New Zealand was hit by powerful and dangerous winds for the second time in a single week on Thursday, October 23, 2025. These fierce gales led to hundreds of flight cancellations, widespread electricity blackouts, and forced many schools to close their doors.
The strongest winds tore through the lower North Island, home to the capital city Wellington, as well as parts of the South Island, including Christchurch. New Zealand’s national weather service, MetService, issued uncommon ‘red’ wind warnings, indicating the most severe level of alert for numerous affected regions.
While no fatalities or serious injuries were reported during this latest storm, a tragic incident occurred earlier in the week. On Monday, a man in Wellington was killed by a falling tree branch during a separate, intense weather event.
The severe weather on Thursday also threw a wrench into what was expected to be one of New Zealand’s largest industrial actions in decades. Over 100,000 health and education workers, represented by four unions, were scheduled to walk off the job for four hours. This mass protest followed months of stalled negotiations with the government concerning pay and working conditions.
Winds Unleash Transportation Chaos
Thursday saw more than 200 flights grounded nationwide. Urban areas across the country recorded wind speeds of 140 to 160 kilometers (87 to 100 miles) per hour, with a remote rural location in the South Island experiencing extreme gusts up to 230 kilometers (143 miles) per hour.
Electricity services were severely impacted, leaving tens of thousands of homes and businesses without power. The relentless winds brought down trees, tore roofs from buildings, and even knocked over shipping containers at the port in Dunedin.
Several major highways were deemed unsafe and closed, further compounding travel woes. The West Coast of the South Island, a more isolated region, found itself completely cut off by road as the only access routes succumbed to flooding. Images from the affected areas showed significant damage, including farm irrigation equipment strewn across fields in Waiau.
Extreme Weather Dampens Nationwide ‘Mega Strike’
While union leaders affirmed that the strike was still active, many planned rallies by teachers, doctors, and nurses across the country were called off due to the severe weather. This coordinated industrial action, which was expected to draw large crowds, saw its public demonstrations significantly curtailed by the conditions.
Despite the cancellations, thousands of workers still participated in marches in Auckland and Hamilton, and hundreds more gathered for demonstrations in smaller towns spared from the worst of the storm.
Hospitals and emergency services remained operational; however, the government’s health agency advised the public to only seek medical attention for urgent matters. In a notable incident, medical staff at a hospital in Nelson temporarily ended their strike to return to work after the facility experienced a power outage due to the strong winds.
In the lead-up to the strike, ministers from New Zealand’s center-right government, known for their frequent disagreements with labor unions, criticized the planned action as politically motivated. Union leaders, however, quickly refuted this accusation, pointing out that they had also organized strikes under the previous center-left administration.
Teachers made up approximately half of the striking workforce, with the remaining participants comprising doctors, dentists, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals. While specific demands differed across sectors, the core issues driving the strike were consistent: concerns over pay, inadequate staffing levels, and overall working conditions.
This industrial action unfolds against a backdrop of significant government cuts to public spending and an unprecedented exodus of New Zealanders. Many are departing for neighboring Australia, where medical professionals, in particular, are drawn by the promise of higher salaries and a more affordable cost of living.
Relief on the Horizon: Storm Expected to Subside by Friday
As Thursday night progressed, several key highways remained shut. Residents in parts of the South Island were advised to stay vigilant as rising river levels posed a risk of flooding. While winds were forecast to diminish by Friday, authorities strongly recommended continued caution for all travelers.
The national fire service implemented bans on fireworks and open fires across much of the country, which will stay in effect for the remainder of the week. This measure was critical as the powerful winds during both Monday’s and Thursday’s storms ignited several wildfires, with firefighters struggling to bring the most severe blazes under control by Thursday evening.
New Zealand’s geographical position in the southern latitudes, combined with the extensive mountain ranges running its length, often contributes to its susceptibility to severe and unpredictable weather patterns year-round.