Church insurance scrapped – people more important than buidings

Administrative director of the Archdiocese of Wellington, Dave Mullin, says “We are not here to have big flash buildings and pay insurance premiums … we are here to help those in need.”

Mullin said earthquake premiums had more than doubled since the Canterbury quakes, despite insurers offering less cover.

Faced with rocketing insurance premiums, the archdiocese is proposing to scrap natural disaster cover for most of its churches.

Under the proposal, 43 churches and about 60 community halls between Levin and Westport would be financially unprotected if hit by an earthquake or tsunami.

Major buildings, including Sacred Heart Cathedral and St Mary of the Angels church in Wellington, would retain some quake cover, he said.

But other smaller churches, including the centres of many suburban parishes in the Hutt Valley and Wellington, would not be covered.

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