Severe gusts hitting speeds of approximately 155km/h (96mph) have caused around 90,000 homes experiencing outages and forced officials to halt in excess of 100 flights, as reported by regional news sources.
The gales are impacting the whole South Island and southern parts of the North Island, according to the national weather agency.
The nation's agencies have released uncommon severe gust advisories - the highest alert level - in central regions including Wellington and Canterbury.
Locals have been encouraged to stay indoors, avoid travel, and make arrangements for further power and communication outages.
Broad Destruction and Emergency Response
The power cut is primarily influencing households mainly in the South Island, although authorities say that the electricity supply was being restored progressively.
Regional news have reported that in some places roofs have been ripped off houses, and utility poles and vegetation have been knocked down by the gales.
Across Wellington, a person was killed after being struck by a wooden fragment at a well-known hiking path on earlier this week.
Also in the capital, a female was blown onto approaching vehicles on a thoroughfare by a powerful blast, in a incident that was recorded in a widely shared car camera footage.
Air travel entering and leaving the metropolis have been suspended because of the weather, while some roads and libraries are shut down.
Meanwhile Canterbury officials have declared a crisis declaration, to facilitate disaster response efforts.
Labor Protests During Severe Conditions
These intense gusts on Thursday occur while tens of thousands of school staff, physicians and civil servants are participating in what has been described as a "major walkout", calling for improved salaries and workplace environments.
But the intense climate has compelled them to change certain arrangements, with some outdoor rallies shifted to interior venues or called off.
Comparable winds are affecting the neighboring country, causing a heatwave to the remote areas.
Agencies have issued burning restrictions for concern about wildfires.
