Chatswood serves the life and health insurance sector in New Zealand with market intelligence, data, and bespoke consulting services. Some of these are provided in conjunction with Quality Product Research Limited - a subsidiary that brings you Quotemonster.

We believe that good decisions are more likely to occur when we have good information about the market environment in which we operate. Intuitive leaps and creative decisions are always required, of course, but the more they are based on a firm foundation of observation, the better they tend to be.

Kelly O Kelly O

Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector

27 Jul 2023 - Micheal Hewes, FMA Director – Deposit Taking, Insurance, and Advice presented at the Financial Markets Law conference on the conduct of Financial Institutions regime https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/speeches-and-presentations/michael-hewes-presents-at-the-financial-markets-law-conference/

28 Jul 2023 - Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hon Dr Duncan Webb, June 2023 diary released with the following potential financial services sector related meeting noted:
• 15 June 2023 – Meeting with Kiwibank (CE)
• 19 June 2023 – Meeting with NZ Bankers Association; Kiwibank; Westpac; ASB; ANZ; BNZ; Cooperative Bank (CE's)
• 19 June 2023 – Meeting with TSB; Heartland Bank (CE's)
• 22 June 2023 –Meeting with NZ Bankers Association (CE, Engagement Director)
• 28 June 2023 - Meeting with FMA (Chair, CE)
• 28 June 2023 - Speech at Better Banking Report Launch
• 29 June 2023 - Meeting with Consumer Data Rights Stakeholders
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2023-07/June%202023%20Proactive%20Diary%20Hon%20Dr%20Duncan%20Webb%20.pdf

28 Jul 2023 - The FMA's climate-related disclosures experts discuss the key concepts of scenario analysis and outline FMA’s compliance expectations. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/speeches-and-presentations/presentation-scenario-analysis/

31 Jul 2023 - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua has released its first consultation material on implementing the recently enacted Deposit Takers Act 2023 (the Act), with proposals for the Proportionality Framework and for levies to fund the Depositor Compensation Scheme (DCS). Consultation closes 25 September 2023. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2023/07/first-stage-of-consultation-on-deposit-takers-act-implementation-launches

31 Jul 2023 - The Commerce Commission is looking at ways to remove barriers to more innovative payment options that would allow Kiwis to make in-person payments directly between bank accounts, as a low-cost alternative to current card payment options. The Commission is seeking views on its characterisation of the issues and opportunities in this space, responses are due by 4pm on 25 September 2023 https://comcom.govt.nz/news-and-media/media-releases/2023/commission-explores-pathways-for-more-innovative-payment-options

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Week two ends in: Queenstown and Invercargill

We finished up week two of our roadshow in beautiful Queenstown and Invercargill!

Thank you for a very warm (and also very cold) welcome.

It’s not too late to register if you're interested in attending our annual roadshow, please click here to see our remaining dates and locations! 

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Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector

27 Jul 2023 - The Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR) released a vision statement https://www.cofr.govt.nz/news-and-publications/financial-regulators-set-vision-for-new-zealand-payments-landscape.html

27 Jul 2023 - The RBNZ publish a supporting position statement expressing concern that New Zealand’s banking and payments industries have fallen behind internationally in making real-time payments possible between accounts held at different banks. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/money-and-cash/future-of-money/payments

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Research updates: what you need to know

QPR Database V15.3 has been released!

Our Research team have made some monstrously good updates to the QPR database recently. If you’ve noticed we’re running a bit slower than usual, please refresh your page and scroll down to ensure that you’re on our latest version – QPR V.15.3 | WEB V4.4.0.

Our latest updates include:

  • Chubb Life – policy document version updates effective 26 June 2023.

Some minor enhancements to Life, Life Income Cover and Income Covers as outlined below:

- Life Cover & Life Income Cover - Funeral Transfer Benefit: A life assured does not have to die overseas to qualify for repatriation to New Zealand or their home country anymore. Dying inside New Zealand now qualifies for repatriation.

- Income Cover (Agreed, Indemnity, Loss of Earnings) & Mortgage Repayment Cover: Removed the requirement for a life assured to complete a 'Dependent Leave Without Pay' Form when applying for the optional benefit.

Please note that no ratings have been affected by the minor enhancements above and all policy documents, brochures and our policy archives have been updated to reflect the new version of Assurance Extra.

Significant changes have been applied to Chubb Life’s Business product suite which includes the withdrawal of Agribusiness as a separate policy and is now an optional benefit within Assurance Extra Business.

We don’t have ratings for business products on Quotemonster yet but hope to have these live before the end of the year.

More information on Chubb Life's business products and recent enhancements can be found here.

  • Pinnacle Life - Financial Strength Rating update to B+ (A.M Best).

  • Revised Trauma Incidence is now live – more information on our major review of trauma incidence can be found here. Please note our updated ‘Trauma Claims Data’ infographic is currently with our graphic designer and will be updated on Quotemonster in the next few weeks. Please feel free to email us if you would like to request a copy of the updated version. 

Other research changes include:   

  • Mortgage Protection: Offsets

  • Trauma: Cognitive Impairment

If you have any questions regarding these please feel free to email us on info@quotemonster.co.nz 

Happy Crunching!

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Next stop: Dunedin

The next stop on our tour was Dunedin

A big thank you to the attendees for your support and interest in our new features, we really appreciate your time and feedback. 

It’s not too late to register if you're interested in attending our annual roadshow, please click here to see our remaining dates and locations! 

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First stop for week two: Christchurch!

The first day of our South Island tour began in beautiful Christchurch.

A massive thank you to everyone who joined us, we had some great conversations and feedback to take back to Monster HQ. A special shout out to Melanie Purdey from Compliance Refinery for presenting with us too!

It’s not too late to register if you're interested in attending our annual roadshow, please click here to see our remaining dates and locations! 

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Final stop for week one: Hamilton!

A big thank you to Hamilton for your support we look forward to visiting again very soon! A special shout out to Steven Burgess from Compliance Refinery for joining us on the tour. 

It’s not too late to register if you're interested in attending our annual roadshow, please click here to see our remaining dates and locations! 

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Financial Advice NZ will run ‘Maximise your money 5-day challenge’ for Sorted Money Month

Financial Advice NZ are running a 5-day maximise your money challenge this Sorted Money Month. The campaign is split by different age brackets and aims to help people learn tips and strategies for establishing good financial habits.

  • 1 – 5 August – Maximise your Money in your 20s

  • 7 – 11 August – Maximise your Money in your 30s

  • 14 – 18 August – Maximise your Money in your 40s

  • 21 – 25 August – Maximise your Money in your 50s and 60s

Sorted is running a series of webinars over Money Month

  • 1 August – Sort your everyday money

  • 1 August – Banqer: Virtual Economy Experience (supported by Partners Life)

  • 8 August – Sort your debt

  • 15 August – Sort your savings

  • 22 August – Sort your KiwiSaver

  • 22 August – Mint Asset Management: Making cents of your money

More daily news:

Fidelity Life paid out $30m in Trauma and Trauma multi claims last year

AIA’s latest claims stats show 93% of claims accepted

Partners Life’s latest claims stats show 89% of claims accepted

mySolutions webinar 'Understanding client vulnerability and the adviser’s response, diving deep with case studies' 26 July 9am

Financial Advice NZ webinar ‘Super Wednesday hosted by our Risk MAC' 9 August

Finalists for Financial Services Council 2023 Awards announced

Consumer NZ calls for NZ banks to match what UK & Australia banks do to combat cybercrime

Astrud Burgess appointed as ANZ Group Chief Marketing Officer

Katrina Shanks writes about the best ways to invest in gold

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Quotemonster Terms of Use!

Like everyone else, we've got some fine print...and we've recently updated them! 

Please click here to download a PDF version for your records or scroll down to the bottom of Quotemonster to view them. 

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Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector

20 Jul 2023 - The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has released its annual Private Health Insurance Coverage Survey, which provides a snapshot at December each year of the number of people, by age, gender and state of residence, with hospital insurance, for the December 2022 reference period. https://www.apra.gov.au/private-health-insurance-annual-coverage-survey

20 Jul 2023 -The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have released key materials for consultation, to support the implementation of the Financial Accountability Regime (FAR) by the financial services industry.

The FAR will impose a strengthened responsibility and accountability framework for APRA-regulated entities in the banking, insurance and superannuation industries and their directors and most senior and influential executives. In doing so, it is designed to improve the risk and governance cultures of those financial institutions. The closing date for submissions is 17 August 2023. https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2023-releases/23-194mr-apra-and-asic-commence-early-consultation-on-far/

21 Jul 2023 - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Te Pūtea Matua has released the dates for publication of its quarterly Monetary Policy Statement (MPS), Monetary Policy Review (MPR) decisions and the six-monthly Financial Stability Report (FSR). The new dates cover the period from February 2025 to July 2025. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2023/07/monetary-policy-announcement-and-financial-stability-report-dates

24 Jul 2023 - The Therapeutic Products Bill receives royal assent https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/e52e16e3-0427-4372-a650-4eb655b4c440?Tab=history

25 Jul 2023 - From today the Financial Markets Authority will begin accepting licensing applications for financial institution licences under the Conduct of Financial Institutions (CoFI) regime. Under CoFI, which comes into force on 31 March 2025, about 100 registered banks, licensed insurers, and licensed non-bank deposit takers such as credit unions will need to be licensed by the FMA to provide financial services to consumers. https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/cofi-licensing-begins/

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