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.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: tripadvisor.com
  

The policy is with Ansvar and expires on November 30.

Christchurch diocesan financial administrator Paddy Beban says the diocese was shopping around to see what insurance company and what policy it would go with as of December 1.

"My gut feeling is there might be some (earthquake cover) available, but how affordable that is is something that one has to weigh up, and the signals are that it will be a significant amount of money," Beban said.

Earthquake cover could prove expensive not only in terms of the premium, but the excesses could also be large.

"We will have cover in place for the first of December for risks excluding earthquakes, and if earthquake cover was deemed to be affordable we would consider taking it," he said.

He expected premiums to increase regardless.

The Ashburton Guardian reports that the $6.5 million dollar Holy Name Church in Ashburton and its accompanying presbytery, churches at Rakaia, Methven and Tinwald, and the district's two Catholic schools of St Joseph's in Ashburton and Our Lady of the Snows in Methven, are already without earthquake cover under the diocese's current policy.

Earlier this year Beban said the lack of earthquake cover for the two schools meant the church was technically in breach of its integration agreement with the state, to maintain standards as a proprietor and have the buildings fully insured.

Source

• The Ashburton Guardian
• Image: Historic Places Trust

U.S. District Judge John Kane in Denver temporarily blocked the government from the enforcing the birth control mandate against the owners of a firm manufacturing heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment.

The ruling only affects this plaintiff but opens the door for any company to seek relief on religious grounds.

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