Tornado hits South Taranaki, damages houses

A tornado has struck South Taranaki ripping off part of the roofs of two houses.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) were alerted to reports of a tornado at 5.55am on Wednesday.

Two houses opposite each other on Eltham Road in Awatuna were hit by the twister and had parts of their roofs ripped off.

Fences and debris were blown around by the tornado, but there were no injuries.

Emergency services were at the scene clearing downed power lines.

Tarpaulins were put on properties to protect them from the squally showers following the tornado.

South Taranaki farmer Brian Collins said his barn had been totally demolished by the tornado.

There was a heavy dump of rain when the twister struck and the power started flickering and then went out, he said.

When he went to check on his stock, Collins found his hay barn destroyed.

He said the tornado damaged houses next door and across the street, while another hay barn was also taken out further down the road.

The road is closed between Mangawhero and Auroa roads but it was expected to reopen by midday.

A resident - who asked not be named - said the tornado cut a swathe across the street.

"It's wiped out all the palm trees on the left hand side of the road and part of that farmer's house and then it's come across wiped out the fence on the right hand side."

Trees had also been levelled, she said.