A tornado that swept through Taranaki town Rahotū has lifted roofs off houses, broken garage doors open and damaged the local shop, with power cut to much of the town.
A tree downed in Titirangi by the storm overnight. Photo: Twitter / @lemonandlimenz
A reader sent this image, saying the tree just outside of Albany fell onto power lines and smashed a police car, leaving officers uninjured but severely damaging the vehicle. Photo: Supplied / Dean Cottle
A tree at One Tree Hill that was brought down by the storm.
The Tasting Room in Sandringham. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Brettkelly
Snow in National Park Village the day after the storm passed through, bringing tornadoes that tore houses apart.
One of the houses behind the cordon in National Park village with its roof torn off. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
Hanmer Springs's snowscape. Photo: Hurunui District Council.
Emergency workers in National Park Village
A tree that was downed by the storm in Grey Lynn.
Snow in Arthur's Pass. Photo: Peter Neal.
The Artists Studio Collective on the corner of Hopetoun Street and Ponsonby Road is taking clean up into their own hands, sawing up a dangerous tree when the fire service was too busy to help. Photo: RNZ / Eva Corlett
Tornadoes have damaged a number of houses in the Taranaki town of Rahotu. RNZ / Robin Martin.
The Artists Studio Collective on the corner of Hopetoun Street and Ponsonby Road is taking clean up into their own hands, sawing up a dangerous tree when the fire service was too busy to help. Photo: RNZ / Eva Corlett
The Artists Studio Collective on the corner of Hopetoun Street and Ponsonby Road is taking clean up into their own hands, sawing up a dangerous tree when the fire service was too busy to help. Photo: RNZ / Eva Corlett
Rahotū resident Jasmine Care's home was 'almost completely blown over' by the tornado. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Tornado hits Taranaki town Rahotū. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
A power line was brought down by a tornado in National Park Village. Twitter / @LouisvanWyk
The Taranaki town of Rahotu. RNZ / Robin Martin.
Storm damage to a road sign at National Park at Ruapehu. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
Snow has been falling in Hanmer Springs. Photo: Hurunui District Council.
A house is destroyed after a tornado swept through Tongariro National Park today. Photo: Supplied.
Rahotū farmer Jordy Mullen says he and a mate were left "hanging on for dear life" as a tornado passed over the milking shed. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Snow in Tekapo. Photo: Bruce Hopkins
More damage in Tongariro's National Park. Photo: Supplied.
Snow in Hanmer. Photo: Twitter / Canterbury Police
Damage left after the tornado swept through Rahotū. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The aftermath of the Rahotū tornado. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Severe wind has downed trees in Penrose, Auckland. Photo: RNZ/Laura Tupou
Severe wind has downed trees in Penrose, Auckland. Photo: RNZ/Laura Tupou
A listener to RNZ's programme nights sent in this photo of a tree down in Auckland. Photo: Supplied / Rene Burton
A huge tree branch was hanging from powerlines in Epsom last night, swinging like crazy in the wind. Photo: Supplied / Lucia Goode
New North Road in Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
A tree landed on a car on New North Road in Morningside, Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson
Photo: RNZ / Jessie Chiang
A tree fallen over a car on Cook Street outside the RNZ office in Auckland after the storm. Photo: RNZ / Matthew Hutching
Gillies Ave in Epsom was cut off. Photo: RNZ / Matthew Hutching
Building on Albert St with windows smashed from storm. Photo: RNZ/Jesse Chiang
Police said the tornado went through the town, near Ōpunake southwest of New Plymouth, about 7am.
Taranaki Civil Defence said eight homes were damaged by the tornadoes with three homes severely damaged.
The morning's stormy conditions cut power for to at least 12,000 homes in the region. Civil Defence warned the peak of the storm was expected to be about 3pm.
For more details, read our wrap of the day's events, or check our live blog for the latest.
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Rahotū resident Jasmine Care said the family lost their roof in the tornado.
Rahotū resident Jasmine Care's home was 'almost completely blown over' by the tornado.
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
She said there had been "a pretty awesome electrical storm" from about 5am that never let up, and an hour and a half later she and her children saw the tornado approaching and ran to a safe space in their house.
"We're lucky, there are people who have lost their homes. Aside from the house, which is almost completely blown over, there's other houses where all the windows have blown out and power poles across the road." she said.
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Carol Deegan works at the town's Four Square and said residents had told her that houses had been smashed, and the power was out as a result of the tornado.
"As I was coming in, because I live in Ōpunake, I definitely saw garages, the doors broken off and debris over the road," she said.
She said the shop has also been damaged and workers were trying to put covers on the roof to keep it dry.
"In our shop at the moment the rain is coming in, the iron has been lifted ... we are just trying to save all our computers and things like that," she said.
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Ms Deegan said the shop would remain closed for now.
She said the town was still experiencing spurts of heavy rain.
Fire and Emergency said at least five crews including from New Plymouth, were responding in Rahotū, and an emergency centre had been set up at the local school hall.
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Residents who needed help are gathering at the local fire station.
MetService meterologist Tom Adams said the line of thunder and lightning storms was now heading towards Auckland.
