Severe gales reaching speeds of up to 155km/h (96mph) have left nearly 90,000 homes lacking electricity and led agencies to cancel over 100 air travel services, as reported by regional news sources.
These gusts are impacting the entire South Island and southern sections of the northern region, per the weather forecasting body.
New Zealand authorities have released rare severe gust advisories - the top caution category - in central regions encompassing Wellington and Canterbury.
Residents have been encouraged to remain inside, stay off roads, and make arrangements for additional power and communication outages.
Widespread Impact and Crisis Measures
The electricity loss appears to be affecting households mostly in the southern region, while agencies report that the electricity supply was being restored progressively.
Regional news have stated that in some places structures have suffered roof damage, whereas trees and electricity poles have been knocked down by the winds.
Within the capital, a man was killed after being struck by a tree branch at a well-known hiking path on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a woman was pushed toward approaching vehicles on a road by a powerful blast, in a incident that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Aircraft services in and out of the urban area have been cancelled due to the weather, whereas various routes and public facilities are not operating.
Simultaneously local leaders have issued a state of emergency, to assist emergency management operations.
Labor Protests During Extreme Weather
The powerful gales on today occur while many of school staff, physicians and civil servants are engaged in what has been termed a "significant labor action", requesting better pay and working conditions.
However the severe conditions has pressured them to change certain arrangements, with various open-air gatherings relocated inside or cancelled.
Comparable winds are also sweeping the nearby nation, causing a period of extreme heat to the nation's interior regions.
Officials have declared fire bans for apprehension regarding bushfires.
