A mini tornado is believed to have swept through Mount Maunganui overnight.
Several small boats were ripped from their ties on Pilot Bay and strewn across the beach and roadside as stormy weather hit.
Mount Maunganui firefighters were called to reports of ''boats flying around'' at 8.15pm, said senior firefighter Darren Jones.
''We sort of looked at each other when we heard 'boats flying around','' he said.