Prior Claim, I was Joinery site manager for the Totara Haumara Project (North Shore Hospital) later half of 2024. Then moved the caravan onto a contract for Rotorua museum planning and oversight, removal of Heritage Joinery ready for strengthening works early 2025.
During my time at the museum the Left ankle required surgery late Feb 2025, followed by urgent ankle fusion surgery Mid June 2025 Talonavicular & Subtalor fusion. I moved the caravan to a campsite by the lake in Ngongotaha, flat, good amenities etc. What I did not predict was a lack of wind protection and the damage this can cause.


Initial claim filing, filling out the online claim form it seems a paragraph detailing the caravan flooded initially due to the ceiling hatch breaking in high winds and rain (Hurricane Tam) was missed out on the online form. I followed up and confirmed this by email on the 4 July. Bedroom flooding has been noted continuously throughout the claims (complaints) process. This has not been noted in the IAG reply 16th October. Reading iAG’s summary for this claim, the months of emails, photo’s and generally getting messed about has been a total waste of time.


Key points to note are :


1 -The bedroom area sustained severe flooding from Wind/Rain damage due to the bedroom skylight Braking. I closed the skylight and locked in place. Rain water was still penetrating the skylight (dripping) during the persistent bad weather around the 20 April period. Once the weather improved, I was able to inspect the skylight, seal with tape and file this insurance claim.

Approximately 1 week later the kitchen area floor started to soften in front of the hob area. I reported this along with filing insurance claim for Skylight and ceiling damage. But could not confirm a direct link to the bedroom flood at the time. Please note: The floor was in perfect solid condition before the flood. I was unable to inspect the cause due to the aforementioned ankle problems.

I was confident with the insurance in place Covi would sort any issues and I would have everything ready for my upcoming surgery in 3 weeks. Didn’t happen! The nightmare begins!

A never ending stream of emails, mostly with a 2week reply rate and turns out to have been completely ignored.

Reason for claim rejection is lack of connection between the Bedroom area where flooded and the kitchen area where I initially noticed floor softening.
There is clear evidence this is from the initial flooding caused by the ceiling hatch damage during Hurricane Tam as original claim (Attached Photos 1 to 8 show Bedroom and shower area latest under shower). Clearly show water damage is from skylight event and the external floor timbers show No sign if water entry from any other means ie Plumbing, External leaks etc.

This connection is proven. Water has penetrated the Bedroom floor while also flowing through to rear of wheel arch (shower side). Tracking around and into the flooring polystyrene central membrane. Once water enters this space it cannot escape due to the GRP waterproof membrane making up the base layer of flooring. The Bailey floor construction is manufactured using a vacuum bag technique. Each layer is bonded using water soluble glue, layered together onto a flat surface with a vacuum air tight bag placed over the entire structure, this is then under vacuum pressure as well a weighted down or pressed.
Forming a light weight, high strength structure for the caravan to be built on. I understand in many other claims water has entered into this flooring system via cracks, damaged seals etc and according to Ace Caravans (who are also Covi Insurance Brokers according to the Acecaravans.co.nz website). The inspector went to great lengths looking for external signs of water ingress and found nothing. As did I and provided photos of the wheel arch under the shower/kitchen area external to be in perfect order.

I made every effort to clean up the original flood water using a Wet Vac and towels, 2 x dehumidifiers and oil heater. Unfortunately I did not realise water had seeped under the vinyl (along the wall join) and pooled at the wheel arch under shower. This was not visible until 23rd October after cutting out rear of shower area image Number 6 provided.

Without question - Water from the original broken hatch insured incident pooled behind the wheel arch inside the caravan entering the floor cavity and also tracking between the vinyl and ply layer causing the initial stains and black mould only where the heat sources (dehumidifiers, oil filled radiator) were placed. Images 20,21 & 22.

The floor is constructed in a way that it breathes when walked on pushing air out as it compresses and in this case drawing in water pooled from around the wheel arch when expanding to original position (Gravity also played its part as the caravan was set up Front end high (100mm) to ensure effective water run off on the outside).
The polystyrene centre used in this particular Bailey flooring system is formed in a way the it has open channels between the balls of polystyrene allowing water to move around (Images 17 & 18). The flooring system also has a timber frame providing structure. It important to note these timbers have absolutely no treatments to inhibit water penetration or mould unlike housing - NZ building regulations (NZBC B2 Durability, via NZS 3602) require treated timber (H1.2 min.) for house framing against borers/decay. Caravans, as vehicles, are exempt from building consents and timber treatment rules—unlike fixed houses. The IFSO case 00208109 has no relevance.

This did however slow the progression of water to the rear of caravan as demonstrated image (11) taken 5th June and image (12-15) taken 23rd August. Image (16) shows I have removed the top layer of ply to release this trapped water. Having lived in this caravan full time, absolutely No other water has entered the caravan at any time other than the broken ceiling hatch.



2, Black Mould and Rot (Soft Ply) Covi state this takes years to form and can’t possibly be connected to the broken hatch/storm incident.

Evidence for Rapid Delamination/Rot:
Lightweight plywood used in the Bailey Capricorn Rangefinder. Absorbs water quickly, softening water based glue bonds immediately and starting delamination. Heat (from dehumidifiers/oil heater, ~30-40°C) accelerates this: vaporizes trapped moisture to steam, degrading bonds faster; fungal growth thrives, causing rot in weeks-months, not years. In polystyrene/GRP sandwich floors, uneven drying traps water between layers, hastening separation in humid/ heated conditions.
http://www.pcmarinesurveys.com
https://www.keystoneforums.com/threads/delamination-and-temperature-extremes.595516/
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f55/bad-news-wet-balsa-core-191207-4.html
http://www.caravanrepair.com/floordelamination.html