Earthquake Commission v Insurance Council of New Zealand Inc - [2015] 2 NZLR 381

Administrative law — Judicial review — Whether enforcement of statutory obligation only possible through judicial review — Whether statutory obligation enforceable by ordinary action — Whether obligation of definite nature — Whether ordinary law rights dominant — Effect of factual dispute.

Administrative law — Remedies — Whether anticipatory relief available — Whether settlement by payment available — Whether policy lawful — Whether payments already made under policy lawful — Earthquake Commission Act 1993, s 29 and sch 3, cl 9.

Insurance — Government earthquake insurance — Canterbury Earthquakes — Whether increased flooding vulnerability natural disaster damage to residential land — Whether natural disaster damage to residential buildings increased flooding vulnerability — Whether increased liquefaction vulnerability natural disaster damage — Whether making a payment an authorised option for settling claims — “Natural disaster” — “Damage” — Earthquake Commission Act 1993, ss 2, 18, 19, 20 and 29 and sch 3, cl 9.

Practice and procedure — Declarations — Whether jurisdiction to confirm legal state before act done — Whether evidential foundation to provide relief — Whether public law proceeding — Whether statutory entitlement — Declaratory Judgments Act 1908, s 3.