Claims were expected to flood insurance companies after ex-Cyclone Cook lashed across New Zealand.
But what was tagged as “the worst storm since 1968” fell short of its billing over most of the country, as it swerved east, missing Wellington and Auckland.
IAG, which owns the
NZI and
State Insurance brands, received in excess of 200 claims for the event, the majority of which arrived on Tuesday, spokeswoman
Shelley Huang told Fairfax Media.
Rival insurer
Vero also received a low number of claims, spokesman
Tony Reid said.
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“By the end of Tuesday, Vero had received 390 claims for ex-Cyclone Cook, with an estimated value of more than $800,000,” he said.
Warnings of the approaching storm from the Met Service and the New Zealand Transport Agency allowed people in Auckland and Wellington to race to their homes to secure their properties and avoid being caught outside in high winds, the report said.
The two cities only experienced mildly breezy and wet weather, as opposed to earlier fears that wild weather would close Auckland’s Harbour Bridge.
Cyclone Cook was forecasted to be the worst storm since 1986, when Cyclone Giselle sank the Wahine in Wellington Harbour.
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ICNZ issues flood warning for Bay of Plenty
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