Severe gales attaining velocities of up to 155km/h (96mph) have left approximately 90,000 households lacking electricity and forced agencies to call off over 100 aircraft departures, based on local media.
These gusts are influencing the complete southern region and southern sections of the northern region, per the weather forecasting body.
Officials in New Zealand have released uncommon severe gust advisories - the top caution category - in key areas including Canterbury and Wellington.
Residents have been advised to avoid going outside, stay off roads, and make arrangements for further power and communication outages.
Broad Destruction and Emergency Response
This outage is primarily influencing homes mostly in the southern region, although authorities say that power was being restored progressively.
Local media have reported that in various locations roofs have been ripped off houses, and trees and electricity poles have been toppled by the winds.
In Wellington, a person was fatally injured after being hit by a falling limb at a popular trail walking spot on Tuesday.
Additionally in the city, a female was pushed toward approaching vehicles on a street by a powerful blast, in a incident that was captured in a popular vehicle recording.
Aircraft services to and from the city have been cancelled due to the gusts, whereas certain highways and community centers are shut down.
At the same time authorities in Canterbury have declared a crisis declaration, to support recovery activities.
Strike Action Alongside Severe Conditions
The powerful gales on Thursday occur while tens of thousands of teachers, doctors and other public workers are engaged in what has been described as a "major walkout", demanding improved salaries and workplace environments.
However the extreme weather has forced them to change various scheduled activities, with some outdoor rallies shifted to interior venues or called off.
Like conditions are impacting the nearby nation, ushering in a high-temperature event to the nation's interior regions.
Agencies have declared fire bans for concern about bushfires.
