Canterbury, New Zealand faces homeowners insurance hikes following earthquakes

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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The cost of reinsurance in New Zealand set to triple starting July 1

As the rebuilding of Christchurch, New Zealand, continues months after a disastrous earthquake struck the nation, insurance companies are going to have a hard time finding reinsurance deals as prices are set to triple by July 1st, according to S&P’s analysts. The rise in reinsurance rates is due to the extent of the damage done in New Zealand by the initial quake and its subsequent aftershocks, which are still occurring today. As the aftershocks continue, so too does the damage worsen, driving reinsurers to raise their rates in an effort…

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