2 Dec 2020

Insurance problems expected for coastal homeowners in next decade

From Midday Report, 12:11 pm on 2 December 2020

A new report has projected insurers are likely to stop fully covering some coastal homes in Wellington and Christchurch in the next 10 years due to sea level rises.

Swell; Lyall Bay; Wellington

Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

The government-funded report found premiums for thousands of low-lying coastal houses could increase five-fold – if insurance companies cover them at all.

The report, written by Climate Sigma, says with even slightly higher sea levels, damage from storm surges will become more regular and devastating.

Māni Dunlop spoke to the lead author, Belinda Storey