Intense winds attaining velocities of up to 155km/h (96mph) have caused around 90,000 homes experiencing outages and forced authorities to cancel more than 100 aircraft departures, based on domestic outlets.
The winds are impacting the entire South Island and southern parts of the North Island, per the national weather agency.
The nation's agencies have issued rare severe gust advisories - the most severe warning - in central regions encompassing Wellington and Canterbury.
Residents have been advised to stay indoors, stay off roads, and make arrangements for further utility disruptions.
Broad Destruction and Emergency Measures
This outage is primarily influencing households mostly in the southern region, while authorities say that power was being restored progressively.
Domestic outlets have reported that in some places homes have lost their roofs, whereas trees and electricity poles have been brought down by the gales.
Within the capital, a individual was killed after being hit by a falling limb at a well-known hiking path on Tuesday.
Additionally in the city, a individual was pushed toward approaching vehicles on a road by a strong gust of wind, in a moment that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Aircraft services in and out of the city have been cancelled because of the gusts, while various routes and public facilities are not operating.
At the same time local leaders have announced a state of emergency, to assist emergency management operations.
Labor Protests During Severe Weather
The wild winds on today occur while numerous of school staff, physicians and civil servants are participating in what has been termed a "mega strike", calling for better pay and working conditions.
However the extreme weather has compelled them to change some of their plans, with various open-air gatherings relocated inside or called off.
Similar gusts are also sweeping the neighboring country, ushering in a period of extreme heat to the country's outback.
Agencies have announced fire bans for apprehension regarding forest fires.
