Big storm shakes Auckland region

Lightning, thunder, rain and wind gusts of up to 140km/h caused widespread havoc across Auckland yesterday, felling trees, damaging boats and cutting power to more than 17,000 homes.

Shortly after noon, flashes of lightning struck Auckland's North Shore, cutting power and traffic lights, causing delays on several roads. Some homes in Wellsford were still without power at 9pm.

A helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in Mairangi Bay, with witnesses reporting a flash of lightning just before the pilot elected to land his machine in the Windsor Park car park.

Eyewitness Graeme Wright of Wrights Outdoor Equipment Centre said he thought the chopper was going to crash into his roof.

He said the helicopter came in very low after a large flash of lightning and several bolts of thunder.

Winds of up to 140km/h caused boats in the Waitemata and Manukau harbours to break free of their moorings.

There were also reports of several people suffering minor injuries from flying debris, including a woman hit on the head by a signpost in Browns Bay.

At Waiheke Island, a yacht carrying eight people was blown on to rocks at around 2pm.

Hayley Bancroft, 25, escaped serious injury when a tree crushed the car she was eating lunch in at Godley Lane, Paremoremo, about 2.10pm. "I had time to swear - and that was about it," she said.

A 300ft container ship, Spirit of Resolution, crashed into the old Mangere Bridge, causing structural damage to the bridge and ship. There were no reports of injuries and, just an hour-and-a-half later, a tug was used to prise the boat free. The ship had been heading out, although the Manukau bar was reportedly closed to traffic.

Witness Andy Nathan, 43, of Mangere, was on the bridge with his children Samuel, 6, and Isobella, 8, when the ship hit. "He was on full power and the wind was blowing him toward us. It was enough to shake the bridge. There's a fair bit of weight there," he said.

Auckland Harbourmaster John Lee-Richards said there would be an investigation into the the accident.

"There's considerable damage. The ship will require repairs before going anywhere."

The Fire Service said it was kept busy with about 90 separate incidents, which included securing loose cladding on houses in central Auckland and removing trees from roads. Auckland International Airport also reported that 100km/h wind gusts led to delays, but a spokesman said they did not have to cancel or re-route flights.

The storm caused chaos for organisers of the eagerly-anticipated Black Eyed Peas concert last night, after winds damaged Ericsson Stadium Supertop. Several bolts from the steelwork that held up the tent-like structure came loose and there was not enough time to fix the damage before the concert started.

The performance was relocated to St James Theatre in inner-city Auckland for safety reasons and two concerts instead of one were hastily organised, for 8pm and 11pm, as the new venue could not hold the 5000 ticket-holders.

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said the bad weather was felt across much of the North Island, after a low swept up the South Island from Antarctica. Known as the equinoxial gales, or the "gales of the Antarctic dawn", they were hitting Auckland hardest.

The gales began last weekend and moved down the country, bringing snow to the Desert Rd. St Arnaud at Nelson Lakes region reported unseasonal snow. There were also reports of heavy snow, up to 15cm, in the South Island's Arthurs Pass, Lewis Pass and Porters Pass.

There would be a brief respite today, he said, but more wind and rain was forecast for the North Island for the rest of the week.

"If you've been cursing that you can't get the washing dry, remember this is what happens in Auckland in spring. I don't expect this pattern to last much longer," said Mr McDavitt.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY