Canterbury homeowners should contact their insurers if they are affected by creeping mould from liquefied soil caused by the earthquakes, according to the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ).

“While the removal of liquefied soil is a land issue, and therefore the responsibility of the Earthquake Commission, insurers will look at removing soil for ‘over-cap’ homes and settle with [the commission] afterwards,” ICNZ CEO Tim Grafton said.

“Over-cap” refers to homes which have exceeded the $NZ100,000 ($82,968) limit covered by the commission, after which a claim is passed to the householder’s insurer.

As winter sets in, “insurers are prioritising residents for rebuilds and repair based on their vulnerability and are trying to provide flexible solutions to address immediate, serious needs”.

Over-cap residents who believe they are in a vulnerable situation should advise their insurers and may be given priority, Mr Grafton says.

Temporary weatherproofing repairs can be carried out without affecting the full repair waiting list.

“I’m aware some people are worried about seeking help because they think if they get support like this they will drop down the rebuild queue,” Mr Grafton said.

“That is not true. The key vulnerability factors that prioritise rebuilds and repairs remain in place.”