Mangawhai residents have been left in shock after a tornado tore through the Northland community at about 3am this morning.

The damaged caused cut power to almost 5000 homes overnight, and about 1000 are still without an electricity supply.

Two people have been taken to hospital in a serious condition, one was airlifted to Auckland hospital while the other was driven to North Shore hospital.

Mangawhai resident Matthew Taylor said Mangawhai was pulling together.

"There's been various people offering accommodation, food, coffees, whatnot, from various other places.

"We've had a lot of messages ourselves come through.

"And yeah, I think just small towns, they sort of all get together when things like this happen, which is really cool.

"I think Mangawhai will be back to normal pretty soon."

Moir Street, where a woman had her car crushed by a 138 year old oak tree that was felled by the tornado. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

The tornado will be responsible for many car insurance claims. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Julie Wall said she was not going to do too much as she was still without power, but would come back tomorrow with some rubbish bags and see if she could clear some of the debris left behind. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

About 5000 residents were left without power as the tornado brought down a number of power lines. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Northpower are continuing to work to return power to the 1000 homes still left without electricity. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Residents race to get tarps over houses that lost their roofs in the tornado in Mangawhai, 26 January 2025. Photo: Peter de Graaf / RNZ

Alan Johnson with what was left of his home after the Mangawhai storm, 26 January 2025. Photo: Peter de Graaf / RNZ

Garage door blown out, Old Waipu Road, Mangawhai, 26 January 2025. Photo: Peter de Graaf / RNZ

A destroyed business premises on Old Waipu Road, Mangawhai. Photo: Peter de Graaf / RNZ

A broken power pole in Mangawhai, after a storm ripped through the town, 26 January 2025. Photo: Peter de Graaf / RNZ

Corrugated iron and duvets in a tree following a storm in Mangawhai, 26 January 2025. Photo: Peter de Graaf / RNZ

This story was originally published by RNZ