AMI, State And NZI: October Nationwide Wind And Fire Events Update

AMI, State, and NZI are here to help customers affected by the weather event which has impacted a number of regions around the country over the past week.

As of 9am today, AMI, State and NZI have received more than 3,300 claims from several wild weather and fire events in October across home, contents, motor and commercial policies.

From the significant, gale-force winds alone that mainly affected the Southland, Otago, Canterbury and Wellington regions, we have received 2,209 claims.

It has certainly been an unsettling time for many New Zealanders across the breadth of the motu, with a variety of damaging events. A breakdown of claims numbers follows:

• Whangarei Hospital fire – 8 claims

• Kaikoura fire - 4 (including 1 total loss for a home, 2 boats and 1 horse float)

• Canterbury - 481 claims

• Southland – 1,129 claims

• Otago – 615 claims

• Wellington – 504 claims

• Rest of New Zealand – 566 claims

Most of the damage we have seen has been caused by wind damage – we’ve accepted claims for things like smashed windows and flying roofs. Customers have seen their farm’s shelter belt trees falling like dominos, while one customer saw their large 25,000 litre water tank roll into view from its original spot 2km away – having knocked out fences and posts on its journey.

Please remember, we’re here to pay claims, it’s what we do. While photos are always helpful, they should only be taken when it is safe to do so. Storms and fires can be incredibly difficult for families and it’s important to prioritise your safety and then give us a call when you’re somewhere safe.

We encourage customers who are safe and out of immediate danger to contact us so we can provide essential support such as emergency temporary accommodation, payment support for customers staying with family or friends, and to lodge any claims.

The quickest way for AMI and State customers to make an insurance claim is online, but they can also give us a call. NZI customers should contact their broker.

If your land has been damaged from the weather event, we’ll lodge a claim with the Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) on your behalf, as part of your insurance claim with us.

Those who have experienced damage as a result of heavy rain, storm damage and flooding may find the following information useful:

Disaster Claims Hubs

We have information relating to issues such as emergency repairs, flooded carpet, evacuations, temporary accommodation and lodging claims on our Disaster Claims Hubs - Disaster Claims Hub.

Contact information

You can find a list of all our contact information, here: Disaster Claims Hub - Contact: https://iagnz.custhelp.com/app/contact

Insurance tips

What to do if your property is damaged during a storm or by flooding:

• Ensure you and your whānau are safe first.
• If you need to make a claim, as soon as you’re able to let us know about any damage to your property, the sooner we can help – especially if your home becomes uninhabitable or we need to arrange temporary accommodation for you, your family, and your pets.
• Be careful not to return to your home or business until it’s safe to do so and avoid anything that could potentially cause more damage.
• It’s okay to start cleaning up if you’ve been affected by a storm, especially if it helps prevent further damage. If you can, take photos before you begin - including any silt, debris, or land damage - to support your claim.
• Remember,floodwater is often contaminated (blackwater), so wear heavy-duty gloves, boots, and a face mask to protect yourself.
• In some cases, flood affected items can be repaired, cleaned and/or sanitised, and moving items outside can help dry them out if they’re wet. Remember to try to keep them under cover or put them in your garage with plenty of ventilation to prevent further damage.
• Only throw away items that can become unsanitary and cannot be successfully cleaned. Make sure you take photographs and keep a detailed list of things before doing so.If in doubt, put the item aside until you’ve checked with your insurer.
• If water has entered your home or business, turn off the power at the mains and ensure an electrician has checked the power supply before turning it back on.
• If your home or business is without power, you should turn your appliances off at the wall in case of a potentially damaging power surge.

What to do if your vehicle is damaged during a storm or by flooding:

• If your car has been flooded, please don’t attempt to drive it.
• There is no hurry to make a claim, but as soon as you’re able to let us know about any damage to your vehicle, the sooner we can help – especially if you have cover for a temporary vehicle that we can arrange for you.
• If your vehicle needs to be towed, remember to remove any personal items if you can, and make sure it’s securely locked with no keys left inside – the tow team will get in touch to pick your keys up instead.

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