Severe gales attaining speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in around 90,000 households experiencing outages and led officials to halt over 100 aircraft departures, according to domestic outlets.
The gales are affecting the whole South Island and southern sections of the North Island, according to the national weather agency.
Officials in New Zealand have announced rare high-level wind alerts - the highest alert level - in core zones such as Canterbury and Wellington.
Residents have been advised to avoid going outside, avoid travel, and get ready for additional electricity and network failures.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Measures
This outage appears to be affecting homes mainly in the South Island, although officials say that energy was being slowly brought back.
Regional news have reported that in some places homes have lost their roofs, and utility poles and vegetation have been knocked down by the gusts.
Across Wellington, a person was lost his life after being hit by a wooden fragment at a well-known hiking path on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a female was swept into oncoming traffic on a street by a intensive burst, in a incident that was filmed in a viral dashcam video.
Air travel in and out of the city have been cancelled as a result of the winds, while various routes and public facilities are also closed.
At the same time Canterbury officials have announced a emergency situation, to facilitate disaster response efforts.
Strike Action Amid Severe Conditions
The powerful gales on today come as many of educators, medical professionals and government employees take part in what has been described as a "mega strike", requesting better pay and working conditions.
But the severe conditions has pressured them to modify certain arrangements, with various open-air gatherings relocated inside or cancelled.
Comparable winds are impacting the nearby nation, ushering in a heatwave to the country's outback.
Agencies have announced flame prohibitions for apprehension regarding bushfires.
