<\/p>\n
\nThe roof peeling off a house in Newlands, Wellington.
\nPhoto: RNZ\/Jess Charlton\n<\/p>\n
A Wellington resident heard two loud bangs before discovering the roof of his carport in Newlands had blown off.<\/p>\n
“We came out to secure the carport but it was pretty much gone,” Hone Tibble said.<\/p>\n
He rang Fire and Emergency, who came quickly, he said.<\/p>\n
Now the roof above his bedroom is badly damaged.<\/p>\n
“It’s slowly peeling back, there’s already some rain going inside.<\/p>\n
“But essentially I’m still watching the NBA basketball, so it’s still warm inside, but you can feel the challenges that are happening right now.”‘<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nA roof blown off in Wellington.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Ellen O’Dwyer\n<\/p>\n
Tibble said he hasn’t experienced northwesterlies at this level before, and such a prolonged period of bad weather.<\/p>\n
“With the bad winds we’ve had to date, obviously it’s just hammered the carport and this is the result of it.”<\/p>\n
Despite the damage, everyone was safe, with most going to stay at other family houses Thursday night, Tibble said.<\/p>\n
“We are just hoping for the best and securing stuff of our loved ones.”<\/p>\n
The incident had hit home as to how ferocious the elements could be, Tibble said.<\/p>\n
“You definitely get cautious and you start becoming aware of … possible fatalities and how small we are in the grasps of the weather.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nPolice closed vehicle and pedestrian access to Maginnity Street in Central Wellington due to loose cladding.
\nPhoto: Samuel Rillstone\/RNZ\n<\/p>\n
Earlier on Thursday police closed vehicle and pedestrian access to Maginnity Street in Central Wellington.<\/p>\n
Metal cladding – about six stories above street level – was peeling off the corner of a building on the eastern side of the street in high winds.<\/p>\n
A police officer at the scene said the damage is gradually growing as strong winds batter the northern edge of the building.<\/p>\n
She said if metal from the structure was to become airborne it would pose a high risk to people or property.<\/p>\n
The officer said Wellingtonians appear to have heeded warnings to stay home as the streets are relatively quiet.<\/p>\n