Severe gales reaching speeds of up to 155km/h (96mph) have caused around 90,000 households experiencing outages and led agencies to cancel in excess of 100 air travel services, based on local media.
The gales are affecting the complete southern region and lower areas of the northern region, according to the national weather agency.
Officials in New Zealand have issued infrequent high-level wind alerts - the top caution category - in core zones including Canterbury and Wellington.
People have been encouraged to avoid going outside, stay off roads, and get ready for additional utility disruptions.
Broad Damage and Crisis Response
This outage appears to be affecting homes predominantly in the southern region, while agencies report that power was being slowly brought back.
Regional news have stated that in certain areas structures have suffered roof damage, whereas utility poles and vegetation have been toppled by the winds.
Within the capital, a man was killed after being hit by a wooden fragment at a well-known hiking path on earlier this week.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a female was blown onto moving cars on a thoroughfare by a strong gust of wind, in a moment that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Air travel entering and leaving the city have been cancelled because of the gusts, whereas some roads and libraries are not operating.
Meanwhile local leaders have declared a emergency situation, to facilitate recovery activities.
Labor Protests During Extreme Weather
These intense gusts on Thursday occur while numerous of teachers, doctors and other public workers are engaged in what has been described as a "significant labor action", requesting better pay and working conditions.
Yet the intense climate has pressured them to alter some of their plans, with some outdoor rallies relocated inside or abandoned.
Like conditions are affecting the nearby nation, ushering in a period of extreme heat to the country's outback.
Authorities have declared burning restrictions for concern about bushfires.
