Powerful gales hitting velocities of up to 155km/h (96mph) have left around 90,000 homes lacking electricity and forced officials to cancel over 100 air travel services, as reported by domestic outlets.
These gusts are affecting the entire southern region and southern parts of the northern region, according to the country's meteorological service.
New Zealand authorities have released rare high-level wind alerts - the highest alert level - in central regions encompassing Canterbury and Wellington.
Residents have been encouraged to avoid going outside, avoid travel, and make arrangements for more power and communication outages.
Broad Impact and Emergency Response
This outage appears to be affecting residences mostly in the southern region, though officials say that power was being slowly brought back.
Domestic outlets have indicated that in some places structures have suffered roof damage, and utility poles and vegetation have been brought down by the gusts.
Across Wellington, a individual was lost his life after being hit by a falling limb at a well-known hiking path on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a woman was swept into moving cars on a thoroughfare by a intensive burst, in a event that was filmed in a popular vehicle recording.
Aircraft services entering and leaving the city have been suspended as a result of the gusts, and certain highways and community centers are shut down.
Simultaneously authorities in Canterbury have declared a state of emergency, to assist disaster response efforts.
Work Stoppages Alongside Severe Conditions
The wild winds on Thursday coincide with tens of thousands of school staff, physicians and civil servants are engaged in what has been described as a "major walkout", demanding higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
However the severe conditions has forced them to modify various scheduled activities, with several external protests shifted to interior venues or called off.
Similar gusts are also sweeping Australia, causing a heatwave to the country's outback.
Authorities have announced burning restrictions for fear of wildfires.
