A 90-year-old woman is "shaken" after strong, damaging winds ripped her roof off - while she was inside her house.
The winds swept through Cobden, near Greymouth at around 8:30am on Monday, causing damage to several properties.
Homeowner Margaret Robertson's granddaughter Latasha Fensom spoke with Newshub and described the winds as a "tornado".
"A tornado came through this morning and ripped off the roof all in one," Fensom said.
"Luckily everyone is okay. There's not too much damage I can really see aside from the roof being ripped off."
Security footage from a neighbouring property captured the moment the roof peeled off.
A large stack of wood managed to stay still, while rubbish bins flipped over.
"Nana was in the house when it happened, but she is completely fine now, and that's all you can really ask for in a situation like this."
Fensom said Robertson is "shaken" but aside from that is "handling it pretty well".
"Especially for someone her age, she is doing really good," she said.
"Everyone jumped in and helped. The emergency crews and everyone have been very good and helpful."
