NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business

New flood danger: Properties may be contaminated and hazardous, warns insurer

Anne Gibson
By Anne Gibson
Property Editor·NZ Herald·
14 Mar, 2017 07:28 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Autoplay in
      5
      Disable Autoplay
      Cancel Video
      Twenty-four hours after Auckland’s massive downpour, the floodwaters continue to cause heartbreak and misery.

      New Zealand's biggest insurer has already logged more than 1200 claims from the weekend's floods and is warning about contaminated and dangerous properties.

      Craig Olsen, chief executive of Insurance Australia Group (NZ), said most claims were made on Monday after the heavy rainstorm and flooding that hit northern parts of the North Island during the weekend.

      "We have received in excess of 1200 flood claims so far. There was a spike in the numbers on Monday and we received more than 600 claims then. The majority are home insurance claims in Auckland," Olsen's office said.

      IAG has the State, NZI, AMI and Lumley Insurance brands and Olsen said assessors were now busy working on the claims.

      "The severe weather that hit upper North Island recently has been a real set-back to large number of our customers, and claims continue to be received.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "Assessors have been mobilised, but we would like to remind our customers to be aware of the potential issue of contaminated, or 'black' water, which can pose a health risk.

      "It is a common issue during cleaning up after a flood event, therefore we have developed guidelines for anyone who has concerns or is experiencing this problem at the moment. Please take extra care while you are dealing with potentially contaminated items," Olsen said.

      People should wash cooking, eating and other kitchen utensils that had been covered by the water, the insurer said. Flood water can also make air inside a house unhealthy.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      "When things get wet for more than two days, they usually get mouldy. There may also be germs and bugs in your home after a flood. Mould may be more likely to make some people with asthma, allergies and other breathing problems sick."

      The warning said people should not enter flooded premises before officials had said it was safe. Buildings could have hidden damage making them unsafe and people should look for electrical damage and beware if they see sparks or broken or frayed wires.

      Vero said yesterday it had already received 200 claims worth about $700,000 but those were likely to rise.

      AA Insurance said it had handled almost 560 flood-related claims during the weekend, mainly from people living in low-lying areas.

      Discover more

      New Zealand

      Nightmare in Paradise Valley

      12 Mar 10:38 PM
      New Zealand

      'Everything was floating - even the fridge'

      12 Mar 11:24 PM
      Personal Finance

      Insurance claims flood in

      12 Mar 11:47 PM
      Editorial

      Water savers have earned a drink

      13 Mar 04:00 PM

      Read the full IAG warning here:

      Identifying Contaminated Water (Updated) (PDF)
      Identifying Contaminated Water (Updated) (Text)
      Save

        Share this article

      Latest from Business

      Premium
      Business

      Pilot sacked over Covid-19 vaccine wins Employment Court case

      08 Jul 07:09 AM
      Premium
      Manufacturing

      On The Up: Freeze-dried food maker aims for major growth with Rebel Sport, Foodstuffs deals

      08 Jul 07:00 AM
      Premium
      Shares

      Market close: NZX not crying over spilt a2 Milk, gains 0.74%

      08 Jul 05:51 AM

      Audi offers a sporty spin on city driving with the A3 Sportback and S3 Sportback

      sponsored
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Recommended for you
      'The truth will come out': Scott Guy's parents speak 15 years after unsolved murder
      New Zealand

      'The truth will come out': Scott Guy's parents speak 15 years after unsolved murder

      08 Jul 09:03 AM
      Family appalled after 99yo's landline left disconnected for days
      New Zealand

      Family appalled after 99yo's landline left disconnected for days

      08 Jul 08:26 AM
      'Disgraceful act': Historical graves damaged in Auckland
      New Zealand

      'Disgraceful act': Historical graves damaged in Auckland

      08 Jul 08:25 AM
      63,000 lockdown breaches reported as Covid inquiry reveals impact
      New Zealand

      63,000 lockdown breaches reported as Covid inquiry reveals impact

      08 Jul 08:11 AM
      CCTV footage shows what daughter did in the wake of allegedly murdering her mother
      Crime

      CCTV footage shows what daughter did in the wake of allegedly murdering her mother

      08 Jul 08:00 AM

      Latest from Business

      Premium
      Pilot sacked over Covid-19 vaccine wins Employment Court case

      Pilot sacked over Covid-19 vaccine wins Employment Court case

      08 Jul 07:09 AM

      'Great' pilot was sacked despite doctor's vaccine advice, request for Novavax.

      Premium
      On The Up: Freeze-dried food maker aims for major growth with Rebel Sport, Foodstuffs deals

      On The Up: Freeze-dried food maker aims for major growth with Rebel Sport, Foodstuffs deals

      08 Jul 07:00 AM
      Premium
      Market close: NZX not crying over spilt a2 Milk, gains 0.74%

      Market close: NZX not crying over spilt a2 Milk, gains 0.74%

      08 Jul 05:51 AM
      Reserve Bank of Australia surprises markets, holds cash rate at 3.85%

      Reserve Bank of Australia surprises markets, holds cash rate at 3.85%

      08 Jul 05:45 AM
      Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
      sponsored

      Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • NZ Herald e-editions
      • Daily puzzles & quizzes
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • NZME Events
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search