New Zealand has experienced a record 46 storms over the past 12 months, leading to an exponential increase in insurance claims, according to data from IAG New Zealand.
Data from AMI Insurance, State Insurance and NZI highlighted increasing exposure to severe weather events across the country.
NZI CEO of AMI and State Phil Gibson said: “Between autumn 2025 and summer 2026, our claims teams supported customers through 46 storms, resulting in 33,174 claims.” He added that this represents a steep increase from the previous year, noting: “This reflects an astounding 256% increase in storm-related claims compared with the year prior, where we recorded 9,324 claims from 29 storms.”
He also said that storms are becoming more frequent. “Over a 15-year timeline, a storm typically affected parts of the country once every 19 days. In the last 12 months, that frequency has more than doubled to once every eight days, making storms a near-weekly occurrence,” he said.
Cyclone Vaianu, according to Mr Gibson, is another example of worsening conditions, having already generated more than 890 insurance claims across home, contents, commercial, motor and boat policies.
The report found that most damage has been related to roof leaks, fallen trees and broken windows, with the east of the North Island among the hardest-hit regions. It also noted a shift in seasonal patterns, with “61% of storms occurred in spring and summer, rather than in the cooler months where we’ve previously seen more storm claims,” he said, adding that this reflects “the volatile nature of New Zealand’s weather and the need for year-round preparedness.”
Beyond claims data, the Tracker’s nationwide survey shows growing awareness and concern among New Zealand citizens. “It’s not just the number of claims that defines the scale of an event, but how deeply it impacts the daily lives and wellbeing of people and communities,” he said.
Around 60% of respondents said they were anxious about storm risks. Meanwhile, 90% expect more frequent extreme weather and more than 75% support increased investment in resilience and risk reduction measures.