People affected by the Kaikoura earthquake will be breathing a sigh of relief today as the Earthquake Commission has struck a deal which will remove the need for properties to undergo two assessments.
Under the deal between the Earthquake Commission (EQC) and Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ), insurers will act as EQC's agent.
As a result, EQC will not need to make its own assessment of houses in many cases.
A spokesman for Vero Insurance said the company will be able to "receive, assess, and setlle home and contents claims for earthquake damage from Vero customers, regardless of whether they are under or over cap."
EQC has a cap of $20,000 for contents and $100,000 for home damage.