Updated 3.31PM: The Chathams Islands' council building is back on the grid after ex-Cyclone Pam bought trees onto power lines.

The storm's brought debris onto roads, and damaged the wharf as severe gales buffet the islands.

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Winds were already reaching over 100 kph this morning and are expected to get even stronger.

Chatham Islands Mayor Alfred Preece says power's been restored thanks to some quick thinking by local electricians.

"We've had time set up our emergency generator and put a whole lot of extension cables and rearrange a few things."

Preece says they're now working on getting Internet restored too.

Everyone is hunkered down and waiting to see what will happen.

"There's a whole lot of unknowns here, from a damage point of view,” Preece says. “Everybody is on call to deal with those if we can, but only in a safe manner."

A state of civil emergency was declared yesterday in the Chathams, with some residents already evacuated to higher ground.

The severe weather's expected to last until tomorrow.

A state of civil emergency was declared yesterday in the Chathams, with some residents already evacuated to higher ground.

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East Coast fares well

Civil Defence officials are pleased with how the East Cape fared under yesterday's storm, and say if the region hadn't been so well prepared, the effects could have been worse.

It'll be school as usual this morning in Gisborne, as well.

Civil Defence controller Peter Higgs is pleased with the response from the community, and with how the region's infrastructure has managed.

Six roads remain closed near Gisborne this morning, after a rough 24 hours on the weather front.

Most of the more than 100 people evacuated from their coastal homes yesterday returned last night.

Driftwood and debris is strewn across beachfront properties north of Gisborne.

Residents and contractors are out in force, cleaning up at Hicks Bay, Te Araroa, Waima and Anaura Bay.

Civil Defence controller Peter Higgs says seawater has come through some garages, and five roads remain closed.

Civil Defence staff in Hawke's Bay will keep a close eye on coastal communities over the next few days as large swells are expected to continue.

Officials say high river levels and heavy silt will prevent Mangatokerau Road from opening for a few days.

Trees and power lines are down on Waikura Road, and there's a slip on East Cape Road.

Around 150 homes are without power. Crews will be working today to get electricity restored.

Nuhiti, Puketiti and Tuakau Roads are also closed, as well as Tolaga Bay, and Beach Road in Waima.

It's hoped the weather will be clear enough today to send a helicopter over East Cape, to assess the damage from yesterday's storm.