Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tu Ake (NHC Toka Tu Ake) of New Zealand has received almost 10,000 claims for damage from landslides in the last three years, nearly ten times more than the previous three years, when there were just over 1,000 claims lodged.
The country’s natural hazards insurer has urged homeowners to make sure they understand the natural hazards that could impact their properties and the limits of their insurance.
NHC Toka Tu Ake chief resilience and research officer Dr Jo Horrocks said, “The significant storms in recent years caused devastation to communities across the country. Landslide damage can be complex and costly to fix, and the insurance available for damaged land is limited. It’s really important to understand the risks, think about ways to protect the property and factor that into the financial planning of the policyholders - before an event happens.”
According to a media release in December 2024 by the NHC Toka Tu Ake, it currently receives more claims for damage due to landslides than any other natural hazard. Beginning January 2023 Auckland floods, losses from landslides have totalled NZD302m ($170m) – over four times the cost from all other natural hazards combined.
Dr Horrocks said, “For landslide damage, the natural hazards scheme covers up to the first NZD300,000 of damage to an insured home and private insurance covers the rest up to the policy limit. There is also a limited contribution available for damage to land through the national scheme.
She said, “However, the scheme can only cover up to the value of the insured land, up to eight metres around the impacted homes. For some homeowners, that won’t cover the full costs of repairing their land, especially when complex landslides have occurred.”
“If one has lived on or near a slope, there are things one can do to identify signs of potential slipping and prepare the property. Can consider getting advice from a geotechnical expert and keep an eye on the retaining walls and slopes to make sure they’re well-maintained,” she said.
“It’s also important to understand the limits of cover for the driveway and consider if you can strengthen it against storm damage and make plans in case the driveway gets washed away.”
She said also if a resident is planning to buy a new property, one should take stock of information on past claims related to landslides and other natural hazards, which could indicate future risk.