Personal Insurance
Not all insurers are the same — but it's really hard to tell that from the outside. We use our deep knowledge of the market to help you understand all your options and choose the best cover for your lifestyle, budget, and goals.
The NZ context
New Zealand's ACC scheme is world-class — but it only covers injuries caused by accidents. The leading causes of serious illness and long-term absence are not covered at all.
ACC provides no cover for:
New Zealand also has public healthcare — but long specialist waiting lists are a reality. Private medical cover means faster access to treatment, which often translates to faster recovery and less time out of work.
What private insurance covers that ACC doesn't
Income replacement when you can't work
Monthly payments replacing up to 75% of income — covering illness and accident
Lump sum on serious diagnosis
Trauma cover pays on diagnosis of cancer, heart attack, stroke, and 40+ other conditions
Fast access to specialist care
Medical cover bypasses public waiting lists for specialists, surgery, and diagnostics
Financial protection for your family
Life cover ensures your family can pay off the mortgage and cover living costs
The New Zealand reality
New Zealand sits near the bottom of the OECD for insurance coverage — even as the risk of serious illness remains high. These are the statistics that drive our advice every day.
1 in 3
New Zealanders will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
Source: Cancer Society NZ
10,000
New Zealanders die from heart disease every year — our #1 killer
Source: Heart Foundation NZ
Only 22%
of NZ adults have trauma or critical illness cover
Source: Financial Services Council NZ, 2024
1 in 3
Kiwis have less than $500 in savings — no buffer if they can't work
Source: Westpac NZ, 2024
Only 41%
of NZ adults hold any life insurance at all
Source: Financial Services Council NZ, 2024
Only 20%
of NZ adults have income protection insurance
Source: Financial Services Council NZ, 2024
OECD
New Zealand is one of the most underinsured nations in the developed world
Source: Financial Services Council NZ
Cover options
We've been there. We know the impact that not having the right insurance can have — and we want to ensure every family gets the cover they need.
Lump sum on death or terminal illness
Pays a tax-free lump sum to your beneficiaries on death, or to you if diagnosed with a terminal illness (generally a 12-month prognosis). The payment can be used however your family needs — mortgage payoff, living costs, education, or simply giving them time to grieve without financial pressure.
Pay off the mortgage
So your family keeps the home
Replace lost income
Cover living costs for years to come
Fund children's education
Without a drastic change in plans
Terminal illness advance
Paid while you're still alive to plan
Monthly payments when you can't work
Your biggest asset is your ability to earn an income. Income protection pays a monthly benefit — typically 75% of your pre-disability income — if illness or injury stops you working. It covers both accidents and illnesses, with payments continuing until you return to work or reach the benefit period end.
Key decisions when structuring cover
Waiting period
4, 8, 13, or 26 weeks before payments begin. Longer wait = lower premiums. Match to your emergency fund.
Benefit period
2 years, 5 years, or to age 65. Longer periods cost more but provide full protection against long-term disability.
Own occupation
Pays if you can't do your job — not just any job. Critical for professionals and tradespeople.
Inflation protection
CPI-linked increases ensure your benefit keeps pace with the cost of living over time.
Lump sum on serious illness diagnosis
Pays a lump sum on diagnosis of a serious medical condition — cancer, heart attack, stroke, and typically 40+ other covered conditions. Unlike income protection, it's a one-off payment you control. Use it however you need: clearing debt, modifying your home, covering treatment costs, or simply creating space to recover.
Common ways clients use trauma cover:
Pay off mortgage debt while on treatment
Fund overseas treatment or trials
Home modifications after serious illness
Give a partner/caregiver time off work
Non-PHARMAC-funded medications
Peace of mind — spend it how you choose
A lump-sum payment if you become permanently unable to work due to illness or injury. Designed to help you restructure your life — repaying debt, modifying your home, and funding ongoing care — without depleting savings or relying on family. Often bundled with Life cover.
Look for policies that define TPD as being unable to work in your own occupation, not just "any occupation" — the difference is significant for professionals.
Ensures your mortgage repayments are covered if you're unable to work due to illness or injury. Pays at the same frequency as your loan — weekly, fortnightly, or monthly — covering 100% of your repayment. Works alongside income protection, or as a standalone option for homeowners on tighter budgets.
Gives you fast access to private specialist consultations, diagnostics, surgery, and non-PHARMAC-funded medications — bypassing public hospital waiting lists. For most families, this is about catching problems early and treating them effectively before they become life-altering.
Excess options (e.g. $500–$2,500 per year) significantly reduce premiums while retaining cover for the serious, expensive events that matter most.
Guidance
The right combination depends on your income, debts, dependants, and life stage. Here are the scenarios we work through most often.
New homeowner with a mortgage
Priority: Life cover to clear the mortgage + Income Protection to keep repayments going if you can't work. Trauma cover becomes important as the mortgage grows.
Young family with children
Priority: Higher Life cover to fund years of income replacement + Trauma cover for either parent + Medical cover for fast access to diagnostics and specialist care for the whole family.
Self-employed or business owner
Priority: Income Protection structured for business owners (ACC covers accidents but not illness) + Trauma cover (no sick leave fallback) + consider business-specific structures. See our Business Insurance page.
High income, paying down debt fast
Priority: Income Protection with a longer waiting period to keep premiums down + Trauma cover to protect momentum + review Life cover levels as debt reduces.
Approaching retirement
Priority: Trauma cover remains valuable (cancer risk rises with age) + Medical cover to maintain quality of care + review Life cover — may need less as debt clears and dependants become independent.
Not sure where to start?
We'll review your whole picture — income, debts, family, and goals — and build a cover structure that makes sense. Free, no obligation. Book a chat →
Our approach
We put serious effort into understanding the differences between insurance policies and insurers. The cover we organise for clients is personalised, right for them, and the best on offer — considered alongside their income and debt so everything works in harmony.
And because we get paid by the insurers, you won't pay more to go through us. Often, we're able to negotiate better terms than you'd find going direct. We also work with multiple providers — including Partners Life, AIA, Fidelity Life, Chubb, Asteron, and nib — so we're genuinely comparing the market for you.
