Natural-Disaster Cover — NZ Motor Insurers

Storm, flood, hail, earthquake and volcanic-eruption cover on NZ Comprehensive motor policies.

Last refreshed 2026-05-20

What this topic covers

New Zealand has elevated natural-disaster risk by global standards (seismic, volcanic, storm). Most Comprehensive NZ motor policies cover the major perils, but specific exclusions and timing rules (e.g. immediate-flood-after-coast warning) can apply.

How each NZ motor insurer handles natural disasters

60 of 60 cells populated from ingested policy wordings. Cells marked Not on file mean the wording PDF didn't address that specific fact, or extraction couldn't isolate it with confidence. Authoritative answer is always the source PDF (linked from each provider profile).

Provider	Storm / wind	Flood	Hail	Earthquake	Volcanic eruption
AA Insurance 3 tier wordings · 2025-04-28	Comp yes — covered subject to the 48-hour exclusion for the first period of insurance TPFT no — not listed as a covered event; excluded for first 48 hours when first purchasing policy	Comp yes — covered subject to the 48-hour exclusion for the first period of insurance TPFT no — not listed as a covered event; excluded for first 48 hours when first purchasing policy	Comp yes — covered subject to the 48-hour exclusion for the first period of insurance TPFT no — not listed as a covered event	Comp yes — covered subject to the 48-hour exclusion for the first period of insurance TPFT no — not listed as a covered event	Comp yes — covered subject to the 48-hour exclusion for the first period of insurance TPFT no — not listed as a covered event
AMI Insurance 1 wording · 2024-11-01 · +1 variant	Covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand, subject to policy terms.	Covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand, subject to policy terms.	Covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand, subject to policy terms.	Covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand, subject to policy terms.	Covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand, subject to policy terms.
Cove Insurance 1 wording · 2021-01-01	yes — subject to 48-hour standdown: There is no cover under this policy for any loss that occurs within 48 hours of the start date of your policy term caused by a natural disaster, storm (including hail), flood, wildfire or landslip.	yes — subject to 48-hour standdown: There is no cover under this policy for any loss that occurs within 48 hours of the start date of your policy term caused by a natural disaster, storm (including hail), flood, wildfire or landslip.	yes — subject to 48-hour standdown: There is no cover under this policy for any loss that occurs within 48 hours of the start date of your policy term caused by a natural disaster, storm (including hail), flood, wildfire or landslip.	yes — subject to 48-hour standdown: There is no cover under this policy for any loss that occurs within 48 hours of the start date of your policy term caused by a natural disaster.	Not explicitly stated in extracted wording
FMG 1 wording · 2024-07-01 · +1 variant	yes — private vehicle is insured for accidental loss anywhere in New Zealand; storm damage to caravan awnings has a specific limitation but vehicle cover is broad	yes — private vehicle is insured for accidental loss anywhere in New Zealand	yes — private vehicle is insured for accidental loss anywhere in New Zealand	yes — 'Your private vehicle is insured for accidental loss caused by natural hazard (natural disaster).' Natural hazard includes earthquake (including earthquake fire).	yes — 'Your private vehicle is insured for accidental loss caused by natural hazard (natural disaster).' Natural hazard includes volcanic eruption.
Initio 1 wording · 2021-05-01	Not expressly listed; 'natural disaster' is defined as an earthquake, natural landslip, volcanic eruption, hydrothermal activity, tsunami or natural disaster fire, as described in the definition of 'natural disaster' in the Earthquake Commission Act 1993	Third party, fire & theft cover includes natural disaster; Full cover includes sudden and accidental loss. Flood is not expressly named but mechanical/electrical damage resulting from immersion in water or flood is not excluded where it results in or from flood.	Not expressly listed in the natural disaster definition	yes — 'natural disaster' definition includes earthquake	yes — 'natural disaster' definition includes volcanic eruption
NZI 1 wording · 2026-04-01 · +1 variant	Covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand (no specific exclusion for storm).	Covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand (no specific exclusion for flood).	Covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand (no specific exclusion for hail).	Covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand (no specific exclusion for earthquake).	Covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand (no specific exclusion for volcanic activity).
Protecta Insurance 1 wording · 2024-12-01	Not explicitly listed under Natural Disaster; storm damage may be covered under the general accidental loss or damage provision of Section 1	Not explicitly listed under Natural Disaster; flood damage may be covered under the general accidental loss or damage provision of Section 1	Not explicitly listed under Natural Disaster; hail damage may be covered under the general accidental loss or damage provision of Section 1	Yes — 'We will cover You up to the market value or sum insured of the Vehicle(s) specified (whichever is the lesser) for loss or damage caused by Earthquake, Volcanic Eruption, Tsunami or Hydrothermal Activity.'	Yes — 'loss or damage caused by Earthquake, Volcanic Eruption, Tsunami or Hydrothermal Activity.'
Star Insure 1 wording · 2022-07-01	Covered under Section One as sudden accidental loss to your vehicle; natural disaster referenced in PE5 (condemned buildings and carparks)	Covered under Section One as sudden accidental loss to your vehicle	Covered under Section One as sudden accidental loss to your vehicle	Covered under Section One as sudden accidental loss to your vehicle; natural disaster referenced in PE5	Covered under Section One as sudden accidental loss to your vehicle
State Insurance 1 wording · 2024-11-01	yes — covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand	yes — covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand	yes — covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand	yes — covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand	yes — covered under Comprehensive as sudden and accidental loss to your vehicle that happens during the period of insurance in New Zealand
Tower Insurance 3 tier wordings · 2024-09-01	Comp yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down: any storm that occurs within 72 hours of the start date of this policy is excluded TPFT yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down period for new policies TP Subject to 72-hour stand-down period for policies started within 72 hours of the storm	Comp yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down: any flood that occurs within 72 hours of the start date of this policy is excluded TPFT yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down period for new policies TP Subject to 72-hour stand-down period for policies started within 72 hours of the flood	Comp yes — covered as accidental physical loss or damage (no specific exclusion for hail) TPFT no explicit mention TP no	Comp yes — no specific exclusion for earthquake (stand-down applies to storm, flood, wildfire, tsunami, volcanic activity, and landslide, but not earthquake explicitly) TPFT no explicit mention TP no	Comp yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down: any volcanic activity that occurs within 72 hours of the start date of this policy is excluded TPFT yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down period for new policies TP Subject to 72-hour stand-down period for policies started within 72 hours of the volcanic activity
Trade Me Insurance 3 tier wordings · 2024-09-01	Comp yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down: any storm, flood, wildfire, tsunami, volcanic activity, or landslide that occurs within 72 hours of the start date of this policy is excluded TPFT yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down period TP Excluded within 72-hour stand-down period from policy start date; covered outside stand-down period	Comp yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down: any storm, flood, wildfire, tsunami, volcanic activity, or landslide that occurs within 72 hours of the start date of this policy is excluded TPFT yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down period TP Excluded within 72-hour stand-down period from policy start date; however Third Party Only does not cover own vehicle damage	Comp yes — not specifically excluded (covered under accidental physical loss/damage) TPFT no explicit mention TP no	Comp yes — not listed in stand-down exclusions (stand-down applies to storm, flood, wildfire, tsunami, volcanic activity, landslide) TPFT no explicit mention TP no	Comp yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down: any storm, flood, wildfire, tsunami, volcanic activity, or landslide that occurs within 72 hours of the start date of this policy is excluded TPFT yes — subject to 72-hour stand-down period TP Excluded within 72-hour stand-down period from policy start date; however Third Party Only does not cover own vehicle damage
Vero Insurance 1 wording · 2025-12-01 · +2 variant	not explicitly stated — no specific natural disaster benefit section found in extracted wording	not explicitly stated — no specific natural disaster benefit section found in extracted wording	not explicitly stated — no specific natural disaster benefit section found in extracted wording	not explicitly stated — no specific natural disaster benefit section found in extracted wording	not explicitly stated — no specific natural disaster benefit section found in extracted wording