Intense gales hitting speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have caused nearly 90,000 households experiencing outages and led agencies to cancel more than 100 flights, according to regional news sources.
The winds are impacting the complete southern region and southern parts of the northern region, as stated by the weather forecasting body.
New Zealand authorities have issued rare high-level wind alerts - the most severe warning - in core zones including Wellington and Canterbury.
People have been advised to avoid going outside, avoid travel, and make arrangements for additional utility disruptions.
Extensive Impact and Emergency Measures
This outage seems to be impacting households mainly in the South Island, although authorities report that the electricity supply was being gradually reinstated.
Regional news have indicated that in various locations structures have suffered roof damage, whereas utility poles and vegetation have been knocked down by the gales.
In Wellington, a person was killed after being hit by a falling limb at a well-known hiking path on Tuesday.
Also in the capital, a individual was swept into moving cars on a thoroughfare by a powerful blast, in a event that was recorded in a widely shared car camera footage.
Air travel entering and leaving the city have been suspended because of the weather, while some roads and libraries are not operating.
Meanwhile local leaders have announced a state of emergency, to support emergency management operations.
Work Stoppages Alongside Harsh Conditions
The wild winds on this day come as tens of thousands of educators, medical professionals and government employees are participating in what has been called a "significant labor action", requesting better pay and working conditions.
Yet the severe conditions has forced them to alter some of their plans, with several external protests shifted to interior venues or called off.
Comparable winds are impacting Australia, bringing a period of extreme heat to the remote areas.
Agencies have issued fire bans for concern about bushfires.
