New data released recently reveals a record 46 storms over the past 12 months, driving a sharp rise in claims.
Phil Gibson, AMI, State and NZI CEO, says: “Between autumn 2025 and summer 2026, our claims teams supported customers through 46 storms, resulting in 33,174 claims.
“This reflects an astounding 256% increase in storm-related claims compared with the year prior, where we recorded 9,324 claims from 29 storms.
“Simply put, our data indicates that storms are arriving more often and with greater intensity.
“Over a 15-year timeline, a storm typically affected parts of the country once every 19 days. In the last 12 months, that frequency has more than doubled to once every eight days, making storms a near weekly occurrence.
“Recently, Cyclone Vaianu has been another stark reminder of how vulnerable New Zealand is to wild weather.
“While thankfully not as severe as originally projected, Cyclone Vaianu has to date, resulted in more than 890 claims across home, contents, commercial, motor and boat policies,” adds Phil.
The majority of claims are due to roof leaks, fallen trees, and damage to windows and glass, with the east of the North Island particularly impacted.
Stormy summers
“As severe weather events become more frequent, we’re also seeing a shift in seasonal storm patterns.
“In this tracked period, 61% of storms occurred in spring and summer, rather than in the cooler months where we’ve previously seen more storm claims,” says Phil.
“This shift highlights the volatile nature of New Zealand’s weather and the need for year round preparedness.”
Growing preparedness amid growing impacts
In the fifth nationwide survey commissioned for the Tracker, more New Zealanders are taking measures to protect their homes against natural hazards, with 80% reporting mitigating steps taken, compared with 40% prior to Cyclone Gabrielle.
Three in five New Zealanders say they’ve been impacted by natural hazards - affecting work routines, cooking and eating, travel and commuting, caregiving responsibilities and recreation.
“It’s not just the number of claims that defines the scale of an event, but how deeply it impacts the daily lives and wellbeing of people and communities,” adds Phil.
When asked which hazards New Zealanders had experienced the most anxiety over, respondents ranked storms, earthquakes and floods the highest. Storm-related anxiety showed the largest increase, up 10%, with nearly 60% expressing concern.
New Zealanders want risk reduction
“Conversations around climate risk are maturing and there is widespread public support for risk reduction. New Zealanders know this is a worsening problem and want action,” says Phil.
In a recent Climate Change Poll, 90% of New Zealanders expect more frequent and extreme storms and more than 75% want investment in risk reduction, mitigation and resilience.
“If we want to keep people protected, councils, government and insurers must work together to address the underlying risks. We can do it. It simply requires making risk reduction a priority and collective, timely and coordinated action from all of us.
“Ultimately, reducing natural hazard risk is the fairest and most durable way to keep insurance affordable and available to as many New Zealanders as possible.”
