Trades

Public Liability

The single most important cover for any tradie. Covers legal liability for bodily injury or property damage to clients, bystanders, or third parties arising from your work both on site and after the job is complete. Product liability extension covers damage caused by materials or components you supply. Limits should reflect the scale of your projects and any contract requirements from clients or principal contractors.

Contract Works

Covers work in progress including materials on site against damage from fire, storm, flood, theft, and accidental damage. Without contract works cover, the cost of redoing damaged work falls entirely on you. Cover can be arranged on an annual basis or project-by-project basis. Note: the policy responds to damage caused by insured events — the cost of rectifying faulty workmanship itself is not covered.

Tools & Equipment

Covers hand tools, power tools, and specialist equipment against theft from vehicles, from site, or from your premises. For tradies, the tools are the business losing a van-load of gear can take you off the tools for days. Cover should reflect the full replacement cost of your kit, including any high-value items, and extend to hired-in plant where required.

Commercial Motor & Fleet

Covers work vehicles utes, vans, trucks, and trailers for damage, third-party liability, and theft. For businesses running multiple vehicles, a fleet policy simplifies administration and can deliver better pricing. Cover should extend to any tools or materials carried in the vehicle, and should reflect the business use of the vehicle rather than a standard personal motor policy.

Employers Liability

Covers legal liability to employees including apprentices, labourers, and subcontractors engaged as employees for work-related injury or illness not covered by ACC. Essential for any trades business with staff on site. The cover sits alongside ACC and fills the gap where ACC does not respond, including for claims that arise from the negligence of the employer.

Professional Indemnity

Increasingly required for licensed building practitioners, engineers, and trades businesses that provide design, specification, or advisory services alongside their physical work. Covers claims arising from errors, omissions, or negligent advice including the cost of remediation where a design fault results in defective work. Often required by contract or as a condition of licensing.

Statutory Liability

Covers defence costs for regulatory proceedings under statutes including the Building Act, along with any insurable fines or reparation costs ordered by the Courts. Fines imposed under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, Employment Relations Act 2000, Resource Management Act 1991, or any legislation where indemnification is prohibited by law are not covered.

Management Liability

Management Liability is a packaged policy that protects both the business and the individuals running it. It combines several covers in one:

• Directors & Officers protects directors, officers and senior managers personally against claims arising from their management decisions, including regulatory investigations, breach of duty, and creditor actions
• Employment Practices Liability covers the business against claims from current, former or prospective employees including unjustified dismissal, discrimination and harassment
• Crime protects against financial loss from employee fraud, theft, or dishonest acts
• Tax Audit Cover covers the cost of responding to an IRD audit or investigation; note that not all policies include this component, so it's worth confirming at placement