Will My Home Insurance Cover Tree Removal in NZ?

Tree falls onto a structure - most home insurance policies cover the cost of removing a tree that has fallen onto and damaged an insured structure (your house, garage, fence) due to a storm or sudden unexpected event. The key word is 'damaged' - if the tree falls but misses your house, many policies won't pay for removal.

Storm damage - sudden storm events are generally covered by most NZ home insurance policies. If a tree comes down during a storm and causes damage, call your insurer first to confirm you're covered before arranging removal.

Dead or diseased trees - most insurers won't cover removal of a dead, diseased or leaning tree unless it has actually fallen and caused damage. Planned removal of a hazardous tree is typically considered maintenance, not an insurance claim.

Gradual damage - insurance policies generally exclude gradual damage. If roots have slowly damaged your drainage or foundations over time, that's unlikely to be covered.

Neighbour's tree - if a neighbour's tree falls on your property and damages a structure, your insurer typically covers the damage to your property. The question of liability for the neighbour depends on whether they were negligent (e.g., warned about a dead tree and didn't act).

We can provide written arborist assessments for insurance claims - a professional report from a qualified arborist documenting the cause of failure, tree condition, and circumstances of the event. This can support your claim.

If you're unsure about your cover, call your insurer before booking the removal - they may want to inspect before work starts, and removing the tree without sign-off can sometimes complicate the claim.