Clean-up begins after tornado sweeps through

Damage to roof tiles on a Pukepoto Road home after the tornado swept through Kaitaia. Photo / John McLuckie

Various agencies have swung in to action to help Kaitaia families whose homes have been severely damaged by a tornado.

The high winds swooped in around 12.40pm yesterday, damaging around 20 houses, and ripping through parts of Kaitaia Hospital.

Residents were evacuated as the twister made landfall at Ninety Mile Beach and left a trail of destruction as it headed south east.

"It was like a war zone," said Kaitaia volunteer fire chief Colin Kitchen.

"There were trees down everywhere, a car got crushed by a tree. One person saw a large picnic table flying through the air and another saw a trampoline.

"Most of the damage was tiles and roofs off."

Kitchen says four state houses had their roofs torn off, and windows smashed.

He says Housing New Zealand, the Far North District Council and Victim Support have been visiting those people affected.

Kitchen says the properties are being assessed to see whether they are structurally sound.

The families have spent the night in a motel, and might not be allowed home for a couple of days.

The Kaitaia community has also pitched in to help repair the damage at the hospital, where the roof lifted off the boiler room and part of the administration building.

Nurse Katrina Tonks was on her last shift at the accident and medical department when the tornado hit.

"A deafening roar started to come through. As I was standing there the ceiling tiles started to shift. The walls were shaking from the suction of the tornado lifting the roof," she said.

"Everyone just froze to start with, we weren't sure what was happening. Then everyone started ducking for cover and running to the walls.

"The children in the waiting room were screaming."

Kaitaia Hospital's operational manager Neta Smith says the community has been very supportive.

She says the fire service has waterproofed the roof, and the local glass company has replaced all the shattered windows.

Smith says some staff and patients were upset by the tornado, but no one was hurt.

- NEWSTALK ZB, NZ HERALD STAFF