Severe winds hitting speeds of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have caused nearly 90,000 homes experiencing outages and forced authorities to cancel more than 100 air travel services, based on local media.
The gales are impacting the complete southern region and southern parts of the North Island, according to the national weather agency.
The nation's agencies have issued rare high-level wind alerts - the highest alert level - in key areas encompassing Canterbury and Wellington.
Locals have been advised to remain inside, avoid travel, and make arrangements for additional power and communication outages.
Broad Damage and Emergency Response
This outage is primarily influencing households mainly in the southern region, though agencies say that the electricity supply was being restored progressively.
Regional news have reported that in some places homes have lost their roofs, and utility poles and vegetation have been brought down by the gusts.
Across Wellington, a person was lost his life after being struck by a falling limb at a well-known hiking path on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a individual was swept into approaching vehicles on a thoroughfare by a powerful blast, in a moment that was captured in a popular vehicle recording.
Aircraft services in and out of the urban area have been halted because of the gusts, whereas some roads and libraries are not operating.
At the same time local leaders have issued a state of emergency, to facilitate recovery activities.
Labor Protests Amid Severe Weather
The powerful gales on today come as numerous of educators, medical professionals and government employees take part in what has been described as a "significant labor action", calling for higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
However the extreme weather has compelled them to alter various scheduled activities, with some outdoor rallies shifted to interior venues or called off.
Similar gusts are affecting the neighboring country, ushering in a heatwave to the nation's interior regions.
Officials have issued burning restrictions for concern about bushfires.
