In the summers of 1552–54 and over the winter of 1554–55, Povel served as Christian III of Denmark's representative to Iceland,[2] an officially Catholic nation that had been resisting the kingdom's forceful efforts to convert them to Lutheranism, which had become the Dano–Norwegian state religion following the Protestant reformation.

[3] Accompanied by a military force, Povel successfully squashed what remained of Catholic resistance in Iceland after the 1550 execution of their bishop, Jón Arason.

In the ensuing Northern Seven Years' War, Povel Huitfeldt was put in charge of Halmstad, a port town in the then-Danish province of Halland, which he held during a siege by Swedish forces in the autumn of 1563.

However, the war with Sweden highlighted the strategic weaknesses of this approach; the fact that Norway lacked its own standing army had made the invasion of its territories by even small Swedish forces possible, leading to, among others, the burning of Hamar Cathedral and the destruction of the bishop's fortified palace, Hamarhus.

[1] Huitfeldt struggled to exert control over local officials; Ludvig Munk and others persisted in their misuse of tax collections and harsh suppression of peasant resistance, particularly in Trøndelag.

This data collection was discontinued after Huitfeldt's tenure as governor-general ended in 1577, resulting in the control of the economy reverting to local church officials and bailiffs.

The outcome of the meeting was an agreement that farmers would retain a quarter of the tithe traditionally allocated for the poor, but in return would have to contribute funds to support students at Stavanger Cathedral School.

[1] Povel Huitfeldt stepped down from all roles in 1577 due to health complications and the arduous travel conditions in Norway, characterized by inadequate roads, perilous bridges, and steep cliffs.