Cyclone Catastrophe Bola was one of the costliest cyclones Catastrophe in the history of New Zealand , causing Causation severe damage Damaging as an extratropical cyclone Catastrophe when it passed Motion_directional near the country in March 1988 .

On March 4 , Bola transitioned Change into an extratropical storm Catastrophe , passing Motion_directional to the north of the North Island of New Zealand on March 8 .

In Vanuatu , Bola dropped Motion heavy rainfall , which destroyed Destroying two bridges and caused Causation severe damage Damaging to islands in the group .

Bola caused Causation severe damage Damaging to the North Island of New Zealand , where heavy rainfall peaked Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale at 917 mm ( 36.1 in ) in Gisborne Region .

In Whangaruru Harbour , Northland , a samaritan act accounted Causation for another Bola fatality Killing when an elderly male long time resident of Rapata road Oakura Bay attempted to tie Connect down a neighbours empty water tank .

The name `` Bola '' was later retired GiveUp , meaning it will not be used Using again within the same basin .