Cyclone Hale is expected to approach the northeast of the North Island on Tuesday, and will likely pass southwards over or near the eastern North Island on Wednesday, before moving away to the east says MetService.

At midday Sunday Cyclone Hale which has been named by the Fiji Met Service was located southwest of New Caledonia.

"At this stage there is some uncertainty regarding the timing and movement of Cyclone Hale, but it will likely bring a period of heavy rain, gale or severe gale winds and hazardous coastal conditions to parts of northern and central New Zealand from Monday evening through until Thursday morning," says a MetService spokesperson.

#BreakingNews: Tropical Cyclone #HALE (HAY-ILL) has formed and named by the Fiji Met Service.

The cyclone isn't likely to last long - perhaps only a day or two, mostly at sea. However, the left over depression is expected to reform & deepen in the #NewZealand area for Tue & Wed. pic.twitter.com/ii3CMaEDyG

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) January 7, 2023

"During Tuesday and Wednesday, there is high confidence of heavy rain reaching warning criteria about Coromandel Peninsula, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay, and Severe Weather Watches are currently in place.

"There is low confidence of heavy rain during this time for Auckland (including Great Barrier Island), Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wairarapa (including the Tararua District), Wellington and eastern Marlborough."

MetService says in addition, there is also moderate confidence of a period of severe east to southeast gales about much of the North Island and also northern Marlborough for a time on Tuesday and/or Wednesday as depicted on the chart.

"There is also low confidence of a period of severe southwest gales about parts of Auckland (including Great Barrier Island) and Coromandel Peninsula on Wednesday," says a MetService spokesperson.

"As there is still quite a bit of uncertainty regarding the timing and movement of Cyclone Hale, people in northern and central New Zealand should stay up to date with the latest forecasts as the areas affected may change."

More Severe Weather Warnings and Watches will be issued for weather associated with the subtropical low closer to the time.