Swathes of New Zealand were battered by powerful winds for the second time in a week on Thursday, causing widespread disruption across the country. The gale-force winds canceled hundreds of flights, cut power to tens of thousands of homes, and forced the closure of schools and major highways.
The strongest winds struck the lower North Island — including the capital, Wellington — and parts of the South Island such as Christchurch. National forecaster MetService issued rare “red” wind warnings, its highest alert level, for several regions as gusts reached up to 230 km/h (143 mph) in some areas.
Despite the intensity of the storm, no deaths or serious injuries were reported. Earlier in the week, a man in Wellington was killed when a tree branch fell during another severe weather system.
Flights Canceled, Power Lines Down
More than 200 flights were grounded nationwide as winds between 140–160 km/h (87–100 mph) swept through urban areas. The extreme conditions uprooted trees, ripped off roofs, and even toppled shipping containers at Dunedin Port. Tens of thousands of properties were left without power, and several highways were closed after flooding and debris made roads impassable. On the South Island’s remote West Coast, flooding isolated entire communities after key routes were blocked.
Weather Disrupts Major Workers’ Strike
The storm coincided with what was expected to be New Zealand’s largest industrial strike in decades, as more than 100,000 health and education workers walked off the job for four hours. The coordinated action involved teachers, doctors, nurses, dentists, and social workers demanding better pay, staffing, and working conditions.
Severe weather forced the cancellation of several outdoor rallies, though union leaders confirmed that the strike itself proceeded as planned. Thousands still marched in Auckland, Hamilton, and smaller towns unaffected by the storm.
Hospitals and emergency services continued to operate, though the government’s health agency urged the public to seek care only for urgent matters. In Nelson, some hospital staff briefly returned to duty when the facility lost power amid the high winds.
Political Tensions Over Strike
Government ministers from New Zealand’s center-right administration criticized the industrial action, calling it politically motivated. Union leaders dismissed the accusation, noting that similar strikes had also taken place under the previous center-left government.
The strike comes amid deep public spending cuts and a growing exodus of New Zealand professionals — particularly healthcare workers — to Australia, where higher pay and lower living costs continue to attract talent.
Conditions to Improve by Friday
Authorities warned that several highways would remain closed overnight as rivers continued to rise and strong winds persisted in parts of the South Island. The National Fire Service imposed bans on fireworks and open fires across much of the country after both this week’s storms ignited wildfires that firefighters struggled to contain.
Meteorologists said the winds were expected to ease by Friday, but urged residents to remain cautious as the cleanup begins.
New Zealand’s unique geography — marked by towering mountain ranges and exposure to southern ocean weather systems — often makes it vulnerable to sudden and severe storms, a pattern this week has underscored dramatically.
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