Intense winds reaching velocities of approximately 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in nearly 90,000 homes experiencing outages and led officials to call off more than 100 flights, based on local media.
The gales are impacting the entire South Island and southern sections of the northern region, as stated by the weather forecasting body.
The nation's agencies have released rare high-level wind alerts - the highest alert level - in core zones such as these major districts.
Residents have been advised to avoid going outside, avoid travel, and make arrangements for further power and communication outages.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Measures
The power cut is primarily influencing households mostly in the southern region, although agencies report that the electricity supply was being gradually reinstated.
Local media have stated that in certain areas homes have lost their roofs, whereas utility poles and vegetation have been toppled by the gales.
In Wellington, a man was lost his life after being impacted by a falling limb at a frequent walking route on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a female was pushed toward moving cars on a road by a strong gust of wind, in a moment that was captured in a viral dashcam video.
Aircraft services to and from the city have been cancelled because of the weather, and certain highways and community centers are not operating.
At the same time authorities in Canterbury have announced a state of emergency, to assist recovery activities.
Labor Protests Alongside Severe Weather
These intense gusts on this day come as tens of thousands of school staff, physicians and civil servants take part in what has been termed a "major walkout", demanding higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
Yet the severe conditions has pressured them to alter some of their plans, with several external protests relocated inside or abandoned.
Similar gusts are affecting the nearby nation, ushering in a period of extreme heat to the nation's interior regions.
Officials have declared burning restrictions for fear of wildfires.
