8 Sep 2014

Costliest year so far for weather damage

5:24 pm on 8 September 2014

The Insurance Council says this year could turn out to be one of the costliest for weather damage.

Strong winds whip through trees in Whangarei.

Strong winds whip through trees in Whangarei during the July storm. Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams

The council said weather-related payouts so far this year total over $134 million.

It said the Easter storm that hit the West Coast had so far cost over $55 million alone.

The storm that lashed Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel in early-July had also cost more than $15 million.

Insurance Council Chief Executive Tim Grafton said last year's insurance bill was $175 million dollars - the second most expensive year since 1968.

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