Severe gales hitting speeds of up to 155km/h (96mph) have left nearly 90,000 properties lacking electricity and led agencies to call off in excess of 100 flights, as reported by local media.
The winds are influencing the complete South Island and southern parts of the North Island, per the weather forecasting body.
New Zealand authorities have released rare severe gust advisories - the top caution category - in key areas including Wellington and Canterbury.
Locals have been encouraged to stay indoors, stay off roads, and make arrangements for more power and communication outages.
Widespread Damage and Crisis Response
This outage appears to be affecting households mainly in the southern region, although agencies state that the electricity supply was being slowly brought back.
Domestic outlets have indicated that in some places homes have lost their roofs, and trees and electricity poles have been knocked down by the winds.
Within the capital, a man was fatally injured after being hit by a tree branch at a frequent walking route on Tuesday.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a female was pushed toward approaching vehicles on a road by a strong gust of wind, in a event that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Air travel in and out of the metropolis have been halted because of the gusts, whereas certain highways and community centers are not operating.
Meanwhile Canterbury officials have announced a state of emergency, to support emergency management operations.
Labor Protests Amid Severe Conditions
The wild winds on today occur while numerous of teachers, doctors and other public workers are participating in what has been called a "major walkout", calling for higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
But the intense climate has pressured them to alter various scheduled activities, with various open-air gatherings shifted to interior venues or called off.
Similar gusts are affecting the nearby nation, ushering in a period of extreme heat to the remote areas.
Agencies have announced flame prohibitions for concern about wildfires.
