Severe winds hitting speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have left around 90,000 households without power and compelled authorities to cancel more than 100 aircraft departures, as reported by domestic outlets.
The winds are impacting the complete South Island and southern sections of the northern region, per the weather forecasting body.
The nation's agencies have announced uncommon red wind warnings - the most severe warning - in central regions including these major districts.
People have been advised to stay indoors, stay off roads, and prepare for additional electricity and network failures.
Broad Destruction and Crisis Measures
This outage is primarily influencing homes mainly in the southern region, though authorities say that power was being slowly brought back.
Local media have stated that in certain areas roofs have been ripped off houses, whereas utility poles and vegetation have been brought down by the gusts.
In Wellington, a man was lost his life after being impacted by a wooden fragment at a well-known hiking path on Tuesday.
Additionally in the city, a individual was swept into moving cars on a thoroughfare by a powerful blast, in a incident that was filmed in a widely shared car camera footage.
Aircraft services in and out of the city have been suspended due to the weather, while various routes and public facilities are shut down.
Meanwhile Canterbury officials have declared a crisis declaration, to assist emergency management operations.
Work Stoppages During Harsh Conditions
The wild winds on Thursday coincide with tens of thousands of school staff, physicians and civil servants are participating in what has been termed a "significant labor action", requesting better pay and working conditions.
But the extreme weather has forced them to modify various scheduled activities, with several external protests shifted to interior venues or abandoned.
Similar gusts are also sweeping the nearby nation, causing a period of extreme heat to the nation's interior regions.
Officials have issued burning restrictions for concern about bushfires.
