By Jono Hutchison
Parts of Wellington have been in clean-up mode today after the city was lashed with a severe storm last night.
Boats were capsized and roofs torn off but now the weather has calmed down.
Matthew Wood’s Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club bore the brunt of the storm, with rain, hail and ferocious winds hampering the club’s charity event.
Mr Wood went out in a rescue boat, to help yachties get to shore.
“[It is] the most wind I’ve ever seen; I've previously been in 50 knots - we had over 70 knots recorded - walls of water, spray, it was full-on,” he says.
Luckily everyone made it back to shore safely.
Across town, in Lyall Bay, a vintage cinema was at the centre of its own drama of movie proportions.
“I saw the roof lift up, and it went right across and disappeared, and I thought ‘oh, I hope that hasn't gone into the flats,” says Margaret Bell, the cinema owner’s wife.
The roof missed the surrounding houses, landing safely in a neighbouring backyard.
Inside the cinema, it was a rush to protect everything from the rain.
“We were able to move a lot of equipment very quickly, and of course save what could have been disastrous damage to stuff that was irreplaceable, including a lot of film,” says owner John Bell.
But the roof didn't fare so well. Owner Mr Ball says while his prized cinema has taken quite a hit, he's had plenty of local support.
Today Wellington has been fine and sunny, a welcome relief from the ferocity of last night and a chance to survey the damage, and get things cleared up.
3 News