Gusts of up to 100km/h during the storm on Wednesday night caused the former Kestrel landing to break away.

Pressure from the strong winds, which hammered the glass box-shaped structure located on The Strand in Tauranga, knocked over the piles securing the landward side.

A tug helps to secure the structure using temporary lines.

With the ebb tide this morning the entire structure was threatening to break way and head down the harbour towards the road bridges.

A tug was used to secure the structure and temporary lines are now holding the floating pontoon in place.

The piles have been knocked over.