This is a public webinar. You can register here.
Join us for a webinar discussing the findings of a newly launched research report by the Helen Clark Foundation and WSP: Premiums under Pressure – How climate change will reshape residential property insurance, and what to do about it.
The report addresses the urgent issue of residential insurance retreat in Aotearoa New Zealand. As climate change intensifies, premiums are expected to rise due to the adoption of risk-based pricing for flood hazards. Without effective policy measures, these pressures could lead to unaffordable premiums for some properties, causing households to reduce or drop their insurance cover. Additionally, insurance companies may withdraw coverage in certain locations over time due to increasing damage from floods and coastal erosion.
Why Attend?
- Understand the impact of climate change on residential property insurance, and the implications for homeowners;
- Explore report recommendations to ensure insurance remains accessible and affordable;
- Gain insights from experts in the field.
This webinar is a crucial opportunity to engage with experts and discuss actionable solutions to protect our most vulnerable communities.
Register Now to secure your spot.
Panelists:
- Kali Mercier – Kali is the report author and WSP Fellow and Deputy Director of the Helen Clark Foundation. Kali has an extensive background in law, policy, and international development, which has taken her to Berlin, London, Mexico City and Botswana. Before coming to the Helen Clark Foundation, Kali worked as Principal Advisor at the Ministry of Justice, Policy Director at the NZ Drug Foundation and as a human rights advocate for Amnesty UK and other charities overseas.
- Jonathan Boston ONZM – Jonathan is Emeritus Professor of Public Policy in the School of Government at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington. His research interests include climate change policy, child poverty, anticipatory governance, public management, the funding of tertiary education and research, and welfare state design. He has served at various times as the Director of the Institute of Policy Studies and the Director of the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies. Over the course of his career in New Zealand, he has contributed to a wide range of advisory groups and has been employed by several government agencies including the Treasury, the Ministry for the Environment, and the Tertiary Education Commission.
- Richard Woods – Richard is WSP’s service line leader for risk and resilience. An expert in natural hazard and disaster risk management, he has worked with the World Bank, IMF, and served as an expert witness in New Zealand’s Environment Court. His portfolio covers a range of domestic and international projects, including the development of the award winning RiskScape software.
- Hon Kris Faafoi – Kris joined the Insurance Council of New Zealand Te Kahua Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) as chief executive in April 2024. He is a former member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister who served in a number of roles, including Minister of Justice, Immigration, Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Broadcasting and Media. Before that, Kris worked as a journalist, including at TVNZ and the BBC.
