Church insurer expects huge bills
Andrea Fox for Stuff
| 04 Mar 2011
Print This
TEXT
Top News...
- Latest
- Most commented
An insurance company that covers most of the churches in Christchurch expects damage to run into "hundreds of millions of dollars" and says restoring the shattered ChristChurch Cathedral could alone cost tens of millions.
Ansvar Insurance New Zealand manager David Leather said Christchurch churches would face increased insurance premiums after global reinsurers renewed annual treaties with retail insurers such as his company.
The global reinsurance industry's perception of New Zealand's earthquake risk would be influenced by the Christchurch event and Mr Leather expected reinsurers to "relook" at Wellington's exposure to risk.
Damage to Christchurch churches in the September 4 earthquake was estimated at $100 million.
It was too early to put a figure on the likely cost of damage from last week's earthquake but it was expected to be a lot higher, Mr Leather said.
Ansvar insures ChristChurch Cathedral. It was hoping to get its loss adjusters into the central business district next week but it could be a month before they got access to buildings to assess damage.
The company was sympathetic toward the view of Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker that the cathedral should be rebuilt, he said. "We will do what we can to co-operate."
It would also work with other church clients to fulfil their wishes for their damaged buildings.
Ansvar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ecclesiastical Insurance, Britain's leading insurer of Anglican churches, which in turn is owned by Allchurches Trust.
Ansvar specialises in church insurance but also covers historic buildings, hospitals, education facilities, preschools and charities.
Editors' Picks
'Horrific' violence against women
Violence against women in the Pacific is “horrific” and must be addressed, says an Australian...
Back to the community – every day
What we need is a "Back to the Community" campaign, says the vicar of a quake zone.
Cathedral bells bound for UK
The ChristChurch Cathedral bells will soon be enroute to England for testing and repair.
New guidelines for marriage rites
A “consensus description” of Anglican theology on marriage rites is being finalized by the Int...
A unique and final honour
Sir Paul Reeves is accorded a unique last honour. He is laid to rest on the gentle north-facin...
Decision time on gay ordination
The question of whether openly gay and lesbian people can be ordained should be settled s...
© Anglican Taonga
ANGLICAN TAONGA is the communications arm of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia / Te Haahi Mihanare ki Niu Tireni, ki Nga Moutere o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. TAONGA magazine is published three times a year and distributed to all Anglican ministry units and agencies. TAONGA also publishes occasional booklets on church, ministry and sacraments. The General Editor of TAONGA is accountable to the Communications Commission of General Synod / te Hinota Whanui, 200 St Johns Road, Meadowbank, Auckland 1742.
Comments on this story
Log in or create a user account to comment.