The lights went out across Auckland, including Printech’s venue, the Auckland Show Grounds at around 8.30am on Monday. Exhibitors and visitors waited patiently as periodic announcements promised power back at 11am, 12 mid-day and finally by mid-afternoon.

No-one was allowed into the exhibition halls without a personal security escort to safeguard expensive equipment.

Printech organisers promised a later than scheduled night opening for the trade show, but by mid afternoon when power did return, visitors were scarce, unwilling to brave Auckland’s chaotic commuter traffic and the appalling weather than had plunged the city into darkness.

The power outage affected all of Auckland city, most of south, east and some of West Auckland as well as Northland. All traffic lights were out in the affected areas and busy intersections were manned by traffic police on point duty.

Printech opened on Sunday. The closure meant the cancellation of much of yesterday’s workshops programme and the postponement of PrintNZ’s first AGM under its new branding.

Organisers have extended the closing time to 9pm for Tuesday (the last day).

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