Part of the roof above the stands at Baypark was ripped off during the May tornado.
Part of the roof above the stands at Baypark was ripped off during the May tornado.
More than $2 million worth of damage was caused by the tornado which tore through Mount Maunganui in May, new figures show.
Insurance Council of New Zealand chief executive Tim Grafton said a total of 176 claims worth more than $2 million had been lodged with insurance companies since the May 14 tornado and more could yet come in.
Bay Park Stadium after a few days of the tornado attack. Photo/George Novak
Of those, 136 were residential claims worth $798,000. There were also 19 commercial material damage claims and two business interruption claims totalling $1.76 million. Included in those figures would be estimates on the damage caused to Baypark.
On top of that was one claim relating to marine damage and 15 claims for damage to motor vehicles, Mr Grafton told the Bay of Plenty Times.
It was "very hard to project" the cost of damage done by a tornado, he said.
"It really depends on the path of the tornado and the density of housing," Mr Grafton said. "There was a tornado about two or three years ago which ripped through Auckland. The cost of that was about $7 million to $8 million. This one may go up further from $2 million."
Mount Maunganui Intermediate was hit particularly hard by the twister and was expecting to have to fork out about $45,000 for repairs.
The school's new $120,000 astro turf was damaged, fences were ripped out, a trampoline from a nearby house flew through the front window of the administration block, donated pohutakawa trees were reduced to stumps and a $5000 shade sail was destroyed.
The Wrights' roof was found four properties away on Friday morning after a tornado ripped through the street in Mount Maunganui. Photo/George Novak
Principal Lisa Morresey said the repairs were made to make sure everything was safe but the battle to get insurance to pay for the damage was ongoing.
"The Ministry of Education's insurance doesn't cover any fencing, it doesn't cover the astro turf, it doesn't cover any site works," she said.
She expected the Ministry to pick up the bill for about $20,000 worth of repairs but believed the school would have to pay for another $45,000 worth.
Even so, she had not given up trying to get more funding through insurance and other natural disaster funds.
Mrs Morresey said she was surprised how much the Ministry's insurance did not cover and said it was a warning to other principals.
Coming up with enough money for the repairs was "obviously a concern" but the school did have some money in reserve, she said. Proceeds from the trash to fashion show on August 1 would all go towards the astro turf, she said.
Fairfield Intermediate, Masterton Intermediate and Tokomaru School had also held fundraisers and sent money to help.
"That's been amazing just to add to the coffers."
Baypark had sections of roofing above the stands ripped off during the bad weather. Baypark's insurance assessor Greg Taylor said engineers were just completing their assessment and designs which would go out for tender this month.
Mr Taylor would not give an estimate of expected repair costs but said it would be less than $1 million.
Bay Venues chief executive Gary Dawson said the stadium had been cleaned up as much as possible. He hoped repairs would be completed by the end of September.
Mount tornado
* The tornado hit land at Clyde St about 8.45pm on Thursday May 14 and tore a trail to Te Maunga and Baypark Stadium.
* A section of ASB Baypark Stadium's roof blown away.
* Power lines down.
* Eight people evacuated to homes of friends and family.
Image 1 of 29: Damage from a tornado that hit Mount Maunagnui properties and BayPark stadium. Photo/George Novak
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14 May 2015 Bay of Plenty Times Photograph by George Novak
