On Saturday Metservice recorded a maximum wind gust of 70km/h for Hokitika Airport.

The area is securely fenced off, and an assessment of the damage and clean-up work will begin in the morning.

School will be open as usual.

Parent Kathryn Ogilvie said her children had played on the tree just yesterday.

“Sad that it was their last,” she said.

Ogilvie told the Herald her two girls were “very sad that the giant tree is gone” – she said the tree is at least several decades old.

“My eldest was telling me yesterday all about how she and her friends loved playing on the rope swing, watching the horses in the paddock next door. She was even showing her baby sister how to push off the tree to swing higher. She hopes the horses are okay and unhurt.”

Her youngest daughter, 7, was excited for swimming to start back next term but, with the damage to the roof, Ogilvie was not sure that would be able to happen now.

“It’s definitely going to be a big financial setback for the school but I hope the community can come together and fund raise in order to get our kids back into the pool,” she said.