Apparent tornado causes damage and injury on Kapiti Coast
Sunday 27 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story MetService, Steve Devine
An apparent tornado struck a Paraparaumu car park around 1pm, smashing a car window and sending debris flying. A woman was injured by flying glass during the event, which also caused damage to approximately a dozen vehicles. Witnesses reported experiencing extremely strong winds during the incident.
Key facts
5 facts
- Time of event: approximately 1pm
- Location: Mitre 10 MEGA Kapiti car park
- Number of vehicles damaged: around a dozen
- Wind warning was in place for the area at the time
- Mandy Butler sustained an arm injury from flying glass
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
A Kapiti Coast car park was hit by strong winds and an apparent tornado around 1pm today. The event caused damage to approximately a dozen vehicles, including customer, trade, and staff cars.
Witness Steve Devine, a 61-year-old teacher, described the event as the heaviest wind he has ever been involved in. He reported that his windscreen was covered in brown dirt, debris, and stone.
Mandy Butler was inside her car when the tornado tore through the area for approximately 10 seconds. She was cut on the arm by flying glass from her smashed rear window.
Mitre 10 MEGA Kapiti staff assisted people in the car park and took photos of the damage. Butler and her partner used tarpaulins and duct tape to cover the broken window before driving to Wellington.
Where reports differ
- One report identifies the location as Paraparaumu, while another identifies it as Kapiti Coast.
Compiled from reports by 1News and RNZ.