# DI-H-V-02: We have a retaining wall and a long driveway. Would our house insurance cover them if a landslip damaged them? Collected 11 October 2026 [Home and contents insurance study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/insurance/home-contents-insurance) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: d52efbda-b86f-4a22-a0b1-5dd4bac1b90b In New Zealand, **it may be covered, but it depends on what was damaged, the cause of the landslip, and the wording of your house insurance policy**. [Natural Hazards Commission](https://www.naturalhazards.govt.nz/insurance-and-claims/about-nhcover/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) For a **landslip (natural landslide)**: - **Retaining wall:** Some retaining walls can be covered under New Zealand’s natural hazards cover if they are necessary to support or protect your home, insured residential land, or related structures, and are within **60 metres of the home**. There may also be limits on the amount payable. [Natural Hazards Commission](https://www.naturalhazards.govt.nz/insurance-and-claims/about-nhcover/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Your private insurer may provide additional cover depending on your policy. [Natural Hazards Commission](https://www.naturalhazards.govt.nz/know-your-cover/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - **Driveway:** The **land beneath your main accessway** (for example, the ground supporting your driveway) can have limited natural hazards cover if it is within the relevant area, including up to **60 metres from the home**. However, the **driveway surface itself** (such as asphalt, concrete, paving, or other artificial surfaces) is generally not covered by natural hazards cover, although your private house policy may cover some driveway damage. [Natural Hazards Commission](https://www.naturalhazards.govt.nz/insurance-and-claims/cover-for-storm-flood-and-landslide-damage/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) A few things that will affect the answer: - Was the damage caused by a **natural landslip** (for example, after an earthquake or severe weather), or by something else such as poor drainage, gradual erosion, or construction issues? - Is the retaining wall **supporting the house/access area**, or is it mainly decorative landscaping? - How far is the retaining wall and driveway from the house? - What insurer and policy type do you have? If a landslip has already happened, it is usually best to **contact your insurer first** before arranging permanent repairs, as they can assess the claim and coordinate any natural hazards component. [Natural Hazards Commission](https://www.naturalhazards.govt.nz/insurance-and-claims/cover-for-storm-flood-and-landslide-damage/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## Gemini Answer ID: 3fd760cf-2abe-4106-a175-94f2749fd77d Yes, standard house insurance in New Zealand covers landslips, but **how** they are covered involves a split responsibility between the government's **Natural Hazards Commission (NHC)** (formerly EQC) and your private house insurance provider. Because a landslip is classified as a natural disaster, cover depends heavily on what part of the property is damaged, its proximity to your home, and the specific terms of your private policy. --- ### 1. The Retaining Wall Whether a retaining wall is covered depends on its function and location: * **What the NHC covers:** The NHC provides limited cover for retaining walls that are **within 60 metres of your home** and act to support or protect your house, insured related buildings, or your main accessway/insured land. However, NHC payouts for retaining walls are subject to statutory caps (maximum of $50,000 plus GST for all retaining walls) and are paid out at *indemnity value* (depreciated value), not full replacement cost. * **What your private insurer covers:** Many private house insurance policies offer additional or enhanced cover for retaining walls that extend beyond what the NHC provides, or top up the gap between the NHC cap and the actual cost to rebuild. * **The catch:** Non-structural or purely decorative landscaping walls are typically excluded from both NHC and standard house policies. ### 2. The Long Driveway Because a driveway is typically long, how a landslip affects it changes the rules: * **The Land Beneath:** The NHC covers the **actual land** supporting your main accessway (driveway) up to 60 metres from your home. If a slip washes away the earth supporting the driveway, the NHC covers that foundational land damage (subject to land cap formulas). * **The Surface (Concrete/Asphalt):** The NHC **does not cover** artificial driveway surfaces like concrete, asphalt, or paving. * **Where your private insurer steps in:** Standard private house insurance policies generally pick up where the NHC leaves off, providing cover to repair or replace the actual driveway surface (the concrete or asphalt) damaged by a landslip. --- ### What You Should Do Next 1. **Check your policy wording:** Look for sections covering "Natural Disasters," "Land Cover," and specific extensions for "Retaining Walls" and "Driveways." 2. **Note the excess structure:** If a natural hazard damages items split between the NHC and your private insurer, you may need to pay multiple excesses (such as the NHC land claim excess plus your private policy's natural hazard or standard excess). 3. **Contact your insurer first:** If a landslip occurs, always lodge your claim with your private insurance company. They manage the NHC claims process on your behalf and coordinate both parts of the settlement. ## AI Overviews Answer ID: 16ab7624-57c8-48fd-81c3-62f9f7828df6 **Yes, your property will have coverage for landslip damage, but it will not come fully from your standard private house insurance.** In New Zealand, private house insurers generally **do not cover land or landslips**. Instead, because your home insurance automatically includes a government levy, you are covered by the **Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHC)** (formerly known as the EQC). The NHC provides specific, limited land cover. However, because they view land cover as a "contribution" rather than a full replacement policy, **you will likely face significant out-of-pocket gaps**. * * * 🧱 The Retaining Wall The NHC provides limited coverage for retaining walls, subject to strict conditions: * **The Rule:** The retaining wall must be within **60 metres** of your home and must be structurally necessary to support or protect your house, insured outbuildings, or covered land. Decorative landscaping walls are completely excluded. * **The Cap:** Under the Natural Hazards Insurance Act, the NHC's contribution for all retaining walls on a property is strictly capped at **$50,000 plus GST** per event. * **The Gap:** Rebuilding an engineered retaining wall can easily exceed $100,000. Some private insurers offer optional "top-up" or extended covers for retaining walls, but standard policies do not. 🚗 The Long Driveway A long driveway is divided into two parts for insurance purposes: the **dirt underneath** and the **paved surface**. * **The Ground Underneath:** The NHC covers the land supporting your main accessway, but only up to **60 metres** from your house. If your driveway is longer than 60 metres, any landslip damage past that mark is entirely your financial responsibility. * **The Driveway Surface:** The NHC **does not cover** artificial surfaces like concrete, asphalt, or tarseal. However, many major private house insurance policies (such as Tower or [AA Insurance](https://www.aainsurance.co.nz/nhcover)) _do_ explicitly cover sealed driveways required for main access. You will need to check your specific policy wording to see if your insurer will pay to re-pave the driveway once the ground underneath is stabilized. * * * Summary Comparison Property Feature| Covered by Government (NHC)?| Covered by Private Insurance?| Key Limitations ---|---|---|--- **Retaining Wall**| **Yes**| No _(unless you bought an optional extension)_| Capped at **$50,000 + GST** total; must protect the home/accessway. **Driveway Base (Land)**| **Yes**| **No**| Only covered up to **60 metres** from the dwelling. **Driveway Surface**| **No**| **Often Yes** _(check your specific policy wording)_| Excluded by NHC; private insurers usually limit this to the main access path. To check your exact standing, look at your private insurance policy schedule to find your **Sum Insured** details and see if you have any listed "retaining wall extensions." If you'd like to look closer into your specific risk, let me know: * Roughly **how long** your driveway is (more or less than 60 metres)? * Who your **current private insurance provider** is? * If you know whether your retaining wall is explicitly **noted on your policy certificate**? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: b1ae9032-ec8b-4170-ab1a-674da9a0a215 In _New Zealand_ , damage from a landslip (caused by a natural disaster like a storm, heavy rain, or an earthquake) is handled through a combination of the government-backed **Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHC)** —formerly known as EQC—and your **private house insurance**. However, coverage for a retaining wall and a long driveway depends heavily on **location, distance from the house, and what specifically is damaged**. 1\. The Retaining Wall Your retaining wall may be covered by the NHC's Natural Hazards Cover, but only if it meets specific structural and locational criteria: * * **Location matters:** It must be within specific boundaries—either supporting your home/outbuildings, within 8 metres of the house/outbuildings, or supporting your main accessway (driveway) within 60 metres of the home. [Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake] * **What is protected:** If it meets the distance criteria and is damaged by a landslip, the NHC covers certain retaining walls up to a specific land-cover limit. [Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake] * **Exclusions:** Retaining walls outside those specific distance zones (e.g., far down a boundary line away from the house or accessway) are generally not covered. [Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake] * 2\. The Long Driveway A "long driveway" introduces distance limits, and the distinction between the _ground/support_ versus the _surface_ is crucial: * * **The Land/Sub-base:** The NHC covers the actual land or ground that supports your main accessway (driveway), but only up to **60 metres** from your home. If the landslip washes out the earth underneath the driveway within that 60-metre zone, the structural land damage can fall under NHC cover. [Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake] * **The Driveway Surfacing:** The NHC **does not** cover artificial driveway surfaces (such as concrete, asphalt, chipseal, paving, or gravel). * **Private Insurance Role:** While the government scheme generally excludes driveway surfaces, many **private house insurers** extend coverage to driveways, paths, and hardscaping under their own policy terms. You need to check your specific private policy wording to see if driveway surfacing is included. * Summary of How a Claim Works 1. **First Layer (NHC):** If the landslip affects the land supporting the driveway (within 60m) or an eligible retaining wall, the **Natural Hazards Commission** evaluates and contributes to the land/structure repair up to its statutory caps. 2. **Second Layer (Private Insurer):** Your **private insurance company** handles damage to parts excluded by the government scheme (such as the actual driveway seal, concrete, or paving) if your policy includes those benefits, and they also manage any overall house claim if the landslip threatens the dwelling itself. If you want to check your specific exposure, let me know: * Roughly **how far** the driveway and retaining wall are from your house. * What **surface material** your driveway is made of (concrete, asphalt, gravel, etc.). I can help you look out for what details to verify in your **specific insurance policy wording**.