By Lavinia Ngatoko in Challenge Weekly, New Zealand

AUCKLAND NZ (ANS) -- As residents in the storm devastated areas of Taranaki, and Northland , New Zealand , count the cost of the destruction and ruin to property, many are thanking God that no lives were lost.

The series of twisters that tore through Taranaki on June 5, leaving destruction in their wake in Bell Block, Egmont Village , Oakura and Waitara came just a day after a tornado swept in from the sea and cut its way through three kilometres of New Plymouth's central business district.

But just as the state of emergency was lifted in those areas hardest hit by the twisters, widespread rain and strong winds hit Northland last Tuesday, causing serious flooding, damage and power outages.

Auckland and the Coromandel were also affected.

In the Coromandel, Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp's new event centre, which was to be officially opened in a few days, was totally destroyed.

Miraculously the 50 or so youngsters who were on a school holiday camp and had been inside when the storm struck, got out just in time.

Chairman of the camp's management board Bill Tissingh said the campers were watching DVDs when they felt the building "shuddering and shaking."

Everyone, including staff was evacuated to the dining hall area, which was undamaged.

"It was like the events centre just exploded," said Mr Tissingh.

"The kids and staff just sang and prayed.

"Never since the camp was established 30 years ago have we had winds like this or had such significant damage. It is a miracle that there was no loss of life. Corrugated iron off the roof of the centre blew half a kilometre away - this could have decapitated someone."

Damage to the camp buildings, which were insured, is estimated to cost between half and three quarters of a million dollars.

In Taranaki Heather McKie, a staff member of Manna Healing Centre on Wairau Rd , Oakura, said there were 13 people in the centre when the twister came up the road.

"It just shot off to one side over into farmland and into the bush, before reaching the centre," said Mrs McKie.

"At the corner at the bottom of Wairau Road , a house on one side lost its roof and on the other side of the road, a house was stripped of all its trees and a large hedge. "It used to be a very secluded property, now it's open to the road. There was no damage at all at Manna."

In McKellar Street , which was one of the hardest hit streets in the town, a Christian family's house sustained only broken windows and no structural damage.

Debris from neighbouring properties ended up scattered over their property.

"For the community as a whole, it was a miracle that no-one was killed or seriously injured," said Mrs McKie.

Lavinia Ngatoko reports for Challenge Weekly, New Zealand's independent and non-denominational Christian newspaper.