Landslides are New Zealand’s most expensive natural hazard – and new data reveasg a sharp rise in damage claims and growing risks to homes, infrastructure and communities.
Figures from the Natural Hazards Commissionshow nearly 13,000 landslide claims have been lodged in the past five years – a 10,000 increase on the previous five-year period.
Since 2021, the Crown insurer has paid out $322 million for landslide-related damage.
Experts say the increase is being driven by more frequent and intense rainfall, linked to climate change, that is destabilising land and increasing the likelihood of slips.
New figures show NZ’s fastest-growing natural hazard already the most costly - Watch on TVNZ+
“The rainfall that we are experiencing is more frequent and more intense,” says Earth Sciences New Zealand climate scientist Nava Fedaeff.
“A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture. Imagine a sponge. If you wring it out a hundred years ago, you get a certain amount of water. Do it again now and... its bigger sponge and now more water comes out.”
The Natural Hazards Commission is urging homeowners to take steps to prepare and reduce any landslide risk. Chief executive Tina Mitchell said tell-tale warning signs were often readily visible.
“The next time it rains, really observe what are the cracks forming in your garden. Are you seeing any unusual bulges or leaning in your retaining walls? Where is the drainage going, water pooling, those sorts of things?"
Homeowners were covered for up to $300,000 for damage to their home under the national scheme, with private insurance potentially covering additional costs.
Land damage was also covered, but only in limited cases – typically within 8m of the house – and payouts were capped.
Those limitations could leave homeowners facing significant shortfalls between repair costs and insurance cover — in some cases, with no cover at all.
Driveway slip costing half a million dollars
West Auckland couple Jenny Dingley and Andrew Walbran have been stuck in limbo for three years.
Their long driveway was severely damaged by a landslide during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, cutting off vehicle access to their property.
Because the driveway is more than 60m from their home, it falls outside both Natural Hazards Commission cover and private insurance — leaving them facing an estimated $500,000 repair bill themselves.
“We’d love to walk away but we can’t,” Dingley told 1News. “We can’t get stuff out, we can’t get movers in.”
She said the family was tired and exhausted. She said there was little that could have prevented the damage, given the scale of the storm.
Walbran said their situation exposed was a “ridiculous and a massive gap” in insurance cover.
“You pay your EQC [sic] levies and then when it comes time to be covered, you’re going well, why aren’t we?”
The Natural Hazards Commission reminded homeowners that long driveways may not be fully covered.
“It’s good to think ahead about how they could be strengthened and what you would do if access to your home was disrupted.”
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