The Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) expects thousands of claims to be triggered by the polar blast that brought snowstorms to much of New Zealand last week.

The storms closed airports, roads and schools and prevented many people getting to work because of snow and ice on roads.

ICNZ CEO Chris Ryan says an already stretched insurance industry is gearing up to deal with claims relating to property damage and disruption to business and travel.

“The atrocious weather conditions over the past week will see an expected increase in insurance claims ranging from claims for collapsed structures, broken water pipes caused by freezing temperatures and claims for vehicles involved in accidents caused by the freezing conditions,” he said.

Although it’s too early to estimate the likely insurance loss, insurers are also reporting significant travel insurance claims from stranded passengers in the South Island whose air travel was disrupted, including delays to international and domestic flights.

The storms disrupted plans by ICNZ and the Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand to meet business and professional groups in Christchurch, when a meeting planned for last Wednesday was postponed because of the weather.

It had taken several weeks to arrange for the insurance industry and wider business community to convene a discussion on insurance issues around the Christchurch earthquakes.

Mr Ryan says the polar blast, which MetService New Zealand has called a one-in-50-year event, will place pressure on insurers already dealing with the Christchurch earthquake. “But as insurers have proven time and again, legitimate claims will be settled as quickly as possible.”