Severe gusts reaching speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have caused around 90,000 households experiencing outages and led authorities to halt more than 100 aircraft departures, based on domestic outlets.
The gales are impacting the entire South Island and lower areas of the northern region, according to the weather forecasting body.
Officials in New Zealand have announced infrequent severe gust advisories - the top caution category - in core zones such as Canterbury and Wellington.
Locals have been advised to avoid going outside, avoid travel, and get ready for additional utility disruptions.
Broad Damage and Crisis Response
This outage is primarily influencing residences mostly in the South Island, while agencies state that power was being slowly brought back.
Domestic outlets have indicated that in certain areas homes have lost their roofs, whereas trees and electricity poles have been toppled by the gusts.
In Wellington, a person was killed after being hit by a falling limb at a well-known hiking path on earlier this week.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a female was swept into approaching vehicles on a street by a strong gust of wind, in a incident that was recorded in a popular vehicle recording.
Flights in and out of the city have been cancelled as a result of the weather, while some roads and libraries are shut down.
Simultaneously authorities in Canterbury have declared a crisis declaration, to facilitate emergency management operations.
Work Stoppages Alongside Extreme Conditions
The powerful gales on this day 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.
However the extreme weather has compelled them to change certain arrangements, with several external protests shifted to interior venues or cancelled.
Comparable winds are affecting Australia, bringing a period of extreme heat to the nation's interior regions.
Officials have issued flame prohibitions for concern about forest fires.
