Flights cancelled and a 'mega strike' disrupted as dangerous winds hit New Zealand October 22, 2025 at 11:24PM

Dangerous winds battered New Zealand for the second time in a week, causing widespread flight cancellations, power outages, and school closures. The severe gales, with gusts reaching up to 230 km/h, disrupted a major industrial walkout by over 100,000 health and education workers. While no deaths were reported from Thursday's storms, the weather also exacerbated wildfire risks.