Severe gales attaining speeds of approximately 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in nearly 90,000 properties experiencing outages and led officials to cancel in excess of 100 aircraft departures, according to domestic outlets.
These gusts are impacting the complete South Island and southern sections of the northern region, per the national weather agency.
Officials in New Zealand have issued infrequent high-level wind alerts - the top caution category - in core zones including these major districts.
People have been encouraged to stay indoors, stay off roads, and get ready for more electricity and network failures.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Response
The power cut appears to be affecting residences predominantly in the South Island, although agencies state that power was being gradually reinstated.
Domestic outlets have indicated that in various locations homes have lost their roofs, whereas trees and electricity poles have been toppled by the gales.
Across Wellington, a man was killed after being impacted by a tree branch at a popular trail walking spot on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a individual was swept into oncoming traffic on a road by a strong gust of wind, in a event that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Aircraft services entering and leaving the city have been halted because of the gusts, whereas certain highways and community centers are also closed.
At the same time local leaders have announced a state of emergency, to facilitate emergency management operations.
Labor Protests During Extreme Weather
These intense gusts on this day occur while tens of thousands of educators, medical professionals and government employees are participating in what has been termed a "mega strike", requesting better pay and working conditions.
But the extreme weather has pressured them to alter various scheduled activities, with various open-air gatherings shifted to interior venues or abandoned.
Similar gusts are also sweeping Australia, bringing a heatwave to the remote areas.
Agencies have declared fire bans for concern about bushfires.
