More than 100 insurance claims have been lodged following Friday's tornado in Cambridge.
The Insurance Council says it expects there to be many more claims but the full extent of the damage will not be known for at least a week.
The tornado ripped through the Waikato town early on Friday morning, severely damaging buildings, bringing down power lines and uprooting trees.
Eyewitness accounts say the tornado, which blew in from the east at about 3am, sounded like a heavy truck thundering through the area. They say it was over within a matter of seconds.
Twenty of the 100 homes affected have serious roof damage, but there were no injuries.
Insurance assessors are now weighing up the economics of restoration versus demolition for the five homes that suffered the most severe damage.
The Mayor of Waipa District, Alan Livingston, says the owners of at-risk homes are being kept out of their houses because of the severity of the damage.
Leamington suffered most
The suburb of Leamington was the worst-hit area. Trees and power lines were brought down, leaving many residents without power.
Aron Hazelden moved into his property in the suburb in March with his partner and their children.
He says 90% of the roof of his house has gone, ceilings have collapsed and there is water throughout.
Mr Hazelden says it is devastating, but the full extent of the loss has not yet sunk in. He says he will find out the fate of his home on Monday.
The Oakdale Rest Home, the Cambridge Soccer Club rooms and a tavern were also damaged. The town's central business district was not affected.
