Severe gales attaining velocities of up to 155km/h (96mph) have left approximately 90,000 properties experiencing outages and compelled authorities to call off over 100 flights, as reported by regional news sources.
The gales are impacting the whole South Island and southern sections of the North Island, per the weather forecasting body.
New Zealand authorities have released uncommon red wind warnings - the highest alert level - in central regions encompassing these major districts.
People have been urged to avoid going outside, avoid travel, and make arrangements for further power and communication outages.
Extensive Damage and Crisis Measures
This outage is primarily influencing households mainly in the southern region, though officials say that the electricity supply was being gradually reinstated.
Local media have stated that in various locations homes have lost their roofs, while trees and electricity poles have been brought down by the gales.
In Wellington, a person was killed after being hit by a falling limb at a popular trail walking spot on earlier this week.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a woman was blown onto moving cars on a thoroughfare by a powerful blast, in a moment that was filmed in a viral dashcam video.
Aircraft services entering and leaving the metropolis have been cancelled because of the weather, and certain highways and community centers are shut down.
At the same time Canterbury officials have announced a state of emergency, to facilitate emergency management operations.
Labor Protests During Severe Weather
These intense gusts on Thursday coincide with many of school staff, physicians and civil servants are engaged in what has been described as a "significant labor action", demanding better pay and working conditions.
However the extreme weather has forced them to modify certain arrangements, with various open-air gatherings relocated inside or abandoned.
Similar gusts are impacting Australia, causing a period of extreme heat to the nation's interior regions.
Agencies have declared flame prohibitions for concern about wildfires.
