Liability Policy

  • What?

    This is a significant change that affects our Statutory Liability Optional Benefit as it means:

    • insurers can no longer cover any fines or penalties under the RMA, even if a claim was lodged and/or accepted before 20 August 2025
    • it’s unlawful for clients to receive any payment in relation to RMA fines or penalties

    We can still provide cover for:

    • legal defence costs for unintentional breaches of the RMA
    • remediation costs
    • investigation support.

    This change does not impact other Acts covered by the Statutory Liability Optional Benefit.

    Why?

    The Government has passed legislation that, as of 20 August 2025, makes it unlawful for insurers to provide cover for fines or penalties under the Resource Management Act (RMA).

    When?

    This change affects all policies renewing on or after 1 April 2026.  It also applies to ALL policies (whether you have renewed or not) from 15 May 2026.

    Page and Clause What has changed? Why has it changed?
    Page 14, Clause 3.1.5 What you are not insured for We have added the Resource Management Act 1991 to the list of Acts where you are not insured for penalties. The Government has passed legislation that, as of 20 August 2025, makes it unlawful for insurers to provide cover for fines or penalties under the Resource Management Act (RMA).

  • What?

    We have updated references to ‘EQC’ to match the new name under the Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023 – The Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake.

    Why?

    Your policy has been updated to comply with the new Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023.  There is no change in your FMG cover.

    When?

    This change affects all policies renewing on or after 1 July 2024.

    Page and Clause What has changed? Why has it changed?
    Page 8 - We comply with the Privacy Act 2020

    We have updated reference to EQC to align with the new name – The Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake.

    Your policy has been updated to comply with the new Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023.
    There is no change in your FMG cover.

    Page 11, Clause 2.6 – We cover your legal liability for underground services.

    We have deleted the word “these” from the following sentence:

    - "...before starting the relevant work, you made inquiries with the relevant authority, company, or organisation to determine the exact location of the these underground services, and..."

    		To remove a typo and improve the readability of the policy.
    There is no change in your FMG cover.