Notes on earthquake insurance in California and New Zealand

Abstract

On the initiative of the Earthquake and War Damage Commission a team was organised to study the recovery from the earthquake which devastated Mexico City on 19 September 1985. Earthquake preparedness and underwriting in California was also researched. There were five members in the team and they were – Mr. Milton Allwood, Secretary of the Earthquake and War Damage Commission; Mr. Derek Scott, representing the Insurance Council of New Zealand; Mr. Ken Grieve, representing the Institute of Loss Adjusters of New Zealand (Inc); Mr. Edward Latter, National Director of Civil Defence; Mr. Don Currie, representing the Accident Compensation Corporation. The following extract on earthquake insurance is taken from one of the reports by the team.