Advisory Committee

The New Zealand Claims Resolution Service (NZCRS) Advisory Committee advises on matters crucial to the resolution of outstanding claims. It has oversight of NZCRS services’ performance, monitors progress against service objectives and can recommend service improvements.

The Advisory Committee has an advisory role. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is responsible for the overall governance of the NZCRS, reporting to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference for the NZCRS Advisory Committee

Members of the Advisory Committee

  • Chair – a senior MBIE representative
  • A senior Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake representative
  • A legal representative nominated by the NZ Law Society
  • The Chair of the Engineering Advisory Group
  • A consumer representative from Consumer NZ

Latest meeting minutes - 22 August 2025

Present

  • Stephanie Greathead (Chair)
  • Casey Hurren (Chief Executive, Southern Response)
  • Tania Williams (General Manager – Member Services, Engineering New Zealand)
  • Rebecca Styles (Consumer NZ)
  • Tina Mitchell (Chief Executive, NHC Toka Tū Ake)
  • Hamish Wall (NHC Toka Tū Ake)
  • Sean Fullen (ICNZs Response and Recovery Leader)

In attendance

  • Gemma Wiig (Acting Head of Accommodation & Insurance Response (AIR))
  • Edward Butler (Solicitor, MBIE)
  • Nik Behrens (Strategic Lead Insurance)
  • Fiona Paton (Operations Manager Insurance)
  • Hayley Stone (PA/Team Administrator AIR)
  • John Hardie (IDRS Advisor)

Apologies

  • Ingrid Bayliss
  • Kris Faafoi (Chief Executive, ICNZ)
  • Emily Walton (Barrister)
  • Kirsty Hamilton (Principal Advisor Accommodation and Insurance Response)

Meeting Administration

Conflicts of Interest

  1. No conflicts of interest were declared. 

Actions

  1. Actions from the previous meeting were reviewed and minutes taken as read.

Items

NZCRS Operational

NZCRS Quarterly Report
  1. The Acting Head of AIR presented the NZCRS Quarter Two 2025 Report, which had been circulated prior to the meeting. 
  2. Registrations related to the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence were highlighted with the committee noting numbers remain stable, with 77% of the current portfolio relating to this event.
  3. 217 cases were closed during the quarter, resulting in 547 open cases as at the end of June 2025, compared to 912 open cases at the same time last year.
  4. Of the closed cases, 42% accessed other NZCRS support services, in addition to case management. 
Internal Dispute Resolution Service Update
  1. An update was provided on current IDRS cases.

Industry Updates

Homeowner Representatives

  1. Discussion was held in relation to flooding claims, with one being referred to NZCRS from Consumer NZ.

Engineering Representative

  1. An update on Engineering NZ referrals was provided, 11 cases are currently active; 21 have been completed referrals.
  2. The committee was encouraged to review the Emergency Management Bill – New Zealand’s overarching emergency management legislation.

Review of Agenda

General Business

  1. Finalised Terms of Reference are to be circulated prior to the next meeting following receipt of feedback.
  2. The committee discussed inviting other stakeholders relevant to the industry to present at future meetings, including NEMA, MBIE’s Building Emergency Management

Meeting closed: 10:42am