Twister singles out Tauranga home

Bronson Geayley pictured in what is left of his shed. Photo / Alan Gibson.

A freak tornado has ripped off a shed roof, flinging it almost 100m across a state highway while leaving almost everything else around untouched.

Other casualties include two dog kennels, which have disappeared without trace, and a couple of trees seen flying past a neighbour's window.

Small fence posts nearby remain perfectly upright.

Hayley Andersen, owner of the property hit by the mini tornado, said she heard metal ripping and a loud bang, and her dogs went wild.

She called her partner home from work and stepped out to find an "unbelievable" scene.

"I just freaked out, totally freaked out," Ms Andersen said. She had never seen anything like it before.

The house, off State Highway 29 in Tauranga, was hit by steady rain and wind about 6pm on Wednesday, then everything went quiet.

No one saw exactly what happened but Ms Andersen has found signs the twister came straight up her driveway, and thinks it must have formed in the paddock across the street.

It swept past the carport, bending its metal posts, then struck the small shed. The shed's roof flew over the road and crashed on to a garden centre on the other side, leaving a hole in its ceiling.

"It's bizarre. It ripped out an olive tree, but it didn't affect anyone else but us," Ms Andersen said.

Her car was unharmed, even though it was parked in front of the wrecked shed.

"I just don't think people believe us - it's so strange," she said.

The Fire Service came out that night and put forward the tornado theory.

MetService agreed a small tornado was the most likely cause.

Ms Andersen's insurance company visited yesterday and said it would cover the damage - whatever it was, it wasn't done by a person.

Ms Andersen's carport has had to be dismantled because its twisted framework was considered a safety hazard.

"Pretty ungroovy, man," said Ms Andersen's partner, Bronson Geayley.

"I had to do the sprint home. But at least my fishing gear is all right. Unbelievable. Unbelievable."

Ms Andersen was taking a holiday from work and said that despite the drama she was "sweet as".