Fierce Winds Leave Tens of Thousands Without Power in the Island Nation
Intense gusts reaching speeds of up to 155km/h (96mph) have left approximately 90,000 homes experiencing outages and led agencies to call off over 100 aircraft departures, according to domestic outlets.
The winds are impacting the whole southern region and southern parts of the northern region, per the national weather agency.
Officials in New Zealand have released rare severe gust advisories - the top caution category - in central regions including Canterbury and Wellington.
Residents have been encouraged to avoid going outside, avoid travel, and make arrangements for more electricity and network failures.
Extensive Impact and Emergency Response
This outage is primarily influencing homes predominantly in the South Island, though agencies state that power was being gradually reinstated.
Regional news have reported that in some places homes have lost their roofs, and utility poles and vegetation have been brought down by the gales.
Across Wellington, a person was killed after being impacted by a falling limb at a popular trail walking spot on earlier this week.
Additionally in the city, a individual was blown onto oncoming traffic on a thoroughfare by a intensive burst, in a event that was recorded in a widely shared car camera footage.
Aircraft services entering and leaving the city have been suspended as a result of the weather, while various routes and public facilities are also closed.
Meanwhile local leaders have issued a state of emergency, to support recovery activities.
Strike Action During Severe Conditions
These intense gusts on this day come as tens of thousands of school staff, physicians and civil servants are participating in what has been termed a "mega strike", demanding higher wages and enhanced employment terms.
However the severe conditions has compelled them to modify certain arrangements, with some outdoor rallies moved indoors or called off.
Similar gusts are impacting Australia, causing a high-temperature event to the nation's interior regions.
Agencies have declared flame prohibitions for concern about bushfires.