Properties were damaged and roofs ripped off in Awakeri, near Whakatāne.
Video / Pūkāea
A tornado has swept through the small Bay of Plenty community of Awakeri this afternoon, tearing roofs from homes and damaging several properties along State Highway 30.
Emergency services were called to the area just before 3pm.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand northern communications shift manager Paul Radden said callswere received advising that a tornado damaged several properties in Awakeri.
“We have responded with four crews from Edgecumbe and Whakatāne,” Radden said.
“There have been several properties damaged by the tornado. There have also been roofs lifted off houses.”
Awakeri resident Stelhen Hermansen said a tornado on October 5, 2025 ripped off a chunk of his shed’s roof.
His son Blake Hermansen told the Herald he had been in the shed when it happened and described it as “an experience”.
“You look out the window and it’s windy and heavy rain, and then all of a sudden you watch the rain swirl and you hear a big wack,” Blake Hermansen said.
“You look outside and see your roof sitting in the paddock and you go into the shed and see daylight. It’s never a good sign.”
Blake Hermansen said he didn’t have time to process the whole experience because it all happened so quickly.
“You just thought it was a bit of heavy rain and heavy wind that was going to pass. But as quick as it started, it ended.”
A section of the roof from a shed on Stelhen Hermansen's property was torn off during a brief tornado. Photo / Stelhen Hermansen
Awakeri resident Mark told the Bay of Plenty Times that iron from one neighbour’s roof had blown 250-300m down on to his property, and another neighbour’s garage roof blew off.
He said the storm front blew through quickly about 3pm.
“It was raining hard and then the wind picked up, and there was a loud noise.“
He looked out a window and saw foliage blowing around in the opposite direction to the main wind gusts.
“It blew through quickly then there was hail and rain.”
