'The higher insurance premiums anticipated for both households and businesses, despite the fall in burglary statistics, only add to the inescapable hikes in New Zealanders' cost of living, National Consumer Affairs spokesperson Marie Hasler said today.

"While insurance companies may have genuine worries about covering the big disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, the industry cannot expect the average consumer to subsidise these often remote and irrelevant events.

"By installing burglar alarms en masse New Zealand householders have contributed enormously to the fall in burglary. Yet sadly their efforts won't be rewarded by lower premiums," Marie Hasler said.

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