Severe gales reaching velocities of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in nearly 90,000 properties lacking electricity and forced agencies to halt in excess of 100 aircraft departures, based on domestic outlets.
The winds are affecting the whole southern region and southern parts of the North Island, according to the national weather agency.
New Zealand authorities have announced uncommon red wind warnings - the most severe warning - in core zones including these major districts.
Residents have been urged to stay indoors, refrain from journeys, and make arrangements for more power and communication outages.
Broad Destruction and Emergency Response
This outage is primarily influencing homes mostly in the South Island, although officials say that power was being restored progressively.
Local media have stated that in various locations homes have lost their roofs, whereas utility poles and vegetation have been brought down by the winds.
Across Wellington, a person was fatally injured after being impacted by a wooden fragment at a frequent walking route on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a female was swept into oncoming traffic on a thoroughfare by a powerful blast, in a incident that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Flights in and out of the urban area have been suspended as a result of the winds, and various routes and public facilities are not operating.
At the same time Canterbury officials have announced a crisis declaration, to facilitate emergency management operations.
Work Stoppages During Harsh Conditions
These intense gusts on today coincide with tens of thousands of teachers, doctors and other public workers are participating in what has been termed a "major walkout", calling for higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
But the extreme weather has forced them to change certain arrangements, with some outdoor rallies shifted to interior venues or abandoned.
Comparable winds are also sweeping the neighboring country, bringing a heatwave to the nation's interior regions.
Officials have issued fire bans for concern about wildfires.
