A warning more insurance companies could follow AA Insurance, which has paused signing up new new policies in the West Coast's Westport.

Buller District Council says the insurer has confirmed it’s temporarily halting new property policies because of the high flood-risk.

Existing policyholders can renew as usual.

Victoria University Emeritus Professor Jonathan Boston says he can almost guarantee it won't be a one-off.

"We are in a period of climate-intensified risk, those risks are going to grow - sea level rise will intensify flood risk for many communities."

LISTEN ABOVE