The survey also reported that 65% of respondents accept that premiums may need to rise to reflect growing climate risks, and 61% believe government should lead efforts to protect communities from climate change. However, 44% think New Zealand is not investing enough to protect communities from natural hazards, compared with 35% who disagree. “Separately, 43% believe there are strong land-use controls, but nearly as many – 39% – actively disagree, showing public concern about development in high-risk areas. These results underline the need for greater certainty around the rules and tools to help communities reduce their exposure to natural hazard risks. Every dollar invested in adaptation brings significant long-term economic and social benefits. Acting now means we can avoid the far higher costs of future disasters and supports the long-term accessibility of insurance,” Faafoi said. The combination of new public funding, national flood hazard data, and evidence of public support for early action points to an environment where hazard information, planning rules, and adaptation investment are likely to become increasingly central to product design, pricing, capital management, and long‑term insurability across New Zealand portfolios.
