Natural Hazards Commission received nearly 13,000 claims for damage from landslides in the last five years - 10,000 more than the previous five years

The Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) Toka Tū Ake is now receiving more claims for damage from landslides than for any other natural hazard.

So far, the NHC has received almost 13,000 claims from landslides in the last five years - 10,000 more than the previous five years.

This comes as wild weather events involving heavy rain, flooding, gales or landslides have impacted New Zealand in nearly every month of 2026 so far, leading to several states of emergency across the country. People have also been injured and some have died in these events. 

NHC chief executive Tina Mitchell said: "As storms become more frequent and intense, landslides are understandably a growing concern for many communities."

“Regular maintenance, good drainage, and getting expert advice early can make a real difference. If you have concerns about retaining walls or slope stability, a geotechnical engineer can help assess risks and recommend next steps.”

People living on or near slopes were encouraged by the NHC to be alert to any early signs of stability - this could look like cracks in the ground, leaning retaining walls or changes after rainfall.

Claims can take a while to come through because damage to land can take a while to settle and the NHC recommends homeowners lodge a claim within three months.

Mitchell previously told interest.co.nz that New Zealand is a place that is particularly prone to natural hazards, which is why the country has a natural hazards insurance scheme.

“NHC is prepared for this by having the systems and funds available to provide support when people need it after an event.”

“Storms can happen at any time of year but the patterns we have seen over the last few months have been predominantly caused by subtropical weather patterns,” Mitchell said at the time. “We include these potential impacts in our loss modelling.”

Natural Hazards Insurance Levy

As part of their insurance premium, homeowners pay a Natural Hazards Insurance Levy.

This money goes into the Natural Hazard Fund and is used to cover claims after a natural hazard event. The fund is also used to buy reinsurance from international financial markets, meet the costs of administering the NHC Scheme and goes towards research and education.

For each natural hazard event, the NHC currently pays $300,000 towards rebuilding or repairing a residential home. This is called a building cover cap and currently, the Natural Hazards Insurance Levy is 16 cents per $100 of the insurance cover amount.

Land damage

The NHC said while the national scheme also covers land damage in some situations, the amount is set by law and is limited.

"In most cases, land cover applies only to the area immediately around the home (up to eight metres), and there are limits on how much can be paid toward repairs," the NHC said.

Driveways were another area where insurance cover is available but limited with Mitchell saying: “Long driveways may not be fully covered by insurance, so it’s good to think ahead about how they could be strengthened and what you would do if access to your home was disrupted.”

“Understanding your property’s natural hazard risks before an event occurs can help reduce stress and financial pressure later."