3 publishers · first seen Thu, 29 Oct 2026 02:09 UTC · updated Thu, 29 Oct 2026 22:45 UTC
A severe thunderstorm brought lightning, hail larger than 20mm in diameter, and a small transient tornado to parts of mid Canterbury, with Fire and Emergency responding to a hail-damaged roof in Southbridge and lightning strikes in Lincoln that sparked two small fires. The National Emergency Management Agency advised residents to take shelter indoors, secure loose items, and avoid driving hazards due to large hail, while Metservice confirmed sightings of the tornado near Rakaia based on eyewitness accounts from farmer Tommy Glanville.
In North Canterbury, Salvation Army Lieutenants Barry and Natalie Kirby report a noticeable increase in homelessness over the past 3.5 years, despite official statistics showing none. The Salvation Army, now with 14 paid staff, has launched a pilot program led by Grant Harris and developed a public referral pathway via the Waimakariri District Council website to gather data and seek funding, while shifting from traditional food banks to a model where recipients pay $20 for a meal bag, coffee, and produce voucher.
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