Storm or Flood Damage? Don’t Let Your Insurance Claim Catch You Out

Storms, landslides and burst pipes don’t wait for a convenient time. When your home is damaged, the damage itself is often the easy part. What follows is where things get complicated: decoding policy wording, working out who pays for what, negotiating a scope of works with a loss adjuster, and staying compliant with the Building Code.

In the first two months of 2026 alone, the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake logged over 800 new claims, mostly for landslide damage after the January storms. And here is the hidden problem for many homeowners: a sum insured set years ago may now fall well short of what a code-compliant rebuild costs. Rebuild costs in New Zealand have climbed more than 40% since 2020.

Our new free e-book breaks down exactly how a home repair claim works in New Zealand today. Inside, you will find:

Who Pays for What: How the Natural Hazards Commission (formerly EQC) and your private insurer share the bill, and why you usually deal with just one point of contact.
The Insurance Gap: Why a payout and a real repair quote often don’t match, and how a professional builder’s estimate protects you from being underinsured.
What’s Changing in the Law: A plain-English look at the Contracts of Insurance Act 2024 and what it means for homeowners mid-claim.
The Regulatory Layer: Restricted Building Work, Licensed Building Practitioners, and why your claim isn’t finished until the Code Compliance Certificate is issued.
Insurance During the Rebuild: Contract Works, Public Liability and Professional Indemnity cover, and the costly mistake of assuming your builder’s insurance covers everything.
If You Disagree With the Scope: The step-by-step dispute path through the Fair Insurance Code and the free IFSO scheme.
Your Claim Readiness Checklist: A quick checklist to get your policy and your paperwork in order before you need them.

Do not wait for the next storm to find out where your gaps are. Download your free copy of our e-book today and be ready before disaster strikes.

Click Here to Download ‘Navigating a Flood or Natural Disaster Home Insurance Claim in New Zealand’

Retro Construction Ltd – Traditional Experience / Modern Style

Author:

Angie

Angie has been in construction for 25 years, with a 5-year break where she worked as a Property Manager, gaining valuable insight into property maintenance. She excels as the Office Manager for Retro Construction and currently serves as their Project Coordinator and Office Manager. Her highest qualification is in the legal field, in which she worked for the first 7 years of her career. Since schooldays, being in a technical school, she knew her forte would be construction. She also has 4 years of business qualifications to support her role.