Tornadoes in NZ
NIWA advises that there are around 7-10 moderate to strong tornado events reported in New Zealand each year.
Injuries and fatalities associated with tornadoes are more prevalent than perhaps we realise.
In a work setting, these injuries and fatalities will result in automatic penalties on the employer ACC levies by way of Experience Rating. Note that a fatality will increase your levies by 30% over two years regardless of whether you, the employer, are to blame.
The ACC impact from injuries is dependent on whether the claim costs more than $500 in medical costs and / or whether there is any time lost due to ACC weekly compensation i.e. the worker has more than 7 days off.
Why do we share this?
In 2012 there was a tornado that sadly claimed the lives of three people on a construction site in Hobsonville, Auckland. In 2013 we challenged ACC and the then ACC Minister Judith Collins, that this (or any) tornado should be classified as an Adverse Event – an act of God if you like which should not impact your ACC levies.
In 2014, via the Government Gazette, the Minister agreed and subsequently the employers impacted in 2012 did not pay any penalties. Fair and equitably result.
Frustratingly, the legislation states that only the ACC Minister can make the decision on an adverse event. Unless the Minister is directly asked, which is not something ACC does, the decision never gets made.
We still have an outstanding request with ACC and the Minister regarding the 19 June 2021 tornado that took the life of a worker in South Auckland. We are still waiting. Minister Henare, perhaps you can give us an update?
Tornadoes in NZ over the last 20 years.
Waitara 2004: 2 fatalities, 2 injured
New Plymouth (7 tornadoes) 2007: 0 fatalities
Auckland 2011: 1 fatality, 14 injuries
New Plymouth 2011: 0 fatalities
Auckland 2012: 3 fatalities, 7 injuries
Hamilton 2013: 0 fatalities, ? injuries
Auckland 2021: 1 fatality, 2 injuries
Waihi (2 tornadoes) 2023: TBC