A bach and garage on State Highway 30 in Rotoiti have been crushed by falling debris.
Rotorua police Senior Sergeant Harry Harvey said it was the only report of any serious damage caused by the region's severe weather.
"The occupants were home at the time but were unharmed."
In a 40 minute timeframe, they received about 15 calls relating to the severe weather, he said.
"Many people are saying it was a mini tornado passing through the town. Other than the serious damage to the bach and garage, most of the calls we received were in relation to fallen debris on the road."
"Unless someone has seen a funnel, it was more likely a squall, a wall of straight line wind. But it can be very similar to a tornado in the damage it causes," he said.
"It's easing over Rotorua now but there could be another burst of heavy showers in an hour [about 3.30pm] after that showers should become more isolated.
"[Rotorua] is particularly vunlerable to these winds in the westerly direction, they really climb down the side of the Kaimai and Mamaku ranges and pick up speed, add to the showers coming through and it's a bit of a double whammy."
Image 1 of 15: PHOTO DANA KINITA
A tree on Amohia St in Rotorua's central business district has fallen on to a building and one lane of State Highway 36 is closed as rough weather pounds the region.
A reporter at the scene said firefighters had blocked off one lane of Eruera St and were in the process of erecting a cherry picker to deal with a fallen sign.
She said about four or five people in high visibility vests were using chainsaws to remove some of the branches of the tree, which had fallen across the Eves Realty building.
The fallen tree was blocking the footpath on Amohia St outside Eves, she said.
The scene on Hamurana Rd near Dalbeth Rd.
Meanwhile, a Police Northern Communication spokeswoman says one lane of Hamurana Rd is closed, just south of Dalbeth Rd.
Tree branches have caused power lines on State Highway 36 to hang low over the road.
A police officer and a Unison worker are at scene.
The branches have been cleared from the road but the Unison worker is having to raise the power lines with a pole when required to allow trucks to pass.
In the Eastern Bay, a tree is down and blocking one lane on State Highway 30 between Whakatane and Awakeri, near Te Rahu Rd.
A tree is blocking one lane of SH30 between Whakatane and Awakeri. PHOTO KATEE SHANKS
Contractors have just arrived at the scene.
Wairakei Dr in Taupo is closed, while another road is closed in Mangakino.
Road that had been closed in Putaruru have since reopened.
Rotorua is experiencing heavy rain, but it's expected to clear up tomorrow.
MetService said today the city could expect showers, some heavy, with a chance of thunder.
The weather is expected to become fine tomorrow.
A similar forecast is in place for Whakatane.
A severe weather warning was issued earlier this week for the Bay of Plenty.
As many as 21 roofs were taken off houses and 12 other properties were damaged as a result of a tornado that ripped through Mount Maunganui last night.
Fire north communications shift manager Scott Osmond confirmed the number of call outs and said the 12 properties that suffered damage was due to wind and flying debris.
