Question 1

What insurance does a transport business need in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Most transport businesses consider some combination of commercial vehicle or fleet insurance, carriers liability (for customer goods you carry), marine cargo (for any goods you own in transit), public liability, material damage and loss of use. The right mix depends on contracts, fleet size, cargo and operating model.

Question 2

What is the difference between carriers liability and marine cargo?

Accepted Answer

Carriers liability responds when you are moving goods owned by someone else – which is how most NZ transport operators work. Marine cargo responds when the business owns the goods being moved. They are different policies and it is important the right one is in place for the way you actually operate.

Question 3

Does commercial vehicle insurance cover the goods I carry?

Accepted Answer

Generally no. The vehicle policy covers the truck itself; the goods on board sit with a carriers liability or marine cargo policy depending on who owns them.

Question 4

How does my contract with customers affect the cover I need?

Accepted Answer

Under the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017, contracts of carriage in NZ default to Limited Carrier's Risk – capped at $2,000 per unit of goods – unless the contract is written as Declared Value Risk, Declared Terms or Owner's Risk. The type of contract you sign directly shapes the carriers liability policy that should be recommended.

Question 5

How can I tell if my business is underinsured?

Accepted Answer

Common signals include sums insured that have not been reviewed in 12+ months, fleet additions that are not reflected in the schedule, or contracts that require higher liability limits than your current policy.

Question 6

Can Marble review my existing transport insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review your current policies, your contracts and your operations to help identify where cover may no longer match the business.

Question 7

Why do transport operators need management liability cover?

Accepted Answer

Running a transport business creates exposures that sit outside vehicle and liability policies – directors' decisions, statutory and regulatory breaches, employment disputes, and employee dishonesty. Management liability is an umbrella programme that bundles these governance and people risks alongside the fleet.

Question 8

What happens if one of our drivers is prosecuted after a crash?

Accepted Answer

Prosecution legal expenses cover funds legal representation and expert evidence when a driver or the business faces criminal prosecution or enforcement action – for example a charge of careless driving causing injury under s38 of the Land Transport Act – and can respond even where the charge is ultimately defended.

Question 9

What affects the cost of transport business insurance?

Accepted Answer

Fleet size and value, claims history, driver profile, cargo, geography, security measures and contractual liability requirements all influence pricing.

Question 10

What insurance does a construction business need in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Most construction businesses consider contract works, public liability, plant and equipment, tools, commercial vehicles, statutory liability, employers liability and management liability, cyber, and business interruption. The right mix depends on the type and scale of projects.

Question 11

What is contract works insurance?

Accepted Answer

Contract works insurance is designed to cover the works under construction against insured events such as fire, weather and accidental damage, typically including materials on site.

Question 12

Do subcontractors need their own public liability insurance?

Accepted Answer

Most main contractors and principals require subcontractors to carry their own public liability cover. The required limits and warranties should be checked carefully.

Question 13

Can Marble review my existing construction insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review your current policies and project requirements to help identify gaps or overlaps.

Question 14

What affects the cost of construction business insurance?

Accepted Answer

Project type, contract value, claims history, subcontractor use, plant value and the standard of health and safety practices all influence pricing.

Question 15

What insurance does a tradie need in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Most trades businesses consider public liability, tools of trade, commercial vehicle and some form of income protection. Many also add material damage and business interruption depending on the setup.

Question 16

How much public liability insurance do tradies need?

Accepted Answer

It is not uncommon for residential jobs to require $2–$5 million, while commercial jobs commonly require $5, $10 and $20 million. The right limit depends on the work and contractual requirements.

Question 17

Are my tools covered if they are stolen from my van overnight?

Accepted Answer

This is what every tradie dreads happening to them. With Marble and the insurers we recommend, this is definitely covered — though terms and limits apply, so it is worth checking the details with your adviser.

Question 18

Can Marble review my existing tradie insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review your current policies and how you actually operate to help identify gaps or savings.

Question 19

What affects the cost of trades insurance?

Accepted Answer

Trade type, turnover, claims history, tool value, vehicle profile and the type of work undertaken all influence pricing.

Question 20

What insurance does a property owner need in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Most property owners consider material damage, loss of rent, public liability and, where relevant, landlord-specific cover. Natural disaster sub-limits and excesses are particularly important to review.

Question 21

How often should I review my property sum insured?

Accepted Answer

At least annually, and any time there are material changes to the building, tenancy or local rebuild costs. Build cost inflation has been significant in recent years.

Question 22

Does my landlord insurance cover tenant damage?

Accepted Answer

Some policies include limited tenant damage cover and some do not. The wording and excesses vary, so it is worth checking rather than assuming.

Question 23

Can Marble review my property insurance portfolio?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review the schedule, rebuild assumptions and lease arrangements across multiple properties.

Question 24

What affects the cost of property owners insurance?

Accepted Answer

Building type, location, age, rebuild value, tenancy mix, claims history and natural disaster exposure all influence pricing.

Question 25

What insurance does a hospitality business need in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Most cafes, restaurants, bars and venues consider material damage, business interruption, equipment breakdown, public liability and statutory or employer liability. The right mix depends on venue type, lease terms and trading model.

Question 26

How long should my business interruption indemnity period be?

Accepted Answer

Many hospitality operators benefit from indemnity periods of 12–36 months, given how long it can take to refit, reopen and rebuild trade. The right answer depends on the venue and lease.

Question 27

Does my insurance cover stock that spoils after a fridge breakdown?

Accepted Answer

Some policies include this under equipment breakdown or specified deterioration of stock cover, but conditions vary. It is worth checking the wording.

Question 28

Can Marble review my hospitality insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review your current policies, lease and trading pattern to help identify gaps or improvements.

Question 29

What affects the cost of hospitality insurance?

Accepted Answer

Venue type, location, fit-out value, trading hours, alcohol service, claims history and lease obligations all influence pricing.

Question 30

Does management liability matter for a hospitality business?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Management liability protects the company and its directors against the risks of actually running the business. For a cafe, restaurant, bar or venue this typically bundles Directors & Officers, Fidelity / Crime, Employment Disputes, Statutory Liability, Employers Liability, Consequential Loss, Prosecution Legal Expenses and Internet Liability. Employment Disputes is one of the most active areas in hospitality – for example, an employee raising a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal during a restructure where defence costs and settlement reached around $50,000, or a grievance that went to the Employment Relations Authority with defence costs of roughly $36,000. Fidelity / Crime responds to employee theft – such as a staff member ordering stock through company accounts and on-selling it, with losses around $18,000. Prosecution Legal Expenses can respond when a staff member is charged after a workplace or driving incident, and Consequential Loss can pick up lost gross profit when a WorkSafe prohibition notice stops trading after an employee injury.

Question 31

What insurance does a retail business need in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Most retailers consider material damage including stock, business interruption, public and products liability, money and increasingly cyber cover. The right mix depends on the channel mix and stock profile.

Question 32

How is stock insured at peak season?

Accepted Answer

Many policies allow for seasonal increases in stock sums insured. It is worth confirming the limits and any conditions before peak.

Question 33

Do online retailers need different insurance to a shopfront?

Accepted Answer

Some risks overlap, but online retailers typically need more focus on cyber, product liability and warehousing, and less on shopfront-specific cover.

Question 34

Can Marble review my retail insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review your current policies, channel mix and stock profile to help identify gaps.

Question 35

What affects the cost of retail insurance?

Accepted Answer

Stock value, location, claims history, security, online exposure and product type all influence pricing.

Question 36

What insurance does a professional services business need in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Most professional services firms consider professional indemnity, public liability, cyber and management liability, plus material damage and business interruption for the office. The right mix depends on the work and contracts.

Question 37

What does professional indemnity insurance cover?

Accepted Answer

Professional indemnity is designed to respond to certain allegations of negligent advice, error or omission in the services provided. The exact scope depends on policy wording.

Question 38

Do small consultants really need cyber insurance?

Accepted Answer

Cyber incidents affect businesses of all sizes, often through email compromise, ransomware or supplier breaches. Many small firms find the exposure is more material than expected.

Question 39

Can Marble review my professional indemnity wording?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review your current cover against the work you actually do and the contracts you sign.

Question 40

What affects the cost of professional services insurance?

Accepted Answer

Service type, fee income, claims history, client profile and contractual liability all influence pricing.

Question 41

What insurance does a manufacturing business need in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Most manufacturers consider material damage including stock, machinery breakdown, business interruption, public and products liability, statutory and employer liability, and where relevant marine or transit cover.

Question 42

What is machinery breakdown insurance?

Accepted Answer

Machinery breakdown is designed to respond to certain sudden and unforeseen breakdowns of key equipment, often paired with business interruption cover.

Question 43

Do exporters need different product liability cover?

Accepted Answer

Often yes. Product liability cover for exports – particularly to certain markets – frequently needs to be reviewed and structured separately.

Question 44

Can Marble review my manufacturing insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review your current policies, production process and customer base to help identify gaps.

Question 45

What affects the cost of manufacturing insurance?

Accepted Answer

Plant value, stock value, products, markets, claims history and health and safety practices all influence pricing.

Question 46

What insurance does a marine business need in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Most marine businesses consider vessel insurance, marine liability, marine trades or ship repairer cover where relevant, transit cover and tools of trade. The right mix depends on the operation.

Question 47

Is marine insurance different to general business insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Marine risks are typically handled by specialist markets with specific wordings, conditions and warranties.

Question 48

Do I need separate cover when my vessel is in transit by road?

Accepted Answer

Often yes. Transit cover is generally separate from vessel cover and should match the way the vessel is moved.

Question 49

Can Marble review my marine insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review your current policies and the operation to help identify gaps.

Question 50

What affects the cost of marine insurance?

Accepted Answer

Vessel type and value, use, claims history, area of operation and crew experience all influence pricing.

Question 51

Do small New Zealand businesses really need cyber insurance?

Accepted Answer

Cyber incidents affect businesses of every size, and small businesses are frequently the easiest targets. Many find the exposure is more material than expected.

Question 52

What does cyber insurance typically cover?

Accepted Answer

Cyber cover often includes incident response support, business interruption from cyber events, notification costs and certain third-party liability. Wording varies between insurers.

Question 53

Is invoice redirection covered by cyber insurance?

Accepted Answer

Some policies include cover for social engineering and invoice redirection, often with specific sub-limits and conditions. It is worth checking the wording.

Question 54

Can Marble review my cyber insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review your current cover against the way the business actually operates.

Question 55

What affects the cost of cyber insurance?

Accepted Answer

Industry, revenue, data held, security controls, claims history and limits selected all influence pricing.

Question 56

How is house insurance calculated in New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

Most house policies use a sum insured model. The homeowner nominates the rebuild figure (often informed by a calculator or valuation), and the policy responds up to that limit. Keeping the sum insured current is the homeowner's responsibility.

Question 57

Does house insurance cover earthquake damage?

Accepted Answer

Natural disaster cover, including earthquake, is generally covered alongside the NHC (previously known as EQC) layer. The way NHC and the private policy interact – and any sub-limits – is worth reviewing.

Question 58

What happens if I am underinsured at claim time?

Accepted Answer

If the rebuild cost exceeds the sum insured, the shortfall typically falls back on the homeowner. That is why reviewing the rebuild figure each year matters more than the premium difference. While sum insured is the norm, some insurers offer SQM replacement in the event of a fire, and others offer full replacement for non-natural disasters (or 10% for natural disasters) if a Cordell calculator assessment has been completed. Because these options vary by insurer and change over time, the only way to know what is genuinely open to you is to talk to a Marble broker.

Question 59

Can Marble review my existing house insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Marble adviser can review your current policy, sum insured and any unique aspects of the property to help identify gaps or areas to revisit.

Question 60

What affects the cost of house insurance?

Accepted Answer

Location, construction, claims history, sum insured, excesses, natural disaster exposure and any optional add-ons all influence pricing.

Question 61

What is NHI and how does it relate to my house insurance?

Accepted Answer

Natural Hazards Insurance (NHI) is the government-backed cover for natural disaster damage to residential buildings and the land they sit on. It is administered by the Natural Hazards Commission – NHC (previously known as EQC) – and is automatically included whenever you take out private house insurance that includes fire cover. Your private insurer collects the NHI levy on behalf of NHC and passes it on, so the two layers sit together on the same policy. NHI responds first up to its statutory cap, and your private house insurance sits over the top for damage above that cap.

Question 62

What does NHI actually cover?

Accepted Answer

NHI covers physical loss or damage to insured residential buildings caused by earthquake, natural landslip, volcanic activity, hydrothermal activity, tsunami, and – in the case of residential land – storm and flood. The current building cap is $300,000 (plus GST). Anything above the cap, and most damage to contents, sits with your private insurer. Land cover is provided separately under NHI within defined limits. Reviewing how the NHC layer and your private policy interact is one of the more useful conversations to have with a broker.

Question 63

How is the NHI levy calculated?

Accepted Answer

The NHI levy is a percentage of your building sum insured, capped at the NHI building cap. It is shown as a separate line item on your house insurance schedule and is collected by your insurer on behalf of NHC. The levy is set by regulation and changes from time to time, so it is worth checking what is currently being charged at each renewal.

Question 64

What is the Fire Service Levy (FSL) on my policy?

Accepted Answer

The Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) levy – often still referred to as the Fire Service Levy or FSL – is a statutory charge collected through most property insurance policies. It funds Fire and Emergency New Zealand, which provides fire, rescue and emergency response services nationwide. The levy applies to residential buildings, contents and most commercial property cover, and is calculated based on the amount insured against fire.

Frequently asked questions.

Business insurance FAQs

Transport insurance

Construction insurance

Trades insurance

Property Owners insurance

Hospitality insurance

Retail insurance

Professional Services insurance

Manufacturing insurance

Marine insurance

Cyber insurance

Personal insurance FAQs

Home insurance

Contents insurance

Car insurance

Landlord insurance

Travel insurance

Boat insurance

Still have a question?