The latest AMI, State, and NZI Wild Weather Tracker reports that New Zealand experienced 46 storms in the 12 months to Feb. 28, 2026, generating 33,174 storm-related claims and marking a 256% increase in storm claims compared with the previous year. “Between autumn 2025 and summer 2026, our claims teams supported customers through 46 storms, resulting in 33,174 claims. This reflects an astounding 256% increase in storm-related claims compared with the year prior, where we recorded 9,324 claims from 29 storms,” said Phil Gibson (pictured), CEO of AMI, State, and NZI. Over the past 15 years, a storm has typically affected parts of New Zealand about once every 19 days. Over the most recent year covered by the tracker, that interval reduced to about once every eight days. “Simply put, our data indicates that storms are arriving more often and with greater intensity,” Gibson said.
The tracker notes recent weather systems, including Cyclone Vaianu, as contributors to the claims experience. While Cyclone Vaianu did not reach the most severe early forecasts, it has so far resulted in more than 890 claims across home, contents, commercial, motor, and boat policies, according to IAG New Zealand. Across the tracked period, most storm-related claims arose from roof leaks, fallen trees, and damage to windows and glass. The east of the North Island was particularly affected, and the patterns intersect with industry focus on exposure concentrations, building performance, and property maintenance in weather‑exposed regions.
The tracker also indicates a shift in the seasonal distribution of storms. “In this tracked period, 61% of storms occurred in spring and summer, rather than in the cooler months where we’ve previously seen more storm claims. This shift highlights the volatile nature of New Zealand’s weather and the need for year‑round preparedness,” Gibson said. Within the 12‑month window, three storms recorded the highest claim counts. A windstorm on Oct. 22, 2025, affected Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, and large parts of the South Island, including Southland, and generated 5,289 claims. A storm system on Feb. 16, 2026, impacted the lower and central North Island and parts of the South Island, resulting in 3,354 claims. Ex‑Tropical Cyclone Tam, which moved into the upper North Island over Easter 2025, led to 3,281 claims and widespread power outages.
Alongside claims statistics, the Wild Weather Tracker incorporates survey research on how households are responding to natural hazards. In the fifth nationwide survey conducted for the tracker, 80% of respondents said they had taken steps to protect their homes against natural hazards, compared with 40% before Cyclone Gabrielle. Reported actions include roof and gutter maintenance, drainage upgrades, securing outdoor items, and preparing emergency plans. Three in five New Zealanders said they had been affected by natural hazards in ways that disrupted daily life, including work routines, cooking and eating, travel and commuting, caregiving duties, and recreation. “It’s not just the number of claims that defines the scale of an event, but how deeply it impacts the daily lives and wellbeing of people and communities,” Gibson said.
Read next: Most Kiwis fear storm damage will worsen
When asked which hazards caused the most anxiety, respondents ranked storms, earthquakes, and floods highest, with storms showing the largest increase in concern. Nearly 60% of respondents expressed anxiety about storms, up 10 percentage points compared with earlier Tracker surveys. Gibson said there is a clear signal that expectations around risk management are shifting. “Conversations around climate risk are maturing and there is widespread public support for risk reduction. New Zealanders know this is a worsening problem and want action,” Gibson said.
A recent Climate Change Poll referenced in the tracker found that 90% of New Zealanders expect more frequent and extreme storms, while more than 75% want investment in risk reduction, mitigation, and resilience. “If we want to keep people protected, councils, government, and insurers must work together to address the underlying risks. We can do it. It simply requires making risk reduction a priority and collective, timely, and coordinated action from all of us. Ultimately, reducing natural hazard risk is the fairest and most durable way to keep insurance affordable and available to as many New Zealanders as possible,” Gibson said.
Separate research from Horizon Research provides additional survey data on public expectations and insurance concerns. An online survey of 1,034 adults, conducted between Feb. 20 and 27, 2026, found that 54% of respondents – about 2.09 million adults – believe damage from severe storms will increase in the future. Nearly half of respondents (48%) said severe storms are becoming more frequent, and 42% attributed that trend to climate change. Eighteen percent said climate change was not a contributing factor. On preparedness and risk reduction, 45% of those surveyed said New Zealand is not doing enough to reduce damage from future storms. Regional responses were higher in areas with recent losses: 50% in Northland and 69% in the Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough regions.
The Horizon poll also reported concerns relating to property and insurance. Eight percent of respondents said properties they own or use had already been affected by a severe storm. One in three respondents (33%) said they were concerned they might not be able to obtain property insurance in the future. Older New Zealanders, particularly those aged 55 and over, reported the highest levels of concern about storms and their long‑term effects. Population estimates in the Horizon study are based on the 2023 census figure of 3,865,235 adults aged 18 and older, with results weighted to match the national adult population. Horizon reported a maximum predicted margin of error of plus or minus 3% at the 95% confidence level.
