Roofs have been lifted off homes, two people are in hospital and there was a "widespread" power outage.

The Northland town was hit by high winds in the early hours of Sunday, damaging 50 houses and knocking down power poles, power lines and trees.

"It was horrific. My wife woke up screaming": Mangawhai has been compared to a war zone, with houses destroyed, roofs torn off, debris scattered...

Mangawhai has been compared to a war zone, with houses destroyed, roofs torn off, debris scattered across roads and power poles ripped out.

There was supposed to be an open home at 81-year-old Alan Johnson's house on Sunday, but it had been torn to shreds during the storm that hit...

FENZ Northland manager Wipari Henwood says the damage was some of the worst he had seen from a tornado.

Kaipara District Mayor Craig Jepson said at least four homes were destroyed, but he said the numbers displaced will be much higher.

The council is promising more than one sweep as residents and businesses dispose of their damaged goods.

Building inspectors have completed 90 rapid assessments of properties damaged by the Mangawhai tornado, stickering 35 of them.

  James Gilliland is a minister, counselor, an internationally known lecturer, best selling author with the books, Reunion with Source, Becoming...