Severe gales attaining speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have caused nearly 90,000 homes lacking electricity and forced authorities to cancel in excess of 100 flights, as reported by regional news sources.
These gusts are affecting the whole southern region and southern parts of the northern region, as stated by the national weather agency.
New Zealand authorities have announced uncommon high-level wind alerts - the most severe warning - in core zones including Wellington and Canterbury.
People have been encouraged to avoid going outside, stay off roads, and prepare for more power and communication outages.
Widespread Damage and Crisis Measures
This outage appears to be affecting residences predominantly in the South Island, though agencies say that energy was being slowly brought back.
Regional news have reported that in various locations homes have lost their roofs, and trees and electricity poles have been brought down by the winds.
Within the capital, a individual was killed after being struck by a falling limb at a frequent walking route on earlier this week.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a individual was blown onto oncoming traffic on a street by a strong gust of wind, in a incident that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Flights in and out of the urban area have been halted as a result of the winds, while certain highways and community centers are shut down.
At the same time local leaders have issued a state of emergency, to facilitate disaster response efforts.
Labor Protests Amid Severe Weather
The powerful gales on Thursday come as numerous of educators, medical professionals and government employees are participating in what has been termed a "significant labor action", calling for better pay and working conditions.
Yet the extreme weather has pressured them to alter certain arrangements, with several external protests shifted to interior venues or abandoned.
Similar gusts are affecting the neighboring country, bringing a high-temperature event to the country's outback.
Agencies have announced burning restrictions for concern about bushfires.
