About 20 buildings in Mount Maunganui have been damaged in what Metservice says was probably a small tornado.
The Fire Service says a sudden and swift wind cut a narrow path of damage through homes near the town's waterfront at 8.30am on Tuesday.
One property had a garage roof lifted off and a shed swept away, while the remaining buildings suffered slight damage.
Mount Maunganui resident Harlene Wharekawa says she was amazed at the speed at which the wind hit her home.
"Before we knew it, it was gone, and so was the roof of the garage, and the garden shed was missing and the fence between our house and the neighbours was down along the driveway. It was just a big mess. It was just so quick."
MetService says the wind was probably a tornado, but it needs more information before it can say for certain.
