The Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand says Cyclone Vaianu will have affected people still recovering from severe weather that hit earlier this year.

“This latest weather event is clearly significant, and it will be particularly worrying for those still working through claims from previous events,” CEO Katherine Wilson said today.

She says new damage should be separately documented and reported.

“Insurers will be managing high volumes of claims in the weeks ahead. Brokers will be focused on helping policyholders navigate the complexities of multiple event claims, including advocating on their behalf for fast and fair settlement outcomes.”

Vaianu took a more easterly path – meaning impacts were less severe – than expected. The centre of the former tropical cyclone crossed the coast near the Maketu Peninsula. It tracked over the North Island and out to the ocean again at Hawke’s Bay.

“It’s still been a significant event for us,” Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell told the Pacific Mornings program.

“Today, the various teams around the country will be doing evaluations in terms of what support is needed and what we need to do as we move into recovery.”

Wind gusts reached more than 120km/h in Hawke’s Bay and thousands of people were left without power, while heavy rain caused flooding. Auckland recorded peak wind gusts of 81km/h.

Near Australia, Cyclone Maila dissipated before reaching the Queensland coast, but it caused severe impacts on the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, where lives were lost in a landslide. The Australian government yesterday pledged $2.5 million of humanitarian assistance for the countries.