Issues with your Gmail account?

You may have noticed Google’s Gmail looks a bit different of late with the tech giant rolling out many new features and benefits in February for Gmail account users worldwide. You may also be wondering what that has to do with us and your insurance. Well, it’s all to do with Gmail’s spam filters, which…

Toka Tū Ake EQC increases payout cap

Homeowners will notice levy changes from 1 October when the new EQC payout cap comes into effect for all policyholders with residential insurance. The Government has increased Toka Tū Ake EQC’s payout cap to $300,000 (+GST), with private insurers providing over-cap cover up to the sum insured in the event of a natural disaster claim.…

Finding the right loan for you

Bernie McCrea will canvas lenders nationwide, so you don’t have to. He has relationships with all the major banks, along with second tier lenders specializing in more complex loans in the development/bridging space. Whatever your borrowing requirements, Bernie will do the legwork, find the best deal, and structure a loan that works for you. For…

Lindsay Kerr: a stellar innings for North Canterbury

Lindsay Kerr embodies the Abbott difference – that special collection of personal qualities, professionalism, passion and care you can’t quite put your finger on, but you recognise when you experience it. He’s exactly the sort of person you want on your team. A long-time insurance professional, Lindsay’s career spans more than 50 years.  Starting as…

Parasitic worm unlikely hero

A trans-Tasman research team believes hookworms may be the key to treating Coeliac Disease.  Remarkably, it seems these parasitic worms produce molecules beneficial to gut flora in people suffering from inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract. It’s called worm-induced immune modulation and, according to the Bowel and Liver Trust’s General Manager, Margaret Fitzgerald, it could…

Risky business

We all love the convenience and ease of digital life, but cyber insurance is one of the fastest growing insurance lines for a reason. The simple fact is, the bigger your digital footprint, the greater the risk of unwelcome attention – to you, your family, your business and your customers.  And while it’s tempting to…

What do EQC’s claims handling changes mean for you?

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) reviewed its claims management process last year in the wake of widespread criticism following the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes. Under a new agreement between EQC and the Insurance Council of New Zealand that came into effect in December 2016, policyholders now deal directly with their insurers for all earthquake-related house and contents…

ACC levies – are you paying too much?

Following a $35,000 client refund from ACC, our dedicated Life and Health adviser Bree Catterall says it pays to check your ACC levy calculation. Your ACC levy is determined by the Business Industry Classification Unit (BIC) code assigned to your business, but it’s an arbitrary grouping applied across the workplace and business owners need to…