Severe winds reaching speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have left around 90,000 properties lacking electricity and forced officials to cancel over 100 air travel services, according to local media.
These gusts are influencing the entire southern region and southern sections of the North Island, per the weather forecasting body.
Officials in New Zealand have issued rare high-level wind alerts - the top caution category - in central regions encompassing these major districts.
People have been urged to remain inside, stay off roads, and get ready for further electricity and network failures.
Extensive Impact and Crisis Measures
This outage appears to be affecting homes mostly in the southern region, while officials report that energy was being gradually reinstated.
Regional news have reported that in some places homes have lost their roofs, whereas power lines and trees have been knocked down by the gusts.
Across Wellington, a individual was lost his life after being impacted by a wooden fragment at a well-known hiking path on Tuesday.
Additionally in the city, a female was swept into approaching vehicles on a street by a intensive burst, in a event that was recorded in a widely shared car camera footage.
Air travel in and out of the metropolis have been halted as a result of the gusts, and certain highways and community centers are not operating.
At the same time authorities in Canterbury have announced a emergency situation, to assist recovery activities.
Strike Action During Severe Conditions
These intense gusts on Thursday occur while tens of thousands of teachers, doctors and other public workers take part in what has been called a "significant labor action", calling for improved salaries and workplace environments.
Yet the extreme weather has forced them to modify various scheduled activities, with several external protests moved indoors or abandoned.
Similar gusts are also sweeping Australia, bringing a high-temperature event to the remote areas.
Authorities have declared burning restrictions for fear of bushfires.
