Less than half the families of people killed in the Christchurch earthquake have received life insurance payments.
The Investment, Savings and Insurance Association says insurers have paid out about $16.5 million in life insurance to the families of 84 of the earthquake's 181 victims.
The Accident Compensation Corporation has contributed another $1.1 million.
Chief executive Peter Neilson says some of the victims were not covered because they were from overseas or were too young or old.
He says many more were under-insured or had no life insurance policies.
