Half of the ASB Stadium has been reduced to a pile of rubble as people wake to deal with the aftermath of a tornado that tore through Mount Maunganui overnight.

Fences, house roofs, trees, power transformers and trampolines were all destroyed when the tornado hit the Links Ave area to Te Maunga.

ASB stadium was damaged by the tornado. Photos and Video: Cameron Avery.

Tauranga Fire Brigade senior station officer Mark Keller says a command unit was set at Bayfair.

'I think there were about 30 weather-related calls,” says Mark. 'Our truck was dealing with two houses and a power transformer that had its lid ripped off.

'It was pretty dangerous for those nearby.”

Mark says one of the houses they were dealing with had about two thirds of their roof ripped off and thrown into the neighbour's property.

'There was not much we could do,” he adds. 'We just helped move their possessions to a dry place. We couldn't cover the roof because it was a flat roof and it would have ended up as a swimming pool.”

Firefighters and other responders were in the area for about seven to eight hours dealing with debris and trying to make things safe.

This morning people will be evaluating the damage.

'It's the personal stories that come out of this as well,” says Mark.

'Like the guy who had his caravan stolen a couple of weeks ago. He got it back, did it up and then it was picked up and ripped to pieces. That guys has really been through the mill.”

Mount Maunganui Intermediate in Links Ave is closed today because school grounds have suffered significant damage, says principal Lisa Morresey.

See below for a bullet point run down of what happened last night:

• The tornado went through Waitui Grove, Golf Road, Lodge Avenue, Ascot Place, Epsom Road, Maunganui Road, Owens Place and Baypark.
• Emergency services worked until 1.15am to check properties and make sure people were safe.
• 11 houses were reported damaged.
• 8 of those evacuated to friends/family.
• 5 commercial properties in Owens Place were damaged.
• ASB Baypark Stadium was damaged.
• By midnight all roads were open and power was back on. One lane on Maunganui Road opposite Links Avenue Reserve was closed for a time where a tree had fallen onto a power line on Maunganui Road.
• Club Mount Maunganui was kept open as a Welfare Centre until just before 1am.
• Contractors worked into the morning to clear loose roofing iron from sportsfields around Baypark and from the road in Owens Place.

Next steps:

• Tree and roading contractors will do a damage assessment at first light for all affected streets. They are to make safe any damage and clear debris.
• Council staff will visit damaged properties first thing in the morning to offer assistance.
• If anyone with damage has been overlooked please contact Tauranga City Council 07 577 7000.