One person is dead and several are injured after a sudden and powerful tornado left a trail of destruction through Auckland's North Shore.
The tornado hit the area about 3pm on Tuesday, affecting the suburbs of Albany, Birkenhead, Glenfield and Kaipatiki.
Police confirmed that one person has died and Civil Defence say 14 people have been injured.
Commercial buildings and houses have been damaged, cars were thrown metres into the air and trees uprooted.
The Albany Mega Centre, a large shopping complex, bore the brunt of the violent storm and sustained the most damage. Work is continuing to clear debris and to secure buildings on Tuesday night and smashed cars and snapped off trees litter the car park.
The area around the Mega Centre has been cordoned off to keep people away from dangerous loose debris and unstable roofing, and to keep looters out. Police are patrolling the area.
The Fire Service says eight households in Roseberry Avenue in the suburb of Birkenhead have been evacuated.
Damage to homes and falling trees have made it unsafe for some to return until safety assessments are carried out on Wednesday. Some houses are cordoned off and areas of the pavement have been ripped up.
Civil Defence says the North Shore Events Centre in Glenfield has been set up an emergency welfare centre in conjunction with Work and Income, Victim Support and the Salvation Army.
People needing assistance can call 0800 463 010.
Prime Minister John Key says the Government will offer the people of Auckland any support they need.
Extra police have been bought in from throughout the city to help assess the damage and building inspectors are checking the state of some properties.
MetService spokesperson Bob McDavitt says while the tornado has been destructive, it was on the lower end of the scale.
Witnesses tell of 'terrifying' experience
Samantha Davey, an employee at Albany Optometrists, says she could see sheets of metal flying through the air near the mall on Tuesday afternoon and it was a terrifying experience.
"All we could see was a big black cloud spinning above it and debris flying everywhere. We're above the mall so we're okay, but the mall has been hit - we can see there's part of the roof missing and there are cars tossed about."
Joelle Thompson and her 11-year-old daughter Ruby were at the Mega Centre and say they feel lucky to be alive.
"A guy at the petrol station said they could actually see cars flying around in the air. We missed it by seconds, thank God."
Martin, from Rebel Sport, ran out the back of his store after he heard a screaming noise.
"There were a few people with lacerations on the floor. Cars had been flipped over and trees just snapped off at the base. There was a guy I could see with blood coming down the side of his face, but he was sitting up. Another man had his leg broken in front of one of my staff's car."
High winds were also reported in the seaside suburb of Pt Chevalier in west Auckland. Resident Julie Jacka says a lot of damage was done in a short time at her Raymond Street home.
"Trees are down, all the furniture which was upstairs has been turned over and things are broken. It just came out of nowhere and then just left."
Road closures
Internal roads around the Albany Mega Centre will be opened overnight on Tuesday once police determine that the area is safe.
In the suburb of Birkenhead, Roseberry Road is closed. The Albany Expressway, also known as State Highway 17, remains closed on Tuesday night.
