More than half of New Zealand adults believe damage from severe storms will increase in the future, according to a new survey that also reveals growing anxiety over property insurance and climate change.
A Horizon Research survey, conducted as part of the organisation’s public-interest research programme, found 54% of respondents - equivalent to roughly 2,091,000 adults - hold that view.
The findings follow several severe weather events that struck the country in recent months, including significant storm damage in Northland and the Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough regions.
Earlier in the year, insurers and the Natural Hazards Commission reported a sharp increase in natural hazard claims following successive storm systems that brought flooding and landslides across multiple regions, including Northland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, and parts of the South Island. More than 800 claims were logged in the first two months of the year alone, with landslides accounting for a significant share of residential damage.
Nearly half of the respondents of the Horizon Research survey (48%, or around 1,867,000 adults) said severe storms are becoming more frequent, while 45%, roughly 1,755,000 adults, said New Zealand is not doing enough to reduce damage from future bad weather. A further 42%, equivalent to about 1,639,000 adults, attributed the increased frequency of severe storms to climate change. By contrast, 18% said climate change was not a contributing factor.
Regional concern was notably higher in areas that have faced recent storm damage. While 45% of all respondents said the country was falling short on storm preparedness, that figure rose to 50% in Northland and 69% in Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough.
The survey also highlighted fears over property and insurance. Eight per cent (8%) of respondents said properties they own or use had already been affected by a severe storm, and 33% expressed concern they may not be able to obtain property insurance in the future.
Older New Zealanders emerged as the most worried demographic. Respondents aged 55 and over recorded the highest levels of concern about storms and their long-term effects on the country.
Population estimates in the survey are based on the Stats NZ 2023 Census figure of 3,865,235 adults aged 18 or older, with all population numbers rounded to the nearest thousand.
The poll was conducted online between February 20 & 27, 2026, drawing on 1,034 adults aged 18 and older from two nationwide Horizon Research panels and a third-party panel. Results are weighted to match the New Zealand adult population and carry a maximum predicted margin of error of ±3% at the 95% confidence level.
