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.
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.
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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.