Homeowners in Canterbury, New Zealand are facing aftershocks of a financial kind, following the earthquake that struck the area, as the areas insurers hike the rates by up to 30 percent. Insurance companies were slammed by claims for damage from the quake, and by fees from international reinsurers. These insurers say that they are working hard to balance the tremendous costs against their dedication to keeping prices as affordable as possible. However, the most recent renewals for policies, where the terms begin February 1 or afterward, will also include an…
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Insurance claims hit record highs in 2011 due to natural disasters
According to Munich Re, earthquakes and other natural disasters in 2011 led to record losses in the insurance industry, which are estimated to have reached $105 billion. The world’s largest reinsurer said that the earthquakes in Japan, and the tsunami that followed, contributed to those totals by adding nearly 16,000 deaths and estimated $35 to $40 billion in damages to the final figures. Munich Re added that the February quake in Christchurch, New Zealand, alone was responsible for another $13 billion in insured damages. Together those two earthquakes caused almost…
Read MoreInsurance Australia to acquire New Zealand’s AMI Ltd. in $286 million deal
The Insurance Australia Group Ltd, the nation’s largest home and auto insurer, has announced that it will be acquiring New Zealand’s AMI Ltd, one of the largest property insurers in New Zealand. The $286 million deal is already underway, but will require the approval of New Zealand’s insurance regulators before Insurance Australia can begin taking over policies. This is good news for those affected by the devastating earthquake that struck New Zealand in February of this year, as they will soon be able to enjoy policies from a larger, more…
Read MoreNew Zealand residents rally against insurers and government over unfair treatment in the wake of February earthquake disaster
Residents of New Zealand’s Christchurch are outraged at the treatment they have received from both the government and insurance companies in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck the nation earlier in the year. Many homes and businesses were destroyed or left uninhabitable after the earthquake, leading government officials to designate the area’s most affected by the quake as a “red zone.” Former residents of the red zone are now calling for justice as many of the nation’s insurance companies refuse to pay claims. After February’s earthquake, many insurance…
Read MoreHomeowners to be paid to leave earthquake-hit zones in New Zealand
The federal government of New Zealand will be offering to give money to homeowners in the areas of the country that were most heavily hit by earthquakes, if those residents will agree to leave those regions. The second-largest city in New Zealand is Christchurch. This city was the hardest hit in two recent major earthquakes, including one in September 2010 with a 7.1 magnitude, as well as one in February 2011 with a 7.1 magnitude Much of the city was left in ruins, and 181 people died as a result…
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