Media release

Vero paper offers practical guidance for councils on climate adaptation and insurance

27 July 2026

As communities across Aotearoa New Zealand adapt to the growing impacts of climate change, local authorities are being asked to make increasingly complex decisions about how and where to invest in resilience.

To support those conversations, Vero has published a new paper, Resilience Through Transition: The role of insurance in climate adaptation.

Developed for councils, policymakers and other stakeholders involved in adaptation planning, the paper provides practical information about how insurers assess and price risk.

“One question Vero is often asked by local authorities is how insurers will respond to adaptation or resilience investments, major weather events, or the publication of risk assessments,” says Sacha Cowlrick, Executive General Manager Business at Vero. “This paper aims to support informed decision-making, by providing greater transparency about insurance pricing, underwriting and risk management.”

While the paper does not advocate for particular adaptation pathways, it seeks to ensure that responses to climate risk are informed by a clear understanding of how insurance markets may respond to different investments over time.

“It’s not the role of an insurance company to tell communities which choices are best for them,” says Cowlrick. “But insurance plays a critical role in helping households and businesses recover after disasters and we wanted to provide more transparency to decision-makers about how investments in resilience might affect insurance accessibility and affordability.”

Cowlrick says the publication reflects Vero's commitment to contributing constructively to New Zealand's climate adaptation and resilience discussions.

By increasing understanding of the role insurance can and cannot play, Vero hopes to support more productive conversations between councils, communities, government and the insurance sector as adaptation planning progresses across the country.

Cowlrick says councils who want to discuss the implications of the paper further should reach out to Vero directly.

About Vero New Zealand:

Vero is one of New Zealand's leading general insurers, with a history of protecting and supporting Kiwis spanning over 100 years. Distributed through a trusted network of brokers, advisers, and corporate partners, Vero offers a range of personal and commercial insurance solutions. For more information, visit vero.co.nz.