Weather-related insured losses in New Zealand have risen to more than $NZ135.4 million ($120.4 million) this year after estimates increased for storms during Easter and July.

Insurance Council of New Zealand CEO Tim Grafton says the year is shaping up to be one of the country’s most expensive in terms of weather-related insurance claims.

The Easter storm in West Coast cost $NZ55.3 million ($49.2 million), up from an initial estimate of $NZ45 million ($40 million), the council says.

The storm was the biggest event this year, with about 10,000 claims and more than $NZ32 million ($28.4 million) of damage to homes, contents and motor vehicles.

The provisional cost for a storm that lashed Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel peninsula in July has reached $NZ15.1 million ($13.4 million).

Insured losses from weather last year totalled $NZ175 million ($155.6 million), the second-most expensive year since 1968, when a huge storm sank the inter-island ferry Wahine.