm.

Up the Parikanapa Rd, near Whakapunake, there was 7 in (17.8 cm) of snow on the morning of the 4th.

It was snowing in the Whareratas on the morning of the 4th.

It seemed to be snowing some distance north from Tuai towards Gisborne.

Ruakituri lost power on the night of the 3rd.

Snow had been falling at Tuai since dawn on the 4th and stopped at 10:30am. The snow was mixed with rain.

At 9:15am, up to 1 1/2 in (3.8 cm) of snow was lying on the ground.

The hills about Turiroa were powdered with snow, although it thawed quickly.

There was a light powdering of snow on coastal hills close to town on the morning of the 4th.

Wairoa lost its television transmission from Whakapunaki on the night of the 3rd.