A massive clean-up effort is continuing on Sunday after an apparent tornado struck south Auckland on Saturday.
Hundreds of homes were damaged in Papatoetoe, and one person lost their life after they were picked up and thrown into a solid object by the strong winds while working in a container yard in Wiri.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said about 240 houses were damaged in the weather event, including 60 that are inhabitable.
"Given the damage, we are however fortunate that the injuries and loss of life were not greater," Goff wrote on Facebook.
"Really impressed with the resilience of those affected and the community spirit of helping each other."
Auckland Emergency Management estimated the total number of homes affected by the tornado in Papatoetoe and surrounding areas was closer to 1200.
Manukau Ward Councillor Efeso Collins told Newshub there was an area of about seven streets where there was "quite severe damage", and the experience had left many residents shaken.
"There were people who were telling me stories of their children who were cowering under their arms and in their bosoms. One child, in particular, a dad mentioned he asked 'are we going to die?'" Collins said.
He said it will take weeks for things to return to normal.
A Civil Defence Welfare Centre was set up on Saturday afternoon at the Otara Pool and Leisure Centre to offer assistance to people whose homes were damaged in the tornado.
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Auckland Emergency Management controller Parul Sood said authorities spent the day visiting as many properties as possible, though a number of people had reached out for accommodation support.
"Those whose homes have been significantly affected appear to be staying with friends and whanau and a small number have been in touch through the Civil Defence Welfare Centre," Sood said.
The person who died in the suspected tornado was working at the Ports of Auckland freight hub in Wiri.
A spokesperson for Ports of Auckland said the worker was not a staff member of the company, nor of its subsidiary Colinxx, which operates the freight hub.
Goff said the death was "really, really sad".
"Our hearts go out to the family of the worker killed at the container terminal in Wiri."
