PEOPLE who suffered damage to their home, land or contents from earthquakes off the North Island’s east coast have three months – until December 2 – to lodge their claim with the Earthquake Commission (EQC).
EQC customer and claims general manager Trish Keith said people had plenty of time to make a claim.
“It can take some time for the picture regarding claims to emerge as people take stock of how their properties have fared,” Mrs Keith said.
EQC’s website has more information about what to do after an earthquake at: www.eqc.govt.nz/claims/after-natural-disaster.
If you have taken out a home or contents fire insurance policy, EQC covers you against physical loss and damage to your home (usually up to $100,000 + gst), contents (usually up to $20,000 + gst) and a defined area of residential land from:
- an earthquake
- a natural landslip
- a volcanic eruption
- hydrothermal activity
- a tsunami
EQC also insures residential land (within limits) against storm and flood damage, and insures you for fire resulting from any of these natural disasters.
If your property isn’t damaged after one of these disasters but damage is imminent as a direct result of one of them, EQC may also provide cover.