Our Story

In 1903 when a group of New Zealand farmers rebelled against the excessive prices and poor service they were receiving from insurance companies, a new era in rural insurance was born.

Farmers’ Mutual Group was formed as a result of these protests - a mutual insurance organisation created by the farmers for the farmers, dedicated to providing the best value for money.

In 1903 the New Zealand Parliament passed the Mutual Fire Insurance Act, and in 1905 the first of the Mutuals were established in Otago, Wellington, Taranaki and Hawkes Bay.

The Mutuals charged lower premiums for fire insurance and soon other insurance companies were forced to follow suit.

Over time the number of rural mutual insurance companies grew, as did their range of services. The 1970’s saw the Mutuals begin to merge, with the eventual formation of Farmers’ Mutual Group (FMG) based in Palmerston North.

In 2005 FMG celebrated 100 years of service to rural New Zealand. Our second century has since seen the passing of the Farmers' Mutual Group Act 2007, enshrining our mutuality and providing us with a more modern structure and governance regime.