Premium hikes hit Dunedin

Insurers more wary of disasters

THE days of some types of insurance cover could be numbered, after two major companies lifted premiums in Dunedin and other centres because of the heightened risk of natural disasters.

AMI and State Insurance — both under the umbrella of parent company IAG — have announced they would increase prices in higherrisk areas, including Dunedin, to better reflect the risks from floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Customers in higherrisk areas could expect an average increase of $91 a year, reflecting a better understanding of the risks, IAG said.

The areas deemed to be higher risk included Dunedin, which — despite being in a lowrisk seismic zone — had faced highprofile flood events in recent years, an IAG spokeswoman said.

That included a 2015 flood which inundated parts of South Dunedin and other areas, and last year’s July deluge, which is estimated to have cost the city and surrounding areas, insurers and taxpayers nearly $55 million.

However, areas not deemed to be higher risk, including Southland, North Otago and Central Otago, would have average premiums drop by $54.

That was despite Central Otago being closer to the South Island’s Alpine Fault, considered one of New Zealand’s biggest natural disaster threats.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the increases were ‘‘perfectly predictable’’ but probably only the start.

‘‘There will be places around the country that eventually they [insurers] say ‘we will not cover you’.

‘‘It might not be for flooding. It might be for coastal erosion, or a number of other things, but I would be surprised if in 1015 years they’re not withdrawing cover altogether,’’ Mr Cull said.

He pointed to the recent example of Dunedin city councillor David BensonPope, who was forced to sell his Wellington apartment after premiums skyrocketed.

The apartment was one of 10 in a 1903 heritage building, which was not deemed earthquakeprone, but the existing insurer repeatedly hiked earthquake premiums while other companies refused to offer cover at all.

‘‘If they perceived the risk in a certain area got beyond what they could cope with, it would be consistent for them to withdraw cover,’’ Mr Cull said yesterday.

Cr BensonPope said yesterday any risk assessment needed to consider the actual performance of a property, not just its age.

Likewise, any risk assessment in Dunedin needed to consider a property’s location within the city, and the risks present in each, rather than just taking a blanket approach.

❛ There will be places around the country that

eventually they [insurers] say ‘we will

not cover you’ Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull

Cr BensonPope feared insurers were concentrating more costs in areas where some people might not have the capacity to move, rather than spreading costs.

‘‘It’s an example of the market working to irtesallyo, its own advantage really, not to the advantage of the people who are its customers.’’

An IAG spokeswoman said a ‘‘blanket increase’’ would not be applied anywhere, but the city had ‘‘well documented’’ examples of highrisk natural hazard areas, including ‘‘floodprone parts of South Dunedin’’.

On Monday, IAG consumer executive general manager Kevin Hughes said New Zealand faced many natural hazards, but with different risks in different regions.

‘‘In the past, the price people pay for home insurance hasn’t fully reflected these differences in risk,’’ Mr Hughes said.

‘‘This is now changing.’’

Insurance Council of NZ chief executive Tim Grafton said the council supported the moves.