Severe winds reaching speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have caused around 90,000 properties experiencing outages and led authorities to cancel over 100 aircraft departures, according to local media.
The winds are impacting the whole South Island and southern parts of the North Island, per the country's meteorological service.
Officials in New Zealand have released uncommon severe gust advisories - the highest alert level - in key areas encompassing these major districts.
People have been encouraged to stay indoors, stay off roads, and get ready for further utility disruptions.
Broad Damage and Emergency Response
This outage is primarily influencing households mostly in the southern region, while agencies report that power was being slowly brought back.
Local media have stated that in certain areas structures have suffered roof damage, while power lines and trees have been brought down by the gales.
Across Wellington, a person was killed after being impacted by a tree branch at a frequent walking route on Tuesday.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a woman was blown onto oncoming traffic on a street by a powerful blast, in a moment that was filmed in a viral dashcam video.
Aircraft services entering and leaving the urban area have been halted due to the weather, and certain highways and community centers are also closed.
At the same time authorities in Canterbury have issued a state of emergency, to assist disaster response efforts.
Strike Action Alongside Harsh Weather
These intense gusts on Thursday occur while numerous of teachers, doctors and other public workers take part in what has been called a "significant labor action", demanding better pay and working conditions.
But the extreme weather has forced them to modify some of their plans, with some outdoor rallies relocated inside or called off.
Comparable winds are impacting Australia, bringing a heatwave to the remote areas.
Agencies have declared flame prohibitions for fear of wildfires.
