‘Never seen anything like it before’: Lightning strikes Whangamatā home

Monday, 6 July 2026

A Whangamatā home has sustained extensive electrical damage during an early morning thunderstorm.

Whangamatā Volunteer Fire Brigade responded to reports that a property on Achilles Ave had been struck by lightning at around 3.50am on Monday.

Chief fire officer Nigel Airey said he had never seen anything like it before, adding the house’s electrical wiring was “toast”.

Two trucks responded to the callout, and while volunteers did not find fire or heat signatures at the property, the lighting strike caused extensive damage.

“There’s no power - it surged right through the house and affected the adjoining premises as well.”

Photos show the lighting strike tore plaster from the wall where the switchboard was located and left black marks around power outlets.

A car parked in the driveway of the property would not start, and it was believed its computer had been damaged during the strike.

The occupants were shaken up but unharmed, Airey said.

He advised people to stay away from power lines and damaged electrical equipment after a storm, and to keep vegetation clear of properties to avoid electrical arcs.

“Once you have had a thunderstorm through or power loss always treat the power as still on.”