New Zealand’s Earthquake Commission (EQC) has settled 727 claims from storms and ex-cyclones that battered the country between January and last month.

About 300 claims remain outstanding, and the average time for settlement has been 54 days.

The EQC covers damage to land from storms and floods, and damage to land, home and contents from landslips. This includes removal of silt and debris from under and around houses and from access ways.

It received 101 claims for the January storm centred in Kaiaua-Thames; 93 have been resolved, with $NZ1.1 million ($1.01 million) paid to customers.

There were 134 claims lodged after Ex-Cyclone Fehi, with 124 settled and customers receiving $NZ801,434 ($734,119) from the EQC.

Another 222 claims have been resolved from 278 lodged relating to Ex-Cyclone Gita, with $NZ4.8 million ($4.4 million) paid to customers.