Intense winds hitting velocities of approximately 155km/h (96mph) have left nearly 90,000 homes experiencing outages and compelled authorities to halt in excess of 100 air travel services, based on domestic outlets.
These gusts are influencing the whole South Island and lower areas of the North Island, as stated by the country's meteorological service.
New Zealand authorities have announced uncommon high-level wind alerts - the most severe warning - in central regions encompassing these major districts.
Residents have been urged to stay indoors, avoid travel, and get ready for more electricity and network failures.
Extensive Damage and Crisis Measures
This outage is primarily influencing homes mainly in the southern region, though authorities state that power was being gradually reinstated.
Regional news have indicated that in some places structures have suffered roof damage, and power lines and trees have been knocked down by the gusts.
Within the capital, a individual was lost his life after being hit by a falling limb at a well-known hiking path on earlier this week.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a woman was swept into moving cars on a road by a powerful blast, in a incident that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Flights entering and leaving the city have been cancelled because of the gusts, while some roads and libraries are shut down.
Meanwhile authorities in Canterbury have declared a state of emergency, to support disaster response efforts.
Strike Action Amid Harsh Weather
These intense gusts on today coincide with many of school staff, physicians and civil servants are engaged in what has been described as a "mega strike", calling for better pay and working conditions.
But the severe conditions has compelled them to alter certain arrangements, with several external protests shifted to interior venues or cancelled.
Comparable winds are impacting Australia, ushering in a heatwave to the nation's interior regions.
Officials have issued fire bans for concern about bushfires.
