New Zealand’s Earthquake Commission (EQC) will open a claims processing centre in Hamilton.

The EQC already has an operation in Brisbane, where 80 staff work on EQC-related claims.

It says it will continue its relationship with Gallagher Bassett as a third-party claims administrator at the Brisbane office, with which it has worked since 2000.

The commission says the Hamilton move is based on saving costs and having better access to local knowledge. The September 2010 earthquakes in Christchurch are another reason for the move.

“It makes sense for the EQC to bring more of the claim management back to New Zealand,” National Claims Manager Gail Kettle told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“By processing claims in Hamilton we capture cost savings through better integration with our other operations in New Zealand, and we also get the benefits of local knowledge.”

The Hamilton centre will open in late August with more than 150 claims advisers plus staff in support and management roles.

Ms Kettle says claims processing was previously based in Australia because “there would always be a secure facility capable of doing the work, no matter where an event occurred in New Zealand”.

She says the Canterbury earthquakes “changed this completely” as there are now large facilities in Christchurch and Wellington, as well as backup, should one be out of action.

An average of 162 claims are being handled each day and “good progress” is being made – with 350,000 claims to go.