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.
The whole market, once
Advisers quote across the major New Zealand insurers, not one product range.
Registered advisers
Your enquiry goes to Registered Financial Service Providers, never a call centre.
No cost to you
The insurer pays the adviser. Your premium is the same either way.
Sized to your life
A good adviser tells you when you are over-insured, instead of selling you more.