New Zealand / Climate

Insurers pay out $93 million this year so far

15:44 pm on 10 April 2018

The three large storms that struck New Zealand earlier this year have cost insurers more than $90 million.

Damage caused by ex-cyclone Gita Photo: RNZ

The Insurance Council says storms across the country in January and two large ex-tropical cyclones, Fehi and Gita, in February cost $93.5 million dollars.

Council chief executive Tim Grafton said communities affected by severe weather would be crippled without insurance payouts.

There were nearly 4000 claims from ex-tropical Cyclone Gita, costing insurers just over $28 million.

Two-thirds of those claims were for homes and contents.

The January storms and Cyclone Fehi cost a combined $65 million.