Insured losses from flooding in New Zealand’s far north and Whangarei regions could reach $NZ10 million ($8.8 million), with thousands of claims already received by insurers.

Flooding last Thursday caused an estimated $NZ80 million ($70.7 million) damage across the region, where mayors are now pressing the NZ Government to increase disaster response funding to meet the expected cost of reconstruction.

Insurance Council of New Zealand CEO Chris Ryan says council estimates will be confirmed in about a month.

He says the flood was “not a large one in the grand scheme of things”, but underinsurance and non-insurance is often a problem in regional areas.

New Zealand tends to experience multiple, smaller-scale flooding, and Mr Ryan says last week’s floods indicate this winter could bring volatile weather.