The New Zealand Government has announced a land categorisation system that will be implemented in regions impacted by the severe weather events in Hawke's Bay, Auckland, and Tairāwhiti. We know this is a stressful time for those awaiting information or trying to interpret land category information for their property. We've outlined below what the provisional categories currently mean.
We'll update this page as new information becomes available from the government and local councils. Information on this page is subject to change, and as your local council is responsible for your indicative and final categorisation, they are the best source of information for questions about your land category.
If you're struggling and need additional support, we're here to help. See our Higher Care page for more information.
How it works
Category 1
Definitions: Repair to previous state is all that is required to manage future severe weather event risk.
Examples: Minor flood damage to repair but no need for significant redesign/retrofitting.
Category 2C
Definitions: Community level interventions are effective in managing future severe weather event risk.
Examples: Local government repairs and enhances flood protection schemes to adequately manage the risk of future flooding events in the face of climate change effects.
Category 2P
Definitions: Property level interventions are needed to manage future severe weather event risk, which may be required in tandem with community level interventions.
Examples: Property specific measures are necessary, e.g., improved drainage or raising houses. Benefits accrue to property owners, but some may face affordability issues.
Category 2A
Definitions: Potential to fall within 2C/2P, but significant further assessment required.
Examples: Interventions may be required/possible, but insufficient information to provide initial categorisation (these may subsequently move between '2' categories or to categories 1/3).
Category 3
Definitions: Future severe weather event risk cannot be sufficiently mitigated. In some cases, some current land uses may remain acceptable, while for others, there is an intolerable risk of injury or death.
Examples: In the face of enhanced climate change risks, the property may face unacceptable risk of future flooding. Other property could be subject to unstable land that poses an ongoing risk.
Requesting more information
Your regional or district council has determined your provisional land category. As such, they are the best point of contact should you have any questions about your categorisation:
Land categorisation FAQs
If your home is categorised by council as being Category 1, there is no impact to your claim and Tower will proceed with repairing your home and/or settling your claim. If your land is damaged, Tower will continue to manage your EQCover claim.
Your house insurance policy pays for physical damage to your house up to your sum insured or any other policy limits. Other policy benefits may also apply. Any intervention or improvements to manage future risk are not covered under your claim. If your land is damaged, Tower will continue to manage your EQCover claim.
If you are category 2C, community level interventions are required but interventions to your property are NOT needed. In this case:
- You can proceed with repairing your home and/or settling your claim.
- Like with any claim, your insurance policy pays for the physical damage to your house up to the sum insured or any other policy limits. Other policy benefits may also apply.
- Any intervention or improvements to manage future risk are not covered under your claim.
If you are category 2P, interventions to your property are required. In this case:
- Your insurance policy pays for physical damage to your house up to the sum insured or any other policy limits. Other policy benefits may also apply.
- Any intervention or improvements to manage future risk are not covered under your claim.
- Regardless of whether your repair/claim is underway or has not yet progressed we will need to review your claim and have further discussions with you.
- Council may require a range of interventions including, for example, improving drainage or raising properties to limit the impact of flooding. This could affect any repairs that have already been completed.
If you are category 2A, your council has not yet confirmed whether you are category 2P or 2C. In this case:
- Your insurance policy pays for physical damage to your house up to your sum insured or any other policy limits. Other policy benefits may also apply.
- Any intervention or improvements to manage future risk are not covered under your claim.
- Regardless of whether your repair/claim is underway or has not yet progressed we will need to review your claim and have further discussions with you.
No, your insurance policy pays for physical damage to your house up to the sum insured or any other policy limits. If there is no damage to your home, then insurance coverage does not apply.
If you currently have an open claim, the normal claim process will continue.
No, your insurance policy pays for physical damage to your house up to the sum insured or any other policy limits. If there is no damage to your home, then insurance coverage does not apply.
As always, we review each property and policy on a case-by-case basis. We will work together with you throughout this process.
No, insurers do not determine which category your house is in. These categories are decided by your regional or district council.
Insurers have provided some aggregated information to the Government and councils (via an expert in flood hazard modelling). This information included combined claims data for the Auckland Anniversary Weekend flooding event and Cyclone Gabrielle, overlaid with a flood model. This data was amongst various inputs the Government and councils have used to help inform their decision making.
Auckland-based customers
In connection with its response to the severe weather events earlier this year, Auckland Council has required all insurers to provide the addresses of residential properties where claims above $300,000 (plus GST) have been made in relation to the Auckland weather events.
Auckland Council is empowered by the Civil Defence Emergency Act 2002 to require this information and we are required by law to provide your address to Auckland Council in response to their request.
The information we have provided was limited to your property address only. No other person or claims information was shared, nor will your address be shared with any other insurer.
Auckland Council will use this information to:
- Contact homeowners like you to seek further information to assess the homeowner's needs and to consider affected properties under the Government categorisation scheme.
- Identify residential dwellings and areas where damage has been sustained in order to assess methods to reduce or mitigate the flood or landslip risk.
Auckland Council has confirmed that it will not use your address for any other purpose and it will destroy the information we have provided once it has been used for this purpose.
We will write to let you know if we are required to provide your property information to Auckland Council.
If you'd like any information about the Auckland Council land categorisation progress, please visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/recovery.
You should contact us as soon as possible to discuss next steps on your claim. If you have not had access to your home, we may be able to work with you and your local council on obtaining access to aid the assessment of your claim.
We'll do our utmost to keep you informed about progress on your claim. However, after a natural disaster it may take us, or our assessing partners, longer to progress and settle your claim.
Each claim is unique and the length of time it takes to resolve claims is dependent on a number of factors. Your assessor will work with you to provide approximate timeframes and next steps.
If you need more help from us, please visit our higher care page.