Kiwis love their summer holidays and every year we flock to our beautiful beaches, lakes and rivers to enjoy the quintessential Kiwi Christmas holiday. It’s a time for celebration, relaxation and spending quality time with loved ones. Unfortunately, it’s also a peak time for burglaries, accidental damage and unexpected loss, as empty homes and full cars become easy targets for opportunistic theft. While insurance can help restore what’s lost, taking preventive steps can save you the stress and hassle of making a claim.
Here are some simple, practical tips to protect your belongings and enjoy peace of mind this Christmas and summer holiday season.
Protect your home while you’re away
- Create the illusion of occupancy
Ask a trusted neighbour to clear your mailbox, water plants, and park in your driveway. Set timers for lights and even your TV to turn on in the evenings. - Keep valuables out of sight
Position your Christmas tree and gifts where they’re not visible from windows, and avoid leaving high-value items in plain sight. - Secure your property
Lock all windows and doors, install an alarm system, and consider motion-activated security lights. Visible security cameras can also act as a strong deterrent.
Secure your possessions on the go
- Check your policies
If you’re taking valuables on holiday, verify your contents insurance covers items outside your home. For camping gear, check if your tent and other essentials are covered under your policy.
If you’re unsure, please contact your broker or insurance adviser. - Don’t advertise your absence
Avoid posting holiday plans on social media or posting holiday photos real time publicly.
Plan ahead for peace of mind
- Review your insurance coverage
Ensure your policies are up-to-date and notify your insurer if you’ll be away for an extended period (60+ days) or if you’re renting your home out. - Document your belongings
Keep a list of valuables, including serial numbers and photos, and store it securely. Mark high-value items with your driver’s license number to assist police if items are recovered.
Arrange cover for any high-value gifts
Make sure any high-value gifts or new purchases, such as bikes, watercraft, electronics or jewellery, are covered under your insurance policy.
- Review your coverage
Update your home and contents insurance to include any new items. Most policies have limits for individual items, so check if your high-value gifts need to be listed separately. - Document new items
Keep receipts (if you can), take photos, and note serial numbers for easy reference if you ever need to make a claim. - Notify your insurer
If you’ve received or purchased something particularly valuable, let your insurance partner know so they can adjust your coverage if necessary.
Holiday checklist
- Turn off water connections to appliances to avoid undetected leaks.
- Secure outdoor tools and trim overgrown plants to eliminate hiding spots for intruders.
- Dispose of gift packaging discreetly to avoid advertising new purchases to potential thieves.
While insurance can ease the financial impact of theft or damage, preventing the loss in the first place is always the best approach.
If you have questions about your coverage or need to update your policy before the holidays, our team is here to help. Contact us today to ensure your festive season is worry-free.
Disclaimer
The information in these articles is general information only, is provided free of charge and does not constitute professional or personal financial advice. We try to keep the information up to date. However, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, in relation to this article – including (without limitation) warranties as to accuracy, completeness and fitness for any particular purpose. Please seek independent advice before acting on any information in this article.
