Cyclone Drena developed into a category 1 tropical cyclone 3 January 1997 just north of Vanuatu. Over the next couple of days, the system moved south-south westwards towards Australia and away from the islands of Vanuatu. Drena peaked on 6 January as a category 4 severe tropical cyclone north west of New Caledonia and brushed the main island on 7 January. From New Caledonia, Drena moved south-eastwards before making a transition to an extratropical cyclone on 9 January.

 

On 10 January, Drena impacted the Upper North Island with storm force winds and heavy rain. Wind gusts of 160 km/h were reported in the Hauraki Gulf with gusts over 100 km/h through Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Northland with flooding flooding in Auckland and Thames due to sea inundation and heavy rain. Damage totaled to $6.7 million and 3 people were killed. Roughly 140 people were evacuated after 44 homes were flooded. 

 

  

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