Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023 updates

There is a new governing legislation, the Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023 (NHI Act). This Act modernises and replaces the Earthquake Commission Act 1993 (EQC Act).

What’s changing

From 1 July 2024, EQC Toka Tū Ake will change its name to Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHC) as part of the Natural Hazards Insurance Act taking effect. Read more at www.naturalhazards.govt.nz

The other noticeable change for policy holders, is that policy schedules and invoices will now reference an NHI levy instead of EQC levy and NHCover instead of EQCover.

The NHI Act introduces changes to improve the experience of homeowners who need to make a natural hazards insurance claim. The NHI Act takes into account lessons learnt from the Canterbury earthquake sequence, the Kaikōura earthquake, and other natural hazard events, as well as the Public Inquiry into the Earthquake Commission completed in 2020.

Your insurance provider will manage your NHI claim

In the event your home is damaged by a natural hazard event, please contact MAS to make a claim. We will assess and manage your claim from start to finish, including the NHCover portion on NHC’s behalf. MAS will be your single point of contact during the claim process and can answer any questions you have.

Where to go for more information

Please go to naturalhazards.govt.nz/know-your-cover/ to find out more about how the NHI Act affects cover and claims.