‘Mini-Tornado’ Hits Wellington as Summer Gets Off to a Rough Start

In one of the stranger effects, the weather shattered windows at The Baby Factory, sending a stampede of baby dolls down the street.
‘Mini-Tornado’ Hits Wellington as Summer Gets Off to a Rough Start
A member of NZ Response Team 18 (NZRT-18) outside one of the homes damaged by a 'tornado' which struck the Hutt Valley Courtesy of NZRT-18 / Hutt City Council
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Newly appointed Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop got a very personal lesson in one of the biggest problems facing much of New Zealand’s infrastructure on Dec. 12 when a “mini tornado” tore the roof off his Hutt Valley electorate as part of a major storm which lashed most of the country.

A band of low pressure swept up the country from the south, bringing thunder, lightning, torrential rain and large hail stones, causing damage and disruption on Tuesday. Flights were delayed or cancelled amid flooding in Canterbury as the storm hit.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
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