Archived publication
This publication is no longer current or has been superseded.
The cost of weather-related disasters 1968 - 2006
These are the top 13 weather-related disasters in New Zealand from 1968 to 2006, based on costs to the insurance industry resulting from claims. Costs are adjusted to March 2004.
| Weather-based disaster | Date | Costs to the insurance industry resulting from claims |
|---|---|---|
| Thames / Coromandel / Paeroa floods | 1 April 1981 | $25.41m |
| Cyclone Bola | 8 March 1988 | $57.8m |
| Taieri / Otago / New Plymouth floods | 5 June 1980 | $34.24m |
| Lower North Island storm damage | 15 & 16 February 2004 | $112m |
| Wellington / Hutt Valley floods | 30 June 1976 | $44.14m |
| "Wahine" storm | 10 April 1968 | $46.32m |
| Canterbury snow storms | June 2006 | $42.5m |
| Canterbury storms | 1 August 1975 | $57.27m |
| Canterbury drought | 1997-98 | $1b* |
| North Otago / South Canterbury floods | 13 March 1986 | $37.72m |
| Queenstown Lake District floods | 1 December 1999 | $50.91m |
| Otago floods | 16 October 1978 | $54.65m |
| Invercargill / Southland floods | 1 January 1984 | $113.98m |
* Cost estimate to the New Zealand economy by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Source: Insurance Council, 2006
