More than 4000 flood damage claims in central region

5.00pm

More than 4000 flood-related insurance claims have been lodged so far in the central region and more are expected after heavy rain and strong winds towards the end of last week.

David Smith, chief executive of IAG New Zealand, which includes insurance companies State and NZI, said more than 50 staff were working long hours to process the 3500 claims lodged so far.

"The challenge... (is) getting out to the affected properties...," he said. Many houses remained off limits or were still under water.

IAG has decided to waive standard domestic excesses for storm damage.

AMI chief executive John Balmforth said that, having brought in extra staff, the company had so far settled around 90 per cent of the 450 claims so far presented from the region.

"This is a very significant event and the region has our deepest sympathy," Mr Balmforth said.

"At this stage, for AMI, claims from this region total $3 million, but it is still ongoing."

Most claims had come from Feilding and New Plymouth, with about 150 in each place.

Mr Balmforth said he was impressed with how customers had tackled clean-ups. They had not sat round waiting for insurance company help. Despite that, it was important not to dispose of items before talking to insurance companies.

The Earthquake Commission, which pays out on insured land damaged by floods, landslips, earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruptions, has also been busy since flooding started.

Commission insurance manager Lance Dixon said about 440 claims have been lodged so far from the central region.

The commission pays out on land within 8m of a house or on an access way such as a driveway up to 60m long. Payouts are calculated on market value.

"I've got no idea yet how many more will come in," Mr Dixon said. "People still haven't got phones back to contact us... the emergency is still happening."

- NZPA