Two tornados have hit parts of New Zealand today - after two others battered parts of the country at the weekend.

Fire and Emergency says a tornado hit Taranaki just after one this morning, lifting a roof off a house in Waitara.

At 5.30 this morning a second tornado damaged 8 homes in Paraparaumu's Nikau Valley - again ripping off rooves, and lifting one house off its piles.

One person was taken to hospital after the sleepout they were in was destroyed.

RNZ reporter Kirsty Frame spoke to Max Towle.