Intense Gales Cause Tens of Thousands In the Dark in the Island Nation
Severe gusts reaching speeds of approximately 155km/h (96mph) have caused around 90,000 homes without power and led authorities to halt over 100 aircraft departures, based on local media.
The winds are influencing the entire South Island and southern sections of the North Island, according to the weather forecasting body.
Officials in New Zealand have issued uncommon severe gust advisories - the most severe warning - in core zones encompassing Canterbury and Wellington.
People have been encouraged to remain inside, stay off roads, and make arrangements for more electricity and network failures.
Extensive Destruction and Crisis Measures
This outage appears to be affecting households mainly in the southern region, while agencies say that power was being slowly brought back.
Regional news have indicated that in various locations roofs have been ripped off houses, and trees and electricity poles have been brought down by the gusts.
Across Wellington, a person was lost his life after being hit by a falling limb at a popular trail walking spot on Tuesday.
Also in the capital, a woman was swept into moving cars on a street by a intensive burst, in a incident that was filmed in a popular vehicle recording.
Air travel entering and leaving the city have been suspended due to the winds, while some roads and libraries are not operating.
Simultaneously authorities in Canterbury have announced a emergency situation, to facilitate recovery activities.
Strike Action Amid Severe Conditions
The wild winds on this day come as tens of thousands of educators, medical professionals and government employees are engaged in what has been called a "significant labor action", requesting higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
But the severe conditions has pressured them to alter certain arrangements, with various open-air gatherings moved indoors or abandoned.
Similar gusts are impacting the nearby nation, bringing a period of extreme heat to the country's outback.
Authorities have declared fire bans for fear of bushfires.