A shopping centre in Tauranga has been evacuated and roads were closed after wild weather hit the area.
Kiwifruit orchards were also damaged by the weather which brought heavy hailstorms to the bay of plenty.
It only lasted about an hour, but the storm wreaked extensive damage and brought disbelief.
It forced an unscheduled early closing at the Bayfair Shopping Centre.
Managers ordered an evacuation when the downpour blocked drains and turned the simple art of shopping into a dangerous activity.
Sections of the ceiling collapsed and a number of shops were reported to be flooded.
Coastal roads were closed for a while and Mount Maunganui's popular beach took on a new look.
Hail hit the streets around the Mount up to 10cm in places.
It has come at a bad time for the region's fruit growers - halfway through the kiwifruit harvest.
It will be another few days before the damage shows up and the insurance assessors can move in.
The Met Service's severe weather forecaster says the mix of rain and hail caused blocked drains and damage to rooves.
“The good news is it’s generally going to settle down. We've had quite a lot of thunderstorm activity over the over the last few days,” says Met Service Wellington executive John Crouch.
More thunder storms and hail are expected in the Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay tonight and police are advising the public to avoid driving if possible.
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