Powerful gusts reaching speeds of up to 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in around 90,000 properties experiencing outages and led agencies to call off more than 100 air travel services, according to local media.
These gusts are affecting the complete southern region and lower areas of the northern region, as stated by the national weather agency.
The nation's agencies have released uncommon severe gust advisories - the top caution category - in key areas encompassing Canterbury and Wellington.
Residents have been advised to stay indoors, avoid travel, and make arrangements for additional power and communication outages.
Broad Damage and Crisis Response
This outage seems to be impacting homes mostly in the southern region, though agencies say that energy was being slowly brought back.
Local media have indicated that in certain areas homes have lost their roofs, and utility poles and vegetation have been toppled by the winds.
In Wellington, a person was killed after being hit by a tree branch at a frequent walking route on Tuesday.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a female was pushed toward oncoming traffic on a road by a strong gust of wind, in a incident that was captured in a viral dashcam video.
Air travel in and out of the city have been suspended as a result of the gusts, while certain highways and community centers are shut down.
At the same time local leaders have issued a crisis declaration, to support recovery activities.
Work Stoppages Amid Severe Weather
The powerful gales on Thursday coincide with numerous of school staff, physicians and civil servants take part in what has been called a "mega strike", calling for better pay and working conditions.
Yet the extreme weather has compelled them to modify certain arrangements, with several external protests moved indoors or abandoned.
Similar gusts are also sweeping Australia, bringing a high-temperature event to the nation's interior regions.
Authorities have issued fire bans for fear of forest fires.
