Severe gales reaching velocities of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have left approximately 90,000 households without power and forced agencies to cancel over 100 flights, based on local media.
The winds are impacting the whole southern region and southern sections of the North Island, as stated by the national weather agency.
Officials in New Zealand have released infrequent high-level wind alerts - the top caution category - in core zones such as Canterbury and Wellington.
Locals have been urged to stay indoors, avoid travel, and make arrangements for further power and communication outages.
Broad Damage and Crisis Response
The power cut appears to be affecting homes mainly in the southern region, while agencies say that energy was being gradually reinstated.
Local media have reported that in some places homes have lost their roofs, whereas power lines and trees have been toppled by the winds.
In Wellington, a person was fatally injured after being hit by a wooden fragment at a frequent walking route on Tuesday.
Also in the capital, a individual was swept into approaching vehicles on a street by a powerful blast, in a event that was recorded in a viral dashcam video.
Flights to and from the urban area have been cancelled because of the winds, while some roads and libraries are shut down.
Meanwhile Canterbury officials have announced a emergency situation, to support recovery activities.
Labor Protests Amid Extreme Weather
The powerful gales on this day coincide with many of school staff, physicians and civil servants are engaged in what has been described as a "significant labor action", requesting higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
But the intense climate has pressured them to change some of their plans, with several external protests moved indoors or cancelled.
Similar gusts are affecting the neighboring country, ushering in a heatwave to the nation's interior regions.
Agencies have announced fire bans for concern about bushfires.
