Intense winds reaching speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have caused nearly 90,000 properties without power and led authorities to cancel more than 100 flights, as reported by local media.
The gales are affecting the entire southern region and southern sections of the northern region, according to the country's meteorological service.
Officials in New Zealand have announced rare severe gust advisories - the highest alert level - in key areas encompassing Wellington and Canterbury.
Residents have been encouraged to stay indoors, stay off roads, and prepare for additional power and communication outages.
Broad Impact and Crisis Response
The electricity loss is primarily influencing households predominantly in the southern region, while officials say that the electricity supply was being slowly brought back.
Local media have indicated that in certain areas structures have suffered roof damage, while trees and electricity poles have been knocked down by the gusts.
In Wellington, a man was killed after being hit by a wooden fragment at a well-known hiking path on Tuesday.
Meanwhile in Wellington, a female was swept into approaching vehicles on a road by a powerful blast, in a event that was filmed in a widely shared car camera footage.
Air travel entering and leaving the city have been cancelled because of the weather, while some roads and libraries are also closed.
Meanwhile local leaders have declared a emergency situation, to assist emergency management operations.
Labor Protests Amid Harsh Conditions
These intense gusts on this day come as many of school staff, physicians and civil servants are participating in what has been described as a "major walkout", requesting higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
Yet the severe conditions has compelled them to change various scheduled activities, with various open-air gatherings shifted to interior venues or abandoned.
Comparable winds are impacting Australia, causing a heatwave to the remote areas.
Authorities have issued fire bans for fear of wildfires.
