TIME Insurance

New Zealand had 46 storms in 12 months. That's nearly one a week. 🌪️

The latest Wild Weather Tracker report by IAG New Zealand just dropped and I'll be honest – the numbers are genuinely alarming. This is hard data that every Kiwi homeowner and business owner needs to see.

Here are the three things that jumped out to me:

1️⃣ Storm claims have exploded by 256%
In the past 12 months, 33,174 claims were lodged from storm damage alone. The year before? 9,324. That's not a trend. That's a warning.

2️⃣ Storms aren't just a winter problem anymore
61% of storms in this period hit during spring and summer. We used to batten down the hatches in winter and relax in summer. Those days are gone. New Zealand now needs to be weather-ready all year round.

3️⃣ Take a look at the numbers:
🔴 October 2025 Southland windstorm – 5,289 claims across Wellington, Hawke's Bay and the South Island.
🔴 February 2026 Wellington storm – 3,354 claims across the lower North Island.
🔴 Cyclone Tam at Easter 2025 – 3,281 claims and widespread power outages across Auckland.

And here's the stat that should make every Kiwi pause: three in five New Zealanders say natural hazards have already disrupted their daily lives – work, travel, cooking, caregiving.

The good news? 80% of New Zealanders are now taking steps to protect their homes, compared to just 40% before Cyclone Gabrielle. People are waking up.

But taking steps to protect your home means nothing if your insurance policy hasn't kept up with the reality of what we're facing. When did you last properly review your cover?

A Kiwi got made redundant just ONE WEEK before their holiday and stood to lose nearly $20,000 in prepaid travel costs — but because they had the right insurance add-on, they got most of it back. Losing your job is devastating enough without losing your holiday savings too. 😤 Are you covered?

🔗 Read the full story here: https://nz.covermoreconnect.com/claiming-with-cancellation-plus-cover/