Intense gusts attaining velocities of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have caused nearly 90,000 properties without power and forced authorities to halt more than 100 aircraft departures, as reported by regional news sources.
The gales are influencing the entire South Island and southern parts of the northern region, as stated by the country's meteorological service.
Officials in New Zealand have announced rare red wind warnings - the highest alert level - in core zones including these major districts.
People have been encouraged to stay indoors, refrain from journeys, and make arrangements for further power and communication outages.
Broad Destruction and Emergency Response
The electricity loss appears to be affecting households mainly in the South Island, although officials say that energy was being gradually reinstated.
Regional news have indicated that in various locations structures have suffered roof damage, while utility poles and vegetation have been knocked down by the gusts.
In Wellington, a individual was killed after being struck by a falling limb at a frequent walking route on Tuesday.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a female was swept into moving cars on a street by a strong gust of wind, in a incident that was captured in a viral dashcam video.
Flights to and from the city have been cancelled because of the winds, and certain highways and community centers are shut down.
At the same time Canterbury officials have declared a state of emergency, to facilitate emergency management operations.
Work Stoppages During Harsh Weather
The powerful gales on today coincide with numerous of school staff, physicians and civil servants are engaged in what has been termed a "significant labor action", requesting higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
But the intense climate has pressured them to modify various scheduled activities, with various open-air gatherings shifted to interior venues or called off.
Comparable winds are also sweeping Australia, ushering in a high-temperature event to the country's outback.
Authorities have declared fire bans for concern about wildfires.
