Owning a small business requires a lot of attention to detail. Most owners are aware that this includes insuring the business against adverse events as well as diligently managing the risks inside the business to minimise the chances of an incident occurring.

However, knowing that insurance and risk management are important, and having the know-how and resources to get it right are two different things.

Did you know that if something goes wrong at your place of business or with a product or service you provide, you could be held legally liable? This is true even if you haven’t deliberately done anything wrong or if a complainant simply alleges that you did something wrong.

As the festive season fast approaches, many New Zealanders are planning to go on holiday. Whether you’re headed overseas or you’re taking a break closer to home, travel insurance should be the first thing you pack.

Every business has its tools of the trade. Whether you’re a carpenter, plumber, or tiler with a ute and a toolbox on the back, or a sales rep, retailer, or accountant with a laptop and a mobile phone, your tools are nothing less than essential. Yet many New Zealanders don’t have enough insurance to cover the loss of such tools and other assets. Read our seven tips on how to minimise the risk of losing your tools forever.

As a small or medium-sized business owner, you’re responsible for the livelihoods of your own family as well as your employees. That’s a big responsibility. So, what do you do if something goes wrong and your income is reduced or stops altogether?

Most businesses, regardless of size, are the result of the driving force of one person or a group of people. If your business still relies on the input and direction of one or a group of key people, then it may be at risk if that person or group can no longer be involved in the business.

Managing risk in your business is an important factor in how well your company performs. When you run a motor vehicle fleet, there are a number of risks that you need to consider and mitigate. Letting employees drive your cars or trucks means you’re responsible for their safety on the road, so having the right commercial motor vehicle insurance is crucial.

With World Mental Health Day approaching on 10 October, is awareness changing how we think about mental health and people affected by it? According to the Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 5 Kiwis will experience mental illness this year. From a workplace perspective, in all likelihood you or someone you work with is affected. Raising awareness is important, but it’s not enough.

Join us at Auckland Dive In 
Seats are still available for Dive In Auckland, taking place on 25 September 2018. I encourage you to attend this free event by registering on the Dive In Festival website  or on the app, available on both Apple and Android.

Cybercriminals are sophisticated and determined. Research shows that many businesses have been compromised but don’t know about it and it can take more than 100 days to discover that an uninvited guest has had full access to your business systems. Here are six things you can do to reduce the risk of a successful cyberattack compromising your business:

Running a café, restaurant or bar is hard work. It’s long hours, lots of pressure, and a chance of failure.

And if you’re actively involved in the business, cooking, serving, hosting, making drinks, or just being there to manage your operations, chances are you’re not getting a lot of time to rest and reflect on your business.

On 1 August 2018 Montage General Insurance Ltd will become a Partner of the NZbrokers group, the largest broker network in New Zealand.

Thousands of Kiwi drone and e-bike owners are being warned to check their insurance policies as experts caution the industry has not kept pace with the development of new technologies.

The rising cost of windscreens means Kiwi drivers may soon have to pay extra for the windscreen insurance they’re currently getting as part of existing policies. This means they will have to pay the cost of windscreen replacement or else pay an extra premium and an excess to have their windscreen covered. 

Most businesses are aware of the importance of being appropriately insured. Often, however, business owners are more concerned with getting their insurance at the right price rather than focusing on the wording of the policy to make sure they’re covered for the most likely eventualities. This is where a risk advisor can be of great benefit.

The NZbrokers network has been incredibly well-represented in the recent Insurance Business NZ 2018 Young Guns report. Touted as the industry’s rising stars, these young professionals are blazing a trail in an industry being disrupted by evolving customer expectations, emerging technologies, and a continued focus on helping customers manage risk. The report chose just 20 young professionals to highlight and seven of these are from  the NZbrokers network. 

NZbrokers continues to build momentum through strong growth within the current network and a solid pipeline of potential acquisitions and new members, having grown from 56 to 60 partners in the last 12 months. 

Kiwi SME’s need to do more to prepare for adverse weather events with new industry figures showing the cost of insurance claims has increased by 70% in the past three years alone. Jo Mason CEO of NZbrokers, one of the country’s largest insurance brokerage groups says new insurance claim data shows the number of storm […]

The cost of insuring some buildings could rise by more than 50 percent in just three months according to new figures from insurance brokers. David Crick managing director of Runacres Insurance says the cost increase is likely to be disproportionately larger for lower value dwellings. “Immediately following the Christchurch earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, we […]

Rapidly rising building costs and changes to policy wording mean Kiwi homeowners are uninsured by an average of 28 percent – according to an industry expert. Jo Mason CEO of NZbrokers, New Zealand’s largest insurance broking collective, says a spate of recent natural disasters has highlighted the need for homeowners to contact their broker and […]