Newly appointed Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop got a very personal lesson in one of the biggest problems facing much of New Zealand’s infrastructure on Dec. 12 when a “mini tornado” tore the roof off his Hutt Valley electorate as part of a major storm which lashed most of the country.
A band of low pressure swept up the country from the south, bringing thunder, lightning, torrential rain and large hail stones, causing damage and disruption on Tuesday. Flights were delayed or cancelled amid flooding in Canterbury as the storm hit.
It struck the Wellington region next, causing over 2,000 properties to lose power amid heavy rain and strong winds. International and domestic flights were also disrupted, delayed or cancelled.
Wellington Free Ambulance reported several people required on-site treatments for minor injuries, but there were also two taken to Hutt Hospital: one assessed as serious and the other in a moderate condition.
“The majority of patients were treated on scene and there was no requirement for transport by Wellington Free Ambulance for further treatment.”
The service responded to several weather-related incidents throughout the afternoon, they said.
Mr. Bishop claimed on social media that both the injured were children, saying, “Really concerned to hear about the tornado in the Hutt today, and particularly worried about the two kids who have been injured—I hope they recover quickly. It sounds like there’s going to be a big clean-up job.”
Fire and Emergency New Zealand reported 64 events since 3.00 pm when the weather struck.
In one of the stranger effects, the weather shattered windows at The Baby Factory, sending a stampede of baby dolls down the street.
The nearby Salvation Army store was also badly damaged, and remains closed today for both donations and shoppers, with management unable to say when it might reopen. A window at the local New World supermarket was also blown out.
Wellingtonians were shocked by both the ferocity of the storm and the speed at which it hit.
Windspeeds at Wellington Airport hit 98 kilometres per hour, in Lower Hutt it reached 96km per hour, and on Mt. Kaukau gusts were recorded at 128km per hour.
Five minutes prior to this video being captured, the sun had been shining through scattered clouds.
Inside the City’s major shopping centre, Queensgate, shoppers reported they felt like it was falling apart as skylights were pelted with debris.
Eyewitnesses reported birds being thrown against the glass. “People were screaming, the whole place was shaking and vibrating”, one person said.
The front moved north, causing fears that the east coast areas still recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle in February this year would sustain further damage, but moved out to sea, minimising the effect on that region.
As more than one resident noted on social media, the storm hit the Wellington region just 10 days before the summer solstice and 12 days into what is officially New Zealand’s summer.
