Severe gales hitting velocities of up to 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in approximately 90,000 homes experiencing outages and led agencies to cancel in excess of 100 air travel services, according to domestic outlets.
The winds are impacting the entire South Island and lower areas of the North Island, according to the weather forecasting body.
Officials in New Zealand have issued uncommon high-level wind alerts - the most severe warning - in central regions including Canterbury and Wellington.
People have been urged to avoid going outside, avoid travel, and prepare for additional power and communication outages.
Broad Impact and Emergency Measures
This outage is primarily influencing households mostly in the southern region, while agencies say that the electricity supply was being slowly brought back.
Local media have indicated that in some places homes have lost their roofs, and trees and electricity poles have been knocked down by the winds.
In 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 woman was pushed toward oncoming traffic on a road by a strong gust of wind, in a event that was recorded in a widely shared car camera footage.
Air travel to and from the urban area have been suspended because of the winds, while various routes and public facilities are shut down.
At the same time authorities in Canterbury have announced a crisis declaration, to support recovery activities.
Strike Action Amid Severe Conditions
The powerful gales on this day come as many of teachers, doctors and other public workers are engaged in what has been described as a "significant labor action", requesting higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
Yet the intense climate has pressured them to change various scheduled activities, with some outdoor rallies relocated inside or abandoned.
Like conditions are also sweeping the nearby nation, bringing a heatwave to the nation's interior regions.
Agencies have declared flame prohibitions for apprehension regarding forest fires.