Insurance price hikes: Why some parts of the country are being hit harder than others

Some parts of the country appear to be seeing steeper rises in insurance premiums as more insurers move to detailed risk-based pricing.

Data provided to Newstalk ZB by insurance comparison platform Quashed show the average quote for house insurance in Canterbury has increased almost twice as fast as the average quote for house insurance nationally.

Stats NZ data show home insurance premiums increasing 56% in the past three years and contents insurance premiums rising 55.3%.

On Quashed, the average house insurance quote and average contents insurance quote have both risen 34% during that three year period.

In Christchurch – where quotes have risen steadily this year – the average house insurance quote has increased 60% and the contents insurance quote has increased 33%.

In Auckland, the average house insurance quote has risen 46% and contents insurance quote has risen 30%.

In Wellington – where insurance quotes tend to be higher than other parts of the country – the average house insurance quote is up 41% and the average contents insurance quote is up 58%.

Quashed chief executive Justin Lim said the data suggested Canterbury was seeing house insurance premiums rise consistently, while Wellington was seeing contents insurance premiums rise more sharply.

“When we dig into the regions, there are pockets where insurance premiums continue to climb. In these pockets we are seeing continued increases and quite significant increases.”

The Insurance Council said average quotes on comparison websites may not give a full and consistent picture of what customers are actually paying.

“Quotes depend heavily on the specific property details entered, the policy type and the insurers included on the platform, so averages drawn from this data may not reflect the full Christchurch market.”

Insurance premiums reflect the underlying risk a property is exposed to, the Insurance Council said.

“New Zealand is one of the most natural-hazard–exposed countries in the world, and some regions face higher or more complex risks than others.

“Christchurch, for example, has higher seismic risk, which increases the potential cost of claims.”

The Insurance Council said as insurers move toward more detailed, risk-based pricing, premiums in higher-risk areas could shift more than the national average.

It said other pressures apply across the country, including rising building and repair costs, more frequent severe weather, higher reinsurance costs, and Government taxes and levies.

“These combined factors mean some regions will see larger premium movements than others.”

Michael Sergel is Newstalk ZB’s business reporter, covering the daily life of business and the business of daily life. He’s been covering business, politics, local government and consumer affairs for over a decade.