Life and income protection cover by occupation
Your occupation class decides what income protection costs, how long it will pay for, and whether own-occupation TPD is available to you at all. These guides work through it trade by trade.
34 guides in this section
Building and construction
- Insurance for buildersIncome protection, TPD and trauma cover for New Zealand builders — how time on the tools sets your occupation class, and what ACC does not pay for.
- Insurance for tradiesIncome protection, TPD and trauma cover for New Zealand tradies — occupation classes, the ACC gap, and what changes when you are self-employed.
- Insurance for electriciansIncome protection and TPD for NZ electricians — where a registered sparky sits in the occupation classes, and why illness is the real gap.
- Insurance for plumbersIncome protection, TPD and trauma cover for New Zealand plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers — occupation classes, asbestos questions and the ACC gap.
- Insurance for painters and decoratorsIncome protection and trauma cover for New Zealand painters and decorators — ladder work, solvents, seasonal income and where ACC stops.
- Insurance for roofersIncome protection, TPD and trauma cover for New Zealand roofers — why roofing sits at the bottom of the occupation classes and what is still available.
- Insurance for scaffoldersIncome protection, TPD and trauma cover for New Zealand scaffolders — a heavily rated occupation, what is restricted, and what is still worth having.
- Insurance for construction workersCover for New Zealand construction workers — labourers, formworkers and civil crews. Occupation classes, casual income, the ACC gap and mental health limits.
Primary industries
- Insurance for farmersLife, trauma, TPD and income protection for New Zealand farmers — occupation classes, ACC CoverPlus Extra, farm debt and succession.
- Insurance for sharemilkersCover for New Zealand sharemilkers — herd debt, payout volatility, ACC CoverPlus Extra, and how to insure an income that moves with the milk price.
- Insurance for orchardists and growersCover for New Zealand orchardists, growers and viticulturists — seasonal income, spray exposure, orchard debt and where ACC stops.
- Insurance for forestry workersCover for New Zealand forestry workers — the country’s most heavily rated occupation, what insurers will and will not write, and how to fill the gap.
- Insurance for fishermenCover for New Zealand commercial fishermen — inshore and deep sea, remoteness, policy exclusions, share income and the ACC position.
- Insurance for miners and quarry workersCover for New Zealand mining and quarry workers — underground versus open cast, dust disease, restricted income protection and what remains available.
Transport and logistics
- Insurance for truck driversCover for New Zealand truck drivers — occupation classes, the medical certificate problem, back and cardiovascular claims, and owner-driver debt.
- Insurance for couriers and delivery driversCover for New Zealand couriers and delivery drivers — contractor status, van finance, no sick leave, and how ACC CoverPlus Extra fits.
- Insurance for pilotsCover for New Zealand pilots — aviation exclusions on standard policies, loss of medical certificate, commercial versus private flying, and specialist markets.
Health and emergency services
- Insurance for nursesCover for New Zealand nurses — occupation classes, shift work, back injuries, needle-stick benefits and how mental health limits work.
- Insurance for doctorsCover for New Zealand doctors — top-class ratings, own-occupation TPD, practice ownership, locum cover and financial underwriting for high incomes.
- Insurance for dentistsCover for New Zealand dentists — own-occupation definitions, hands and eyesight, practice debt, equipment finance and business expenses cover.
- Insurance for allied health professionalsCover for New Zealand physios, chiropractors, podiatrists and other allied health professionals — hands-on work, clinic ownership and ACC contract income.
- Insurance for paramedicsCover for New Zealand paramedics and ambulance officers — lifting injuries, shift work, PTSD, mental health limits and employer cover.
- Insurance for firefightersCover for New Zealand firefighters — career and volunteer, occupational cancer and ACC, employer schemes and what insurers ask about.
- Insurance for police officersCover for New Zealand police officers — occupation ratings, employer schemes, assault and PTSD claims, and exclusions to check before you buy.
- Insurance for Defence Force personnelCover for New Zealand Defence Force personnel — active service exclusions, deployment, trade-based ratings and what happens when you transition out.
Professional and office
- Insurance for teachersCover for New Zealand teachers — occupation classes, sick leave entitlements, stress and voice claims, and what relievers need to know.
- Insurance for IT professionalsCover for New Zealand IT professionals — top occupation ratings, contractor income, mental health claims, and how company income is assessed.
- Insurance for accountants and lawyersCover for New Zealand accountants and lawyers — partnership income, practice overheads, own-occupation definitions and mental health limits.
- Insurance for real estate agentsCover for New Zealand real estate agents — commission-only income, contractor status, ACC settings and why a quiet market is not a disability claim.
Service, retail and manufacturing
- Insurance for hospitality workersCover for New Zealand chefs, bar and restaurant staff — occupation classes, casual hours, minimum hours rules and what suits a variable income.
- Insurance for retail workersCover for New Zealand retail workers — occupation classes, part-time hours, robbery and assault, and what makes sense on a modest income.
- Insurance for factory and manufacturing workersCover for New Zealand factory and manufacturing workers — machinery risk, shift work, hearing loss, occupational disease and the ACC boundary.
- Insurance for security guardsCover for New Zealand security guards — night shifts, assault risk, crowd control ratings, casual hours and mental health after an incident.
- Insurance for cleanersCover for New Zealand cleaners — occupation classes, chemicals, repetitive strain, multiple part-time employers and what makes sense on a modest income.
Not sure what cover you actually need?
That is the question an adviser is there to answer. Tell us your situation and a licensed New Zealand adviser will compare the market and come back with a written recommendation — including where you can cut cover you do not need.
No cost to you and no obligation. General information only — not personalised financial advice.
Whole-of-market comparison
Advisers quote across the major New Zealand insurers rather than one product range.
Registered advisers
Your enquiry goes to Registered Financial Service Providers, not to a call centre.
No cost to you
The insurer pays the adviser. You pay the same premium either way.
Cover sized to your life
A good adviser will tell you when you are over-insured, not just sell you more.