New Zealand has experienced its costliest year for severe weather insured losses, with claim payments hitting a record $NZ248 million ($238.1 million).

Customers made more than 13,600 weather-related claims to private insurers last year, with the total elevated by events in late November and December, the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) says.

The estimate includes preliminary figures from storms and floods across the Greater Wellington region from November 29 to December 1 and a freak hailstorm that hit the Nelson-Marlborough region on Boxing Day.

ICNZ CEO Tim Grafton says the country can expect extreme weather events such as droughts and floods to become more frequent due to climate change, highlighting the need to insure adequately.

“Conversely, we must adapt to our changing climate and take steps to reduce risks where possible, building more resilient communities,” he says.

“This could mean improving infrastructure such as stormwater systems, no consenting new properties in higher risk areas, as well as building more resilient residential and commercial buildings.”

The full-year figure includes a provisional $NZ73 million ($68 million) from the November floods and $NZ41 million ($38.2 million) from the hailstorm, as well as $NZ44 million ($41 million) from Upper North Island flooding in July.

The Lake Ohau fire in October caused losses of around $NZ35 million ($32.6 million), with 180 house and contents claims, 15 business and commercial claims and 31 motor claims.

Significant loss events also include $NZ30 million ($28 million) from the Southland flooding in February and $NZ17 million ($15.8 million) from a June Upper North Island storm and tornado.

House and contents accounted for $NZ118.6 million ($110.5 million) of the annual total, while commercial contributed $NZ78.3 million ($73 million) and business interruption $NZ11.1 million ($10.3 million).