Southland claim $47m after snow

Federated Farmers Southland provincial president Rod Pemberton said $300 million to $800 million in livestock was lost. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Southlanders have lodged nearly $50 million in insurance claims after snow ravaged the region in September, but Federated Farmers say the final bill could be hundreds of millions more.

Insurers had received about $47 million in claims since the snow hit, excluding farm stock losses, The Southland Times reported today.

Insurance Council of New Zealand chief executive Terry Jordan said provisional figures showed 726 commercial property claims and 4000 domestic claims.

Federated Farmers Southland provincial president Rod Pemberton said $300 million to $800 million in livestock was lost.

"It is huge. Some people have been hit pretty hard. I know there were a few guys who were initially thinking they might just have to walk away, and lose their farms," he said.

- NZPA