McDonald's in Kerikeri was among the businesses affected by the power cut.

Electricity has begun to be restored in the Far North, where more than 30,000 homes and businesses lost power at 10.30am on Friday.

Top Energy spokesman Peter Heath said the company began restoring power at about 1.20pm.

It will be restored on a rolling basis and it is hoped the entire region will be reconnected by 4pm Friday.

JENNY LING/FAIRFAX NZ Some shops in Kerikeri were able to keep operating despite the power cut.

"We're still unclear what the issue was, but our priority has been to restore service to our customers," Heath said.

"We will be investigating the cause."

The Ngawha power station was also shut down on Friday morning, meaning the only place generating electricity in the Far North was Taipa.

SUPPLIED The Ngawha power station was also shut down, meaning the only place generating electricity in the Far North was Taipa.

Everywhere else in the region was without power including Cape Reinga, Kaitaia, Hokianga, Kaikohe, Kawakawa and Kerikeri.

Heath said some phone networks were also down.

Many shops in Kerikeri were able to trading through the power cut, but others were forced to close .

During the outage, New World manager Lewis Reihana said the supermarket was operating on a generator that could keep refrigeration and tills running for hours. He said the store had been through power cuts before and was well prepared, so shouldn't have to throw anything out.



"We're fully self sufficient and trading quite well," he said.



"We're in Northland. Northland doesn't have the best power system in the country."



Countdown floor manager Patrick Dudley said they also have generators that come on automatically.



"Provided we don't run out of diesel we'll just tick along indefinitely.



"It'd be pretty tough going in other shops."

Shops like the Kerikeri dairy, where owner Chintan Shah was left without his security cameras and eftpos machine.

"Nowdays people don't have cash [so] you can lose your business as well. Everyone is inconvenienced."