Intense winds hitting velocities of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have caused approximately 90,000 homes experiencing outages and led officials to call off over 100 aircraft departures, based on local media.
These gusts are impacting the complete southern region and southern sections of the North Island, according to the weather forecasting body.
Officials in New Zealand have issued uncommon high-level wind alerts - the top caution category - in core zones including these major districts.
Residents have been encouraged to stay indoors, avoid travel, and get ready for more electricity and network failures.
Broad Impact and Crisis Response
The electricity loss seems to be impacting homes predominantly in the South Island, though authorities state that energy was being slowly brought back.
Regional news have reported that in some places homes have lost their roofs, whereas utility poles and vegetation have been brought down by the gusts.
Within the capital, a man was fatally injured after being struck by a wooden fragment at a well-known hiking path on Tuesday.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a female was blown onto approaching vehicles on a thoroughfare by a powerful blast, in a event that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Aircraft services to and from the urban area have been suspended as a result of the gusts, while some roads and libraries are shut down.
At the same time authorities in Canterbury have issued a state of emergency, to assist recovery activities.
Strike Action Amid Extreme Conditions
These intense gusts on this day come as tens of thousands of school staff, physicians and civil servants are engaged in what has been termed a "major walkout", requesting higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
Yet the intense climate has pressured them to modify some of their plans, with various open-air gatherings relocated inside or abandoned.
Similar gusts are also sweeping Australia, bringing a heatwave to the country's outback.
Officials have announced flame prohibitions for concern about forest fires.
