Intense gales hitting velocities of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have left approximately 90,000 properties lacking electricity and forced authorities to cancel more than 100 aircraft departures, as reported by local media.
These gusts are impacting the entire southern region and lower areas of the North Island, as stated by the national weather agency.
The nation's agencies have announced rare severe gust advisories - the most severe warning - in core zones including Canterbury and Wellington.
Residents have been urged to stay indoors, stay off roads, and get ready for additional power and communication outages.
Broad Destruction and Crisis Measures
This outage is primarily influencing homes mostly in the southern region, while agencies state that the electricity supply was being slowly brought back.
Regional news have stated that in various locations roofs have been ripped off houses, while power lines and trees have been toppled by the gusts.
In Wellington, a man was lost his life after being hit by a wooden fragment at a popular trail walking spot on earlier this week.
Additionally in the city, a individual was swept into moving cars on a street by a strong gust of wind, in a incident that was filmed in a widely shared car camera footage.
Flights to and from the city have been halted due to the gusts, while various routes and public facilities are also closed.
Meanwhile authorities in Canterbury have declared a crisis declaration, to assist disaster response efforts.
Labor Protests Amid Severe Conditions
The wild winds on this day occur while tens of thousands of teachers, doctors and other public workers are participating in what has been described as a "major walkout", requesting improved salaries and workplace environments.
But the severe conditions has compelled them to change some of their plans, with various open-air gatherings moved indoors or cancelled.
Similar gusts are also sweeping the neighboring country, bringing a high-temperature event to the remote areas.
Officials have issued fire bans for fear of wildfires.
