Intense gales hitting velocities of up to 155km/h (96mph) have caused around 90,000 properties experiencing outages and led officials to cancel over 100 air travel services, as reported by local media.
The winds are influencing the whole southern region and southern parts of the northern region, per the weather forecasting body.
Officials in New Zealand have released uncommon red wind warnings - the top caution category - in key areas such as Wellington and Canterbury.
Residents have been encouraged to avoid going outside, avoid travel, and get ready for further utility disruptions.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Response
The electricity loss seems to be impacting households predominantly in the southern region, though authorities state that the electricity supply was being gradually reinstated.
Local media have indicated that in certain areas homes have lost their roofs, whereas trees and electricity poles have been brought down by the gusts.
Within the capital, a person was killed after being hit by a tree branch at a well-known hiking path on earlier this week.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a individual was swept into moving cars on a thoroughfare by a strong gust of wind, in a event that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Flights to and from the metropolis have been cancelled due to the winds, whereas certain highways and community centers are also closed.
At the same time local leaders have issued a state of emergency, to support recovery activities.
Work Stoppages Amid Extreme Conditions
These intense gusts on today come as many of teachers, doctors and other public workers are participating in what has been described as a "mega strike", requesting better pay and working conditions.
However the severe conditions has forced them to modify certain arrangements, with several external protests shifted to interior venues or abandoned.
Similar gusts are impacting Australia, ushering in a period of extreme heat to the remote areas.
Agencies have announced fire bans for apprehension regarding bushfires.
