Heavy rain that caused chaos in the South Island in December resulted in insurance claims worth $17 million. The storm, on December 7 and 8, blew out roads and bridges, isolating about 1000 tourists in Franz Josef on the West Coast and leading to a State of Emergency being declared in South Canterbury.
Queenstown and Wanaka were also hit with flooding from December 3 to 12. Insurance Council of NZ, figures showed 1700 claims worth $17m were made, the largest number for business losses and business interruption. Westland district council mayor was considering a whole year of repairing the work fro the event and would continue on.
The heavy rain forced 224 Wakatipu High School students and staff to be evacuated from a camp at the remote Branches Station. Less than a month earlier Timaru was pelted by a massive hailstorm, which led to an $83 million insurance bill. Insurance Council of NZ chief executive Tom Grafton said it was the third-largest weather-related insurance cost event in New Zealand in the past 20 years.