Powerful winds hitting velocities of approximately 155km/h (96mph) have caused around 90,000 properties without power and forced officials to cancel over 100 flights, based on domestic outlets.
The gales are impacting the entire South Island and southern parts of the North Island, as stated by the national weather agency.
Officials in New Zealand have issued rare red wind warnings - the highest alert level - in core zones such as Wellington and Canterbury.
Locals have been advised to stay indoors, avoid travel, and make arrangements for further power and communication outages.
Broad Damage and Emergency Response
The power cut seems to be impacting residences mostly in the southern region, while agencies state that energy was being gradually reinstated.
Domestic outlets have indicated that in certain areas homes have lost their roofs, while power lines and trees have been knocked down by the gusts.
Within the capital, a person was killed after being struck by a tree branch at a well-known hiking path on Tuesday.
Additionally in the city, a woman was blown onto moving cars on a road by a intensive burst, in a event that was recorded in a widely shared car camera footage.
Air travel entering and leaving the metropolis have been cancelled because of the weather, and some roads and libraries are not operating.
Simultaneously authorities in Canterbury have issued a state of emergency, to facilitate emergency management operations.
Strike Action Amid Harsh Conditions
The powerful gales on today occur while tens of thousands of school staff, physicians and civil servants are participating in what has been called a "mega strike", calling for higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
However the severe conditions has forced them to change various scheduled activities, with various open-air gatherings shifted to interior venues or cancelled.
Like conditions are affecting the neighboring country, bringing a period of extreme heat to the nation's interior regions.
Officials have declared fire bans for concern about forest fires.
