Intense gusts hitting speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have left around 90,000 homes experiencing outages and led officials to cancel more than 100 air travel services, as reported by local media.
These gusts are affecting the whole southern region and lower areas of the North Island, as stated by the weather forecasting body.
The nation's agencies have announced uncommon severe gust advisories - the top caution category - in core zones such as Canterbury and Wellington.
People have been urged to stay indoors, avoid travel, and prepare for more utility disruptions.
Broad Damage and Crisis Response
The electricity loss appears to be affecting households predominantly in the South Island, though agencies say that power was being gradually reinstated.
Regional news have reported that in some places homes have lost their roofs, whereas utility poles and vegetation have been toppled by the gusts.
Within the capital, a person was killed after being hit by a falling limb at a popular trail walking spot on earlier this week.
Additionally in the city, a female was swept into oncoming traffic on a road by a strong gust of wind, in a event that was filmed in a widely shared car camera footage.
Aircraft services to and from the metropolis have been suspended because of the winds, whereas some roads and libraries are not operating.
Meanwhile authorities in Canterbury have declared a emergency situation, to assist emergency management operations.
Work Stoppages Alongside Extreme Weather
The wild winds on today occur while tens of thousands of school staff, physicians and civil servants take part in what has been described as a "major walkout", calling for improved salaries and workplace environments.
Yet the extreme weather has forced them to change certain arrangements, with various open-air gatherings shifted to interior venues or abandoned.
Similar gusts are also sweeping the nearby nation, ushering in a period of extreme heat to the nation's interior regions.
Agencies have declared burning restrictions for apprehension regarding wildfires.
