The system peaked as a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone before moving into the South Pacific basin, then rapidly degenerated into a subtropical low on 11 February 2023.

[10] At this stage, the system was located within a favourable environment for further development with low vertical wind shear of 10–30 km/h (5–15 mph) and warm sea surface temperatures of 29–30 °C (84–86 °F).

[7][11] Over the next two days, the system gradually developed further as it moved south-westwards along a ridge of high pressure towards Queensland, Australia, before the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center initiated advisories and classified it as Tropical Cyclone 12P during 8 February.

[10][18][19] Gabrielle began to experience an increase in northwesterly vertical wind shear, the JTWC downgraded it to a Category 1-equivalent cyclone.

[21] The JTWC also discontinued warnings on the system around 21:00 UTC that day[22] Gabrielle was downgraded to a Category 2 tropical cyclone by the MetService.

[24][25] In Vanuatu, Malpoi, a village in the northwest of Espiritu Santo, was severely affected by landslides, mud, and the destruction of houses and gardens.

As their plantations were damaged by the landslide, chairman Allan Taman of Vanuatu's Santo Sunset Environment Network stated that the villagers may require long-term financial assistance.

[30] The Emergency Management Norfolk Island (EMNI) sent out a warning on Saturday afternoon, advising people to stay inside and announcing that most businesses would close.

[40] Many residents across the upper North Island who had been affected by earlier flooding prepared themselves for the cyclone, while emergency services were on high alert.

[52] Numerous roads across the North Island were closed due to flooding and high winds, including Auckland Harbour Bridge.

[55] By 19 February, Hipkins confirmed that 3,200 people were registered as uncontactable, though he stated that the number was expected to drop, while the direct death toll rose to 11.

Hundreds of police staff worked on locating people and every person uncontactable was finally accounted for on 7 March,[57][58] except for one man who disappeared north of Napier on the morning of 14 February and remains missing as of April 2024.

[59] A man died in Australia on 27 June, with his family claiming that the stress after losing his home in the cyclone had detrimental effects on his health which he never recovered from.

[69] 50 apartments were evacuated in Mount Eden on the evening of the 13th after engineers determined strong winds could cause the historic Colonial Ammunition Company Shot Tower to collapse.

[83] Power was cut to over 40,000 properties, almost 32,000 of them in and around Napier, when the main Redcliffe substation was damaged after the Tutaekuri River burst its banks,[84] and phone[85] and internet services were lost.

[106] Wind gusts up to 146 km/h (91 mph) were recorded in the Wellington region, while heavy rain caused surface flooding and minor slips.

[107][108] A strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck offshore Paraparaumu on 15 February at 7:38 pm local time,[109] impacting some who were already being affected by the cyclone.

[111] The National Emergency Management Agency deployed 60 Starlink Internet devices while the Royal New Zealand Navy dispatched HMNZS Canterbury with supplies and equipment to build temporary bridges.

During that time, they received 597 calls from the public including six burglary reports, 11 unlawful takings, and 38 family harm incidents.

Police said they had arrested 59 people (42 in Hawke's Bay and 17 in Gisborne) for various offences including car conversion, serious assaults, burglary, and disorder.

[121][122] The 2023 New Zealand census was not postponed, but field collectors worked for an extra 8 weeks in the cyclone affected areas in order to reach more people.

[123] Prime Minister Hipkins announced on 13 February that the Government would provide NZ$11.5 million to support the community response to the cyclone.

[131] In early March 2023, Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki blamed pornography, abortion, and gay rights for causing Cyclone Gabrielle during an hour long sermon based on the Old Testament Book of Leviticus.

Tamaki's remarks were condemned by Mayor of Gisborne Rehette Stoltz, who described them as "disappointing, unhelpful and laughable" during a time when members of the community had lost their homes and livelihoods.

[134] On 23 February, the Government ordered a ministerial inquiry into forestry companies' slash practices, which had exacerbated flood damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

The inquiry will be led by former National Party cabinet minister Hekia Parata, former Hawke's Bay Regional Council chief executive Bill Bayfield, and forestry engineer Matthew McCloy.

[135][136] Cyclone Gabrielle along with the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods has renewed national discussion around managed retreat, the concept of moving people, assets and activities from dangerous locations.

A range of figures and groups including the "West Auckland is Flooding" advocacy group, Victoria University of Wellington public policy emeritus professor Dr Jonathan Boston, former cabinet minister Phil Twyford, and University of Waikato environmental planning lecturer Dr Christina Hanna have advocated that the New Zealand Government and local councils encourage and subsidise residents and businesses to evacuate from flood-prone areas in New Zealand including West Auckland, Westport, South Dunedin, Christchurch's Southshore suburb, Lower Hutt's Petone suburb, and parts of Whakatāne, Whanganui or Whangārei.

[140][141] On 1 June, affected properties across the Hawke's Bay region were grouped into three categories in order to clarify the impact of managed retreat.

[145] The Human Rights Commission's Chief Commissioner Paul Hunt expressed concern about the lack of local input in the Government's cyclone recovery cost-sharing agreement.