Intense gales hitting speeds of up to 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in nearly 90,000 homes experiencing outages and forced agencies to cancel over 100 aircraft departures, according to local media.
The winds are impacting the entire southern region and southern parts of the North Island, according to the national weather agency.
Officials in New Zealand have issued infrequent red wind warnings - the top caution category - in core zones such as these major districts.
Locals have been advised to avoid going outside, stay off roads, and make arrangements for more power and communication outages.
Broad Damage and Crisis Response
This outage seems to be impacting households mostly in the southern region, while officials state that power was being gradually reinstated.
Regional news have stated that in certain areas roofs have been ripped off houses, and utility poles and vegetation have been brought down by the winds.
Across Wellington, a individual was lost his life after being hit by a tree branch at a popular trail walking spot on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a woman was pushed toward moving cars on a street by a strong gust of wind, in a incident that was recorded in a widely shared car camera footage.
Aircraft services in and out of the city have been suspended because of the winds, and various routes and public facilities are not operating.
Simultaneously authorities in Canterbury have issued a emergency situation, to facilitate emergency management operations.
Strike Action Alongside Severe Conditions
These intense gusts on Thursday coincide with tens of thousands of teachers, doctors and other public workers take part in what has been called a "significant labor action", requesting better pay and working conditions.
However the severe conditions has pressured them to change some of their plans, with several external protests relocated inside or abandoned.
Like conditions are affecting Australia, causing a high-temperature event to the nation's interior regions.
Agencies have declared fire bans for concern about forest fires.
