Severe gusts reaching velocities of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in nearly 90,000 properties lacking electricity and forced officials to cancel over 100 air travel services, as reported by local media.
The gales are influencing the complete South Island and southern sections of the northern region, per the national weather agency.
The nation's agencies have issued uncommon high-level wind alerts - the top caution category - in key areas encompassing Canterbury and Wellington.
Locals have been encouraged to stay indoors, stay off roads, and get ready for additional electricity and network failures.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Measures
This outage appears to be affecting residences predominantly in the southern region, while agencies report that power was being gradually reinstated.
Local media have reported that in various locations homes have lost their roofs, and utility poles and vegetation have been knocked down by the gales.
Across Wellington, a individual was lost his life after being impacted by a wooden fragment at a well-known hiking path on Tuesday.
Also in the capital, a female was swept into oncoming traffic on a thoroughfare by a powerful blast, in a event that was recorded in a widely shared car camera footage.
Aircraft services in and out of the urban area have been halted because of the weather, and various routes and public facilities are shut down.
At the same time local leaders have declared a state of emergency, to facilitate recovery activities.
Work Stoppages Amid Extreme Conditions
These intense gusts on today come as numerous of educators, medical professionals and government employees take part in what has been described as a "mega strike", calling for higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
Yet the intense climate has compelled them to modify certain arrangements, with some outdoor rallies shifted to interior venues or called off.
Comparable winds are also sweeping Australia, bringing a period of extreme heat to the country's outback.
Authorities have issued flame prohibitions for apprehension regarding forest fires.
