New Zealand weather events prompt rethink of government housing protections

FILE PHOTO: New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attends a press conference with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese(not pictured) at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, August 16, 2024. REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy/File Photo

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -The New Zealand government is considering ending bailouts for homeowners affected by floods and landslides as it develops a framework for addressing the impact of climate change.

The government has often stepped in after natural disasters to buy properties, spending billions of dollars in recent years as climate change-driven severe weather events increase in intensity and frequency.