With the highest number of claims ever completed this quarter, the Insurance Council believes it'll settle all Canterbury earthquake claims on target.

There's been a 40% increase in settlements, with 66% of residential claims now sorted.

Insurance Council figures show 1500 claims were dealt with in the past three months.

Chief executive Tim Grafton said the target is still next year

"There will be some that will creep in to 2017, there are people that are in legal disputes, but we're talking a vast majority, well into 90%, all completed by 2016."

Mr Grafton said the reason is many have decided to cash settle.

"That will have made a difference to increasing the pace of settlement."

"This enables them to move ahead without having to wait in their insurance managed repair or rebuild queue."