Lodge Ave resident Lane Wright watched on as fire crews cut apart the mangled remains of his roof, which had been blown on to a driveway metres from his home.
Mr Wright said that through the torrential rain he heard "a big gust of wind, then a couple of cracks and I just grabbed the kids".
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He and his twins Jordan and Brooke, 3, and daughter Lara, 4, escaped unharmed as their roof was ripped off.
"I just knew it was gone but I was more worried about the kids than anything."
Check out the photo gallery of the tornado damage below
When he ran out on to the street, he found a mess: a trampoline was wrapped around a lightpole and the road was covered in debris. Mr Wright, whose house is insured, planned to stay with relatives.
We're just grateful that we're ok, we're alive, all of this is repairable ... Everyday we wake up is a good one
Mt Maunganui residents Jon and Bev Mayson spent the night at their neighbour's house after the tornado ripped the roof off their two-storey wooden Waitui Grove home about 8.45pm.
Mr Mayson was just about to settle in and watch some television when there was a "bang like a clap of thunder".
"That took all of 10 seconds and the roof was in the next door neighbour's backyard."
The rain was torrential at the time, but he was thankful that the fire brigade were there in minutes to help secure the house.
The couple was this morning drying out their belongings from the three bedrooms and one bathroom.
Outside, pink batts lay scattered amongst the bush, while Mr Mayson's much-loved pohutukawa tree took a bit of the brunt of the tornado's tail.
Image 1 of 29: Damage from a tornado that hit Mount Maunagnui properties and BayPark stadium. Photo/George Novak Links ave 14 May 2015 Bay of Plenty Times Photograph by George Novak
Mr Mayson said despite the event, he was just thankful that he and his wife were not injured.
"We're just grateful that we're ok, we're alive, all of this is repairable ... Everyday we wake up is a good one."
Other residents described the motion of an earthquake and the sound "of a freight train".
It was definitely a tornado that went through our flat
Metservice severe weather forecaster Erick Brenstrum said they had not picked up any tornado activity in that area last night, but he was "not surprised" to hear the reports.
"The sort of weather system that's continuing to cross the area is the sort that is conducive to squally rain showers, some of which may have small tornadoes."
Tauranga City Council chief executive Garry Poole said a full assessment of the Baypark Stadium damage would be done today.
Bay Venues chief executive Gary Dawson, speaking from the stadium, said: "When the tornado came through it's taken the roof off about three sections at the eastern end ... It's just roof iron that's come off, really, and the roof structure itself. But it's only three bays - I guess it's about 10 per cent of the roof ... so not massive really, when you look at the total stadium."
Other Mount residents took to community Facebook pages to share information. They reported roofs blocking driveways, trampolines "everywhere" and smashed windows.
That took all of 10 seconds and the roof was in the next door neighbour's backyard
"It was definitely a tornado that went through our flat," said Alesha Manaton. "Deafening sound, doors slammed shut and whole flat was shaking like crazy."
Zane Humphrey said: "The people living next door have got two big holes in their roof."
Tauranga City Council reported the tornado swept through Mt Maunganui streets Waitui Grove, Golf Road, Lodge Avenue, Ascot Place, Epsom Road, Maunganui Road, Owens Place and Baypark, damaging 11 homes.
Five commercial properties were also damaged.
Residents of eight homes were evacuated to stay with friends of family, as emergency services worked until 1.15am to check properties and make sure people were safe.
- NZME