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Quake compounds New Zealand’s rough winter

New Zealand is suffering a winter of extremes, with millions of dollars worth of damage from floods, mudslides, slips and snowstorms. A “moderate-level” earthquake on Sunday didn’t cause any additional damage, but did serve to remind insurers they’re operating in a particularly difficult environment.

The Insurance Council of New Zealand says the industry has paid out some $NZ232 million  ($192.6 million) for flood and storm damage after events in Coromandel, Manawatu, Queenstown, Greymouth, Matata and Tauranga. The council expects another $NZ50 million ($41.5 million) will be paid out after the most recent snowstorms in Canterbury and Otago.

The earthquake took place early on Sunday morning about 180km south of Wellington. It measured 5.9 on the Richter scale. There have so far been no reports of injury.