Published: 2 March 2026
CASE STUDY: What recent major storms have taught homeowners (Tasman 2025 & North Island 2026)
In mid-2025, the Tasman region experienced back-to-back floods described by local authorities as the worst in 150 years, with record rainfall causing landslips, road closures, and widespread property damage. More than 60 roads were closed and hundreds of homes inspected, with 36 homes yellow-stickered and five declared uninhabitable. Repair and recovery work is expected to continue for up to two years.
The January 2026 North Island storms reinforced these lessons on a national scale - record single‑day rainfall in places like Tauranga, fatal slips, mass evacuations and widespread road closures across the upper North Island. Insurer assessors faced access constraints, and the IFSO warned homeowners to expect delays due to the sheer volume of claims. These events underline that the best time to prepare is before the next severe weather event arrives.
• Severe rainfall caused major flooding across the district.
• Homes suffered water damage, structural issues, and land movement.
• Roads were impassable due to slips, flooding, and fallen trees.
• Council and insurers processed thousands of claims.
• Insurance and government support covered a large proportion of public repair costs, while some private land damage remained uncertain.
Check your sum insured regularly
Ensure your home’s rebuild cost is updated for inflation, construction cost increases, and any building code changes. The 2026 storms showed slips, land movement and access issues can significantly increase rebuild costs - making up to date valuations essential.
Understand what your insurance does and doesn’t cover
Some costs fall outside insurance; land damage may have special rules; temporary accommodation can be needed for months; and access issues may delay repairs. During the 2026 North Island storms, some homeowners needed alternative accommodation for extended periods while assessors waited for safe access. It’s important to understand your temporary accommodation limits.
Document your home and contents
Keep clear photos and videos of the property; receipts for major purchases; a household inventory; and maintenance logs. This helps speed up claims and ensures accurate payouts.
Prepare for access issues - even if your home isn’t flooded
In both Tasman, and the 2026 storms, road closures and slips left some homes inaccessible even when undamaged. Check your cover for alternative accommodation, food spoilage, power outage impacts, and additional living expenses.
Consider improving flood resilience
Improve drainage around the home, raise electrical outlets, install flood barriers, secure outdoor items, and check slope stability or retaining walls. Resilience improvements can reduce damage and claims. Post-storm reviews highlighted the importance of drainage maintenance and slope stability checks.
Know your local flood risk
Check local flood maps; understand river proximity risks; ask council for flood history; and review whether flood risk has changed due to recent climate events. This helps ensure insurance is aligned with real exposure.
The Tasman floods showed that major weather events can impact homes for years, not weeks - and the widespread January 2026 North Island storms reinforced this at a national level.
With recovery timelines growing and severe weather becoming more frequent, the best defence for homeowners is preparation: knowing your policy, maintaining clear documentation, updating your sum insured, and taking proactive steps to improve flood and slip resilience.
A Rothbury broker can help you review your cover, advise on any potential blind spots, and assist you with checking whether your policy aligns with your home’s actual exposure.
This article provides general information only and is not financial advice. Please speak to your broker for guidance specific to your situation.