Severe gusts reaching speeds of approximately 155km/h (96mph) have left around 90,000 households experiencing outages and led authorities to call off over 100 air travel services, according to local media.
These gusts are impacting the whole southern region and southern parts of the northern region, per the weather forecasting body.
Officials in New Zealand have announced rare severe gust advisories - the most severe warning - in central regions including Wellington and Canterbury.
People have been advised to stay indoors, avoid travel, and prepare for additional electricity and network failures.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Measures
This outage appears to be affecting households mostly in the southern region, although officials state that the electricity supply was being slowly brought back.
Local media have reported that in some places structures have suffered roof damage, and utility poles and vegetation have been knocked down by the gales.
Across Wellington, a man was lost his life after being impacted by a wooden fragment at a frequent walking route on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a woman was swept into moving cars on a street by a strong gust of wind, in a moment that was captured in a viral dashcam video.
Air travel entering and leaving the metropolis have been cancelled due to the weather, and certain highways and community centers are also closed.
At the same time authorities in Canterbury have issued a crisis declaration, to facilitate recovery activities.
Work Stoppages During Severe Conditions
The powerful gales on this day coincide with numerous of teachers, doctors and other public workers are engaged in what has been termed a "major walkout", demanding higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
However the severe conditions has forced them to alter some of their plans, with several external protests relocated inside or cancelled.
Comparable winds are impacting the nearby nation, ushering in a heatwave to the remote areas.
Agencies have announced burning restrictions for concern about wildfires.
