A new cyclone has formed east of Fiji and is tracking towards New Zealand.

The storm has been named "Cyclone Pola" by the Fiji Met Service and is currently Category 1 (out of a scale up to 5) and will likely strengthen into a Cat 2 storm by the end of today.

Just as New Zealand recently saw with Cyclone Oma, Pola will also be blocked from a direct hit to NZ due to strong high pressure in the area that will guide Pola eastwards, says WeatherWatch.co.nz

"Pola is tracking due south at the moment and shows it sliding between all the island nations to our north east.

"Those in Tonga should closely track Pola in case it jogs more to the east over the next 24 to 48 hours and potentially directly impacts them.

"Pola is remarkably similar to Cyclone Neil that formed two weeks ago and tracked in a similar fashion southwards past Tonga and caused very little problems for them," says the weather organisation.

"At this stage it appears Pola will be closest to New Zealand on Saturday but shouldn't impact our weather, but may bring in slightly bigger waves and stronger rips to the north east."