New Zealanders consistently rank earthquakes as their greatest natural hazard concern, but a large share of homeowners have not followed through on steps to reduce their exposure, according to research released June 9 by the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHC Toka Tū Ake). The commission responded by rolling out a preparedness campaign aimed at closing that gap.
The research found that seven in 10 survey respondents were aware of measures they could take to make their homes more resistant to earthquake damage, rising to 74% among homeowners specifically. Despite that, most had not acted. The commission identified money, time, and a perception that action was not yet necessary as the main reasons people held back. The findings carry weight for the insurance sector. Residential properties that are physically unprepared – unfixed hot water cylinders, unreinforced chimneys, foundations not properly bolted to the frame above – tend to sustain worse damage in a seismic event, which feeds directly into claims frequency and cost. The commission’s data point to that risk being widespread across the homeowner population.
NHC Toka Tū Ake’s new campaign, Don’t Wait for the Woah, Quake safe your place, is built around the idea that not every household can tackle every job at once. It groups recommended actions by complexity: moving heavy objects to lower shelves or strapping down furniture can be done quickly and at little cost, while checking foundation connections or having an older chimney assessed by a professional may require planning over a longer horizon.
Public education manager Hamish Armstrong said the commission is not expecting everyone to complete every task immediately. “Earthquakes are part of life in Aotearoa New Zealand. We don’t need to be scared of them, but we do need to be prepared. We know many households are under pressure right now, and this campaign recognises that not every preparedness action is quick, easy, or affordable. But every step helps,” Armstrong said. On the question of what to do when larger projects are out of reach, Armstrong pointed to planning as a starting point. “If bigger jobs are not possible right now, people can still take the first step – understand the risks, get advice, make a plan, and look for opportunities to tackle the work alongside future renovations or repairs,” he said.
A secondary finding in the research is that homeowners who had already carried out preparedness work often described a psychological payoff – a feeling that they had one fewer thing on their minds. The commission has made that sentiment a thread in the campaign’s messaging. “Preparedness is built step by step. Once a job is done, it’s done – and your home and whānau are in a stronger position when shaking starts,” Armstrong said. That pattern suggests a potential lever. Policyholders who move through preparedness tasks incrementally may present lower risk over time, though the commission’s research indicates uptake remains limited across the broader market.
Separately, the commission is working to place the Natural Hazard Fund on a more durable financial footing. The fund, which pays out residential claims under the scheme, draws on an annual levy embedded in home insurance premiums nationwide. Its current balance is approximately $670 million. Two major earthquake sequences – Canterbury and Kaikōura – drew the fund down considerably, and the commission has since kept its holdings in conservative, short-term instruments. In February, it published its first Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO), marking a shift toward a more structured long-term approach. The target is to outpace inflation by 2.5% per annum across rolling five-year windows, with diversification into broader asset classes to be introduced gradually.
NHC chief financial officer Chris Chainey said the framework is intended to balance growth with ongoing caution. “The SIPO sets out how the Fund will be managed and invested to ensure NHC can meet future claims for damage from natural hazards,” Chainey said. Oversight sits with an Executive Investment Committee and the NHC board. The fund’s rebuilding trajectory is relevant to the wider insurance market: its capacity at the time of the next large event will shape how quickly and fully residential claims under the scheme can be settled.
