Damage to a fence and trees at the Top 10 Holiday Park in Levin on 8 April 2025 after a mini tornado hit the area. Photo: Supplied / Debbie Wright
The Horowhenua mayor says people should stay inside while the weather remains blustery, after a tornado downed trees and fences, and lifted roofs, around Levin.
Residents described a vicious wind that blew out windows, ripped off roofs and caused "extensive damage" to many parts of Levin around 7.45am on Tuesday.
Mayor Bernie Wanden said it was mainly superficial, and no injuries had been reported. No homes were expected to be yellow-stickered, and the council was not declaring a state of emergency.
But with the weather "still pretty blustery", he recommended people stay inside.
There had been a fantastic response from the community, he said, and people were getting on with the cleanup. Skip bins were placed around the community for people to use, and pies and pizza had been delivered to Fire and Emergency workers and council crews.
This tornado had not caused anywhere near as much damage as the one in 2022, Wanden said.
Council chief executive Monique Davidson said the first the council knew of the tornado was when a tree fell on a council worker's car.
She said crews would be going door to door on Tuesday afternoon, with ID, to check in on damage on people's properties.
Horowhenua District Council said this afternoon that residents affected by today's tornado would be able to apply for a grant of up to $1000.
The Mayoral Relief Fund was originally set up to support residents impacted by an earlier tornado in May 2022.
The council said the grants were designated to assist with damaged property, essentials for daily life, costs not covered by insurance and financial burdens that may have been created by the tornado.
Contractors were continuing to clear debris, unblock drains, and support affected households in Levin and nearby Waikawa Beach.
Mayor Bernie Wanden said the council's thoughts went out to those affected by today's weather.
"Please know that we're here for you and doing everything we can to support our community through the response and recovery," Wanden said.
Residents in shock
Residents described a vicious wind that blew out windows, ripped off roofs and caused "extensive damage" to many parts of Levin.
The Horowhenua District Council said initial reports suggested the area was hit by a tornado about 7.45am on Tuesday.
Caroline Beaufort-Puna said she was still in shock at the destruction at her property in Waikawa.
"We can only explain it as the strength of a tornado. There were birds ripped from the trees, the trees were downed onto the powerlines. The cottage on the farm's roof has been completely ripped off and all the windows on the west side have been blown in."
She said the wind lifted two empty water tanks into the air and dumped them in different paddocks about 100m away.
"And there were birds all over the place. Little dead birds obviously ripped out of their trees, they couldn't withstand the wind.... just mangled."
She was worried about her horses, concerned that she might find one "chucked in the river", but said they were spooked but otherwise unharmed.
"It must have been really terrifying for the animals. It's pretty crazy, I'm still in shock."
The tornado damaged the Top 10 Holiday Park in Levin. Photo: RNZ / Jazlyn Whales
Levin Top 10 Holiday Park owner Debbie Wright said she was in her office when the weather started ramping up as the tornado came through her park.
"I heard the rain and wind getting bigger and bigger, I didn't know if it was an earthquake or what it was. We've got a couple people who were a bit shaken up and just needed a hug."
Wright said residents gathered together in communal areas and were looking after one another.
On Wilton Street, damage was clearly visible - although residents said debris and loose items had been cleaned up.
Damage on Wilton Street, Levin, after a tornado hit. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
Samantha Lewer's balcony was blown in. She said the storm came on all of a sudden, then she heard a loud crash. Despite her roof lifting, she said she was able to stay in her house and was waiting for assessors to arrive.
She said the storm was dramatic to watch.
"We've lost fences, smashed windows, trampolines and corrugated iron and trees down. We've got trees in our backyard that don't belong to us and corrugated iron that doesn't belong to us... just a really bad storm."
She said the severe weather caused the fence around her balcony to suddenly lift.
"We were standing by the right hand window and saw the balcony detach and came towards the window, so we ran for cover."
Damage on Wilton Street, Levin, after a tornado hit. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
Next door, Bubs Williams was making lunch for her children when she saw what she described as a tornado come towards the windows. She told the children in the house to get away but it struck the house, smashing a window.
Along the road, John Dorland woke to the sound of a tree breaking.
John Dorland in Levin was woken to the sound of a tree on his property getting blown over. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
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