Powerful gales attaining speeds of approximately 155km/h (96mph) have caused approximately 90,000 homes lacking electricity and led agencies to halt over 100 aircraft departures, based on local media.
These gusts are impacting the complete South Island and southern parts of the northern region, per the national weather agency.
Officials in New Zealand have announced infrequent red wind warnings - the top caution category - in key areas encompassing Wellington and Canterbury.
Locals have been urged to stay indoors, refrain from journeys, and make arrangements for additional power and communication outages.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Response
This outage seems to be impacting homes mainly in the southern region, although officials report that energy was being gradually reinstated.
Local media have reported that in some places structures have suffered roof damage, and power lines and trees have been brought down by the gusts.
Within the capital, a individual was fatally injured after being struck by a wooden fragment at a well-known hiking path on Tuesday.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a female 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.
Air travel in and out of the metropolis have been halted as a result of the weather, while some roads and libraries are also closed.
At the same time Canterbury officials have issued a state of emergency, to support recovery activities.
Labor Protests Amid Extreme Conditions
The powerful gales on Thursday come as tens of thousands of school staff, physicians and civil servants take part in what has been called a "mega strike", calling for improved salaries and workplace environments.
But the intense climate has pressured them to modify certain arrangements, with several external protests shifted to interior venues or cancelled.
Similar gusts are impacting the neighboring country, bringing a period of extreme heat to the country's outback.
Authorities have issued fire bans for fear of bushfires.
