Powerful winds reaching speeds of approximately 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in around 90,000 properties lacking electricity and led authorities to cancel in excess of 100 air travel services, based on local media.
The gales are impacting the entire southern region and southern parts of the North Island, per the weather forecasting body.
Officials in New Zealand have released uncommon high-level wind alerts - the highest alert level - in core zones such as Wellington and Canterbury.
People have been encouraged to avoid going outside, stay off roads, and prepare for additional electricity and network failures.
Broad Destruction and Emergency Response
This outage seems to be impacting households mainly in the southern region, though officials say that energy was being restored progressively.
Domestic outlets have reported that in some places roofs have been ripped off houses, and utility poles and vegetation have been brought down by the gusts.
Across Wellington, a man was lost his life after being struck by a tree branch at a frequent walking route on Tuesday.
Additionally in the city, a woman was blown onto moving cars on a road by a intensive burst, in a incident that was recorded in a popular vehicle recording.
Aircraft services to and from the city have been halted because of the weather, and some roads and libraries are shut down.
Simultaneously local leaders have declared a crisis declaration, to facilitate disaster response efforts.
Labor Protests Amid Extreme Weather
The wild winds on today coincide with numerous of school staff, physicians and civil servants take part in what has been called a "major walkout", calling for better pay and working conditions.
Yet the severe conditions has forced them to modify various scheduled activities, with various open-air gatherings shifted to interior venues or abandoned.
Comparable winds are also sweeping the nearby nation, ushering in a heatwave to the remote areas.
Agencies have declared burning restrictions for fear of bushfires.
