Glossary

Used to describe an event that’s unexpected and unintended.

The amount we agree as the sum insured for any item which is the subject of an insurance policy. This is always shown in the insurance policy schedule.

When loss or damage occurs that’s likely to be covered by an insurance policy, this is the action that the policy-holder takes to obtain the benefits provided by the insurance policy.

Cover is the amount of protection provided by an insurance policy.

Children who are under 21 and who aren’t self-supporting.

When you apply for insurance you have a duty of disclosure. This means you must tell us everything you know that an insurer would want to take into account when considering your application for insurance or determining the cost and terms of your application.

The duty of disclosure doesn’t just apply when you take our your insurance. If something happens at any time that you think we ought to know about, then this duty means you are bound to let us know about it. Examples might include criminal convictions, traffic offences other than minor infringements, or modifications to your vehicle or home.

You also need to let us know about any person or organisation who has a financial interest in an insured item.

This is the cover provided by the Earthquake Commission in the event of damage to houses and their contents caused by natural disaster such as a flood or earthquake. It’s funded by the compulsory levy which is included in every home and contents policy premium.

A single event or a series of events which have the same cause.

This is the amount a person making a claim contributes towards the cost of the claim. For example, the standard excess for our home cover is $400, so a policy holder pays the first $400 of any claim on their home policy. The excess is deducted for each and every event that is claimed for.

Sometimes we may vary the amount of excess depending on the particular situation.

For the purposes of a travel insurance policy ‘family’ is defined as two close family members travelling either together, or with their dependent children or grandchildren.

A close family member is defined as your spouse, de facto partner, fiancé, fiancée; or child, step-child, grandchild; or brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law; or son-in-law, daughter-in-law; or parent, step-parent, grandparent, guardian or parent-in-law.

This is the term that we use for an excess that we have applied to your insurance cover due to your personal situation.

An item's current value allowing for its age and condition immediately before the loss or damage happened.

For the purposes of a travel insurance policy, an individual is one person travelling either on their own, or with their children or grandchildren under the age of 21 who aren’t self-supporting.

When you are legally responsible for damaging someone else's property. For example, if you crash into someone's fence, or you cut down a tree and it falls on your neighbour's house, you are liable or legally responsible for the cost of repair.

What your car was worth before it was damaged. This refers to the reasonable cost to buy a replacement item of similar age, general condition and model or specification.

For vehicles, this means any change to a vehicle that’s different to the manufacturer’s original specification or recommendations. These can include changes to the engine, suspension, body kit, or wheels.

For your home, this means alterations and extensions to the original structure.

Any driver listed on a vehicle’s insurance policy schedule.

This is the period of time that an insurance policy is valid for. It’s always shown in an insurance policy’s schedule.

This is the money that must be paid for your insurance policy. Depending on the type of cover you have, your premium is made up of the company premium which goes to State, the Earthquake Commission levy, the Fire Service levy, and GST.

This is the reasonable cost to repair or replace an item in New Zealand that is of comparable age, quality and capability, and is in the same general condition.

Any item that is listed in the policy schedule with a corresponding specified sum insured.

The maximum amount payable in respect of the loss or damage of the insured item.

Used when an insured item is stolen and not recovered, unsafe to repair or would cost more to repair than replace.

The use of an insured item will depend on the item and the policy it's insured under. It's best to check the details of your policy so you're clear about what use is covered for any item you've insured.

For example, a private car or motorbike generally will be covered while the vehicle is being used for private, domestic, social or pleasure purposes, and in some cases while being used in connection with a business. It specifically excludes cover while the vehicle is being used by the insured or person using the vehicle in their capacity as a salesperson, commission agent, service person or commercial traveller; insurance rep, agent or broker; land or real estate agent; mortgage broker or mobile mortgage manager; stock or station agent; courier driver, delivery person or taxi driver; or a member of a motor trade. It also excludes cover while being used to carry fare-paying passengers, to carry, haul or tow any goods, plant, machinery or samples in connection with a trade or business, and while racing or on any racetrack.