Bill for quake-prone buildings rises 15pc

All the Wanganui District Council's earthquake-prone buildings currently have insurance, although the cost of insuring them has gone up.

The council owns 17 buildings that have less than 33 per cent of the earthquake strengthening required under the Building Act 2004.

Finance and corporate service manager Julian Harkness said the council's building insurance was renewed in July this year, with a 15 per cent increase in insurance premiums.

"All other lines of insurance have renewed either the same or with very little increase, and with no change to excess levels."

Mr Harkness said the council's insurance was arranged through insurance broker AON.

"We have a panel of four insurers, which are ACE, QBE, Chartis NZ and Lumley, with ACE being the lead insurer," Mr Harkness said.

"Although we have been successful in obtaining insurance for all our buildings, it is safe to say that the market remains hard and will remain this way for the foreseeable future, hence the panel of four insurers as opposed to the traditional one insurer."

The council this year introduced an earthquake strengthening levy in its 10-year plan, to be added to the annual rates intake.

The 0.5 per cent levy will net $20 million over 10 years, which will go towards strengthening the council's earthquake-prone buildings.