New Zealanders have called for stronger government leadership to tackle climate hazards, according to a new poll by AMI, State and NZI.
The AMI, State and NZI 2026 climate poll findings were released on 30 June 2026. The poll results reveal that New Zealanders do not have confidence in the country’s ability to manage climate risks. The climate change poll found that just 27% of New Zealanders are confident the country can reduce climate impacts, compared with 42% who are not.
The latest edition of the annual poll makes this the fifth year in a row that more people are pessimistic than optimistic about how the country is tracking on this issue. AMI, State, and NZI Chief Executive Phil Gibson said, “It is clear we cannot continue as we are. New Zealand must take stronger action to reduce the impacts of climate hazards.”
Now in its ninth year, the climate poll findings show that most New Zealanders expect that climate hazards will worsen. Reflecting the growth in weather events reported in the most recent Wild Weather Tracker (one storm every eight days), New Zealanders expect more frequent and extreme floods (92%), storms (90%) and coastal inundation from sea-level rise (91%).
Awareness of growing risk is also shaping perceptions of insurance. The poll found that 69% of survey respondents say the growing number and rising cost of natural disasters is driving premium increases.
The survey respondents said they are feeling the impact of the rising premiums. Around 80% saying home and contents insurance is becoming less affordable and 50% worrying they may no longer be able to afford their home insurance.
Mr Gibson said, “New Zealanders see the link between the growing risk and their insurance. Fewer people with insurance simply means greater economic and social harm, and a greater call on the Government and taxpayers when the next disaster strikes.”
The survey found that 61% of New Zealanders agree that insurers should raise premiums for homes and businesses that face more risk, while only 20% are prepared to pay more to subsidise the cost of insurance for people who live in high-risk locations.
At the same time, 74% of the respondents want insurers to focus on keeping people insured and for New Zealanders to have the right amount of insurance (67%). A third (36%) want insurers to stop supporting customers in locations where the risk is too great.
Mr Gibson said, “On balance, New Zealanders want insurers to keep people insured. And that’s what we want also, but this will require much better management of our climate risks.”
The poll highlights that responsibility for reducing climate impacts is broadly shared and that unfortunately no one is doing a good job at it. New Zealanders see the Government as needing to take a leading role, with 58% saying it is most responsible for taking action.