One of New Zealand's largest plant suppliers is counting the cost of Auckland's freak weather, which saw a tornado tear through the south Auckland business on Saturday.
Seaview nurseries was directly in the path of the twister. It spans ten hectares, which now has a 75 metre rip down the middle.
"It's not until you see it that you realise the force of these and the magnitude of what tornado's can do.. and I understand this was only a small one," says Seaview owner Dab Featherstone.
It may have been small but the tornado was strong enough to uproot business and cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Seaview now has a two week window to clean up and rebuild.
"If it takes us any longer than that, well the cost to us come springtime sales is going to be more than I'd like to think about," says Featherstone.
Despite the damage the owners say they are incredibly lucky. During the week there would have been around 25 people working in the exact path the tornado took.
"I am a bit gutted. But disasters happen and you've just got to get on with it. The good thing for us is that no ones been hurt and you know, we'll just pick up the pieces tomorrow," Featherstone says.
