Elderly man in hospital, caravans destroyed in reported tornado in Northland

A campervan was destroyed in a reported tornado at Tauranga Bay Holiday Park in Northland. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

A man in his mid 80s has been taken to hospital after being trapped in his campervan when it was blown over in a Northland camp ground.

Ambulance and Fire and Emergency were called to Tauranga Bay Holiday Park about 9.15am on Tuesday.

The injured man was taken to Bay of Islands Hospital in a moderate condition.

RNZ’s reporter at the scene said his campervan was flipped on its side.

Another campervan has been destroyed, it had flipped on its roof and was blown about 50 metres into a Norfolk pine tree.

A man in his mid 80s was taken to hospital after being trapped in his campervan when it was blown over at Tauranga Bay Holiday Park, Northland. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

The damage is very localised with nearby campervans untouched.

Some at the scene have reported seeing a waterspout, it was also being described as a tornado.

MetService said intense rain and thunderstorms in the area meant there was the potential for a tornado.

But a spokesperson could not say whether one had occurred.

However, wind gusts of up to 75km/h had been recorded in the Kaeo area.

- RNZ