These live updates have now ended.
Wild weather is slamming the North Island with strong wind, heavy rain and hail in some parts.
In Levin, locals have begun their weekend clearing the aftermath of a tornado which struck early this morning, while in Auckland, the Harbour Bridge is only partially open due to strong winds.
An elderly woman is in a critical condition after a tree crushed her at a park in Cambridge.
What you need to know:
- Wild weather has battered the North Island with strong winds, heavy rain and hail hitting some parts of the motu.
- A tornado struck Levin at around 6:30am this morning uprooting trees, blowing in windows and uplifting roofs.
- An elderly woman has died after she was crushed by a large tree while in a park in Cambridge.
- Auckland Harbour Bridge reopens for the second time today after wind gusts forced its closure.
Follow Newshub’s live updates below:
3:10pm - The elderly woman who was crushed by a large tree while in a park in Cambridge has died. Police confirmed the woman passed away in hospital on Friday afternoon and the death has been referred to the coroner.
2:52pm - Levin Mayor Bernie Wanden reassured his community via Facebook live this afternoon saying "we want to reassure you that we are very concerned for your welfare."
Bernie added that 10 homes so far are uninhabitable and 30 other homes have significant damage.
He said his council is working with Emergency Management Minister Kiri Allan to establish a mayoral relief fund.
Bernie added those details will be released in due course.
2:38pm - The picture below shows someone's furniture across a backyard. Newshub's been told the couches were sucked out of the house during the tornado.
2:28pm - Waka Kotahi has reopened Auckland Harbour Bridge following wind gusts forcing its closure.
2:26pm - Police have released a statement following the closure of SH1:
SH1 has reopened after a tornado ripped through Levin this morning.
Police would like to thank motorists for their patience while the road was closed.
A number of houses have sustained damage.
Urban Search and Rescue are working to assist those effected by the tornado.
We would also like to remind motorists to drive with caution as there may still be surface flooding in the area and hidden hazards.
2:19pm - AMI, State and NZI insurance have received over 100 claims largely for damage to homes and roofs following the Levin tornado.
Executive general manager Wayne Tippet said he expects the number to rise as the extent of the damage becomes clearer.
"As soon as it is safe to do so, we will deploy teams to affected areas to provide on the ground support to customers.
"With further bad weather forecast, our priority is assessing damage to broken windows and roofing, so people’s homes and businesses can be secured as quickly as possible."
2:08pm - The weather in Levin has simmered down allowing residents to assess and clear the damage done by the violent tornado.
The pictures below shows one home with parts of its roof removed, exposing the insulation below.
1:34pm - Mitre Ten Levin is offering free tarpaulins to residents whose homes have been damaged by the tornado.
12:39pm - Waka Kotahi has partially closed the Auckland Harbour Bridge for the second time today. Two lanes remain available in each direction but the agency is asking motorists to stick to the reduced speed limit.
12:17pm - MetService's wind watches are making their way down the motu with the lower eastern parts of the South Island issued with warnings.
Dunedin, North Otago, coastal Southland including Stewart Island and Clutha are under wind watches which come into effect at 6am tomorrow and are expected to end 3am Sunday.
For the northeast of the South Island, strong wind watches begin tomorrow at 11am and are due to end at midnight.
12:10pm - A strong wind watch has been issued by MetService from Coromandel Peninsula to the east of Waiouru. The watch comes into force from 3pm tomorrow until 3am Sunday.
12:04pm - MetService warns most of Aotearoa will see a few days of unsettled weather following the southwesterly moving up the country and past Auckland.
The spokesperson added the motu will sit in a southwest cool wind flow.
11:41am - The Auckland Harbour bridge has reopened after strong winds forced its closure earlier this morning.
11:19am - Palmerston North Hospital's emergency department has seen four patients come through since the tornado struck Levin this morning.
Operations lead Neil McKelvie said all patients have minor injuries and most have been discharged so far.
"There's been no major incidents."
11:06am - A St John spokesperson told Newshub that the elderly woman has been transported to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.
10:53am - Firefighters have freed the elderly woman trapped under a large tree. It's believed she is seriously injured.
10:45am - Firefighters are working to free a person trapped under a tree in Cambridge’s Victoria Park.
The large tree has fallen on a picnic table and police are now erecting tarpaulins to protect the scene from bystanders.
10:09am - Waka Kotahi has closed Auckland Harbour Bridge due to strong winds reaching over 95km/h.
Motorists are being told to use SH16 and SH18 as alternative routes until further notice.
9:58am - A St John spokesperson told Newshub they have received one call since the tornado event in Levin.
St John was called to an incident 6:43am on Strathmore Avenue. The person was treated and transported to Palmerston North Hospital in a minor condition.
9:33am - MetService isn't expecting another tornado event to hit Levin. Instead, a heavy rain band is on its way which will see a heavy downpour in the next hour.
A MetService spokesperson told Newshub Levin's tornado event is a perfect example of why thunderstorms can "be so damaging".
AM reporter Tia McDougall is on her way to Levin and says 1cm of hail is covering SH1 on the way into the damaged town.
9:29am - MetService warns a "comprehensive rain band" is approaching Auckland. The band is likely to approach the west of the city within the next hour, providing heavy rain for most of the super city for a short time.
9:05am - Fire and Emergency has received over 50 calls since the tornado struck.
A spokesperson said the calls have ranged from blown-out windows, lifted roofs, fallen trees and power lines.
Seven Fire and Emergency crews are responding to the event with four other crews on their way from other parts of the region.
The spokesperson said fire crews on the ground are mostly assessing damage at this stage.
8:57am - Police have released a statement on the situation in Levin:
Police will be providing community reassurance in Levin today following the major weather event.
We are aware of a tornado that occurred in Levin this morning. We are also aware of surface flooding and powerlines down following the event.
SH1, Levin is closed and motorists are asked to please delay travel or seek an alternative route.
We will have staff in Levin today providing community reassurance and assisting with any clean-up.
We would also like to remind motorists travelling through Levin to take extra care, especially through Ohau, with ice on the roads making the surface slippery.
8:49am - Levin's Deputy Mayor Jo Mason told AM it's unclear how many buildings and homes are damaged.
"There is significant damage in that central town area."
Mason said she didn't realise a tornado had hit until the council's chief executive informed her.
"I didn't know it was a tornado."
"It's unbelievable," she added.
Mason said there are no major injuries to report at this stage.
"We do know there have been minor injures with glass flying."
8:26am - Horowhenua District Council said the tornado hit Levin at around 6:30am, "causing havoc".
Civil Defence Emergency Management are urging Levin locals to "stay home unless travel is critical".
The council has urged five local schools to close while the council assesses damage.
Streets currently closed -
- Oxford Street
- Cambridge Street (from Liverpool to Bath Street)
- Tawa Street
- Wilton Street
- Gladstone Road
- Mako Mako Road
8:09 am - Labour MP for Ōtaki Teris Ngobi is urging her constituents to "stay home if you can".
She said the back wall in her Levin office has "completely disappeared".
8:00 am - Locals in Levin saw a tornado rip through the town this morning, bringing trees and power lines down with some reporting damages to their homes.
Police say SH1 between Durham Street and Supercheap Auto is closed after a strong smell of gas was reported in the area.
7:44 am - MetService has issued a strong wind warning for Auckland with gusts hitting up to 95 km/h.
MetService warns strong winds could hit the city's Harbour Bridge between 10 am to 4pm.
Waka Kotahi is urging motorists to avoid the bridge "altogether" and to use the Western Ring on State Highways 16 and 18.
7:43 am - Ata mārie and welcome to Newshub's live updates as severe weather batters parts of the North Island.
