Powerful gales attaining velocities of up to 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in around 90,000 homes experiencing outages and forced agencies to halt in excess of 100 aircraft departures, according to regional news sources.
The gales are affecting the complete South Island and southern sections of the northern region, as stated by the national weather agency.
The nation's agencies have announced infrequent red wind warnings - the top caution category - in core zones such as Canterbury and Wellington.
Locals have been encouraged to stay indoors, stay off roads, and get ready for additional utility disruptions.
Widespread Impact and Crisis Measures
This outage is primarily influencing residences mainly in the South Island, though agencies say that power was being slowly brought back.
Local media have stated that in various locations homes have lost their roofs, while utility poles and vegetation have been brought down by the winds.
Across Wellington, a person was fatally injured after being impacted by a tree branch at a popular trail walking spot on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a woman was swept into moving cars on a thoroughfare by a powerful blast, in a moment that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Aircraft services in and out of the city have been halted because of the weather, while various routes and public facilities are not operating.
Meanwhile Canterbury officials have declared a crisis declaration, to assist disaster response efforts.
Work Stoppages Alongside Severe Weather
These intense gusts on today occur while many of school staff, physicians and civil servants take part in what has been described as a "mega strike", demanding better pay and working conditions.
Yet the severe conditions has pressured them to modify various scheduled activities, with some outdoor rallies shifted to interior venues or cancelled.
Similar gusts are also sweeping the neighboring country, bringing a high-temperature event to the remote areas.
Officials have declared burning restrictions for concern about bushfires.
