Powerful winds reaching speeds of up to 155km/h (96mph) have left around 90,000 properties experiencing outages and led authorities to cancel over 100 flights, based on domestic outlets.
The winds are influencing the whole southern region and lower areas of the northern region, per the national weather agency.
New Zealand authorities have announced infrequent severe gust advisories - the most severe warning - in central regions including these major districts.
People have been encouraged to stay indoors, refrain from journeys, and make arrangements for further electricity and network failures.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Response
This outage is primarily influencing homes mainly in the South Island, while agencies say that power was being slowly brought back.
Local media have stated that in some places roofs have been ripped off houses, whereas power lines and trees have been brought down by the winds.
Within the capital, a individual was lost his life after being impacted by a falling limb at a popular trail walking spot on earlier this week.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a female was blown onto approaching vehicles on a street by a intensive burst, in a incident that was recorded in a widely shared car camera footage.
Air travel to and from the metropolis have been halted as a result of the gusts, and some roads and libraries are shut down.
At the same time local leaders have announced a crisis declaration, to assist disaster response efforts.
Strike Action Amid Severe Weather
The wild winds on Thursday occur while many of school staff, physicians and civil servants are engaged in what has been described as a "mega strike", requesting improved salaries and workplace environments.
However the severe conditions has pressured them to modify certain arrangements, with various open-air gatherings moved indoors or cancelled.
Comparable winds are affecting Australia, bringing a high-temperature event to the nation's interior regions.
Officials have declared burning restrictions for concern about bushfires.
