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.
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
RBNZ publish Paul Conway speech; APRA release Life Insurance Claims and Disputes Statistics publication; RBNZ Five Year Funding Agreement published; ASIC to launch a new digital portal for licensing; The Takeovers Panel publish Regulatory Alignment and Deal Protection Devices.
15 Apr 2025 - RBNZ publish Chief Economist Paul Conway speech 'Forecasting: (conditionally) charting the path forward'. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/04/forecasting-conditionally-charting-the-path-forward
15 Apr 2025 - APRA has released its Life Insurance Claims and Disputes Statistics publication, covering a rolling 12-month period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-and-asic-publish-latest-data-on-life-insurance-claims-and-disputes-10
16 Apr 2025 - The Minister of Finance has published the RBNZ Five Year Funding Agreement (FYFA). The FYFA sets the RBNZ’s core operating expenditure from 1 July 2025 through to 31 June 2030. The FYFA has been set at $750m, with some elements of RBNZ’s spending excluded from the agreement. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/04/rbnz-five-year-funding-agreement
16 Apr 2025 - ASIC is launching a new digital portal for licensing on 5 May 2025 to apply for, vary and cancel an Australian financial services (AFS) licence. https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/news-items/asic-to-launch-new-portal-for-australian-financial-services-licensees/
16 Apr 2025 - The Takeovers Panel publish Regulatory Alignment and Deal Protection Devices, recommendations that have been made to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. https://www.takeovers.govt.nz/assets/LawReform/Recommendations/Revised-Recommendations-to-Minister-March-2025.pdf
Product changes at Chubb Life
Chubb Life introduce a Moderate Trauma Cover option, make enhancements to Assurance Extra Trauma Covers and Assurance Extra Business Life, Trauma, Complete Disablement and Monthly Disability Covers and change underlying premium rates.
Chubb Life have introduced a Moderate Trauma Cover option under Assurance Extra. Offering coverage for the same critical illness conditions, it is a more affordable alternative to Trauma Cover. Moderate Trauma Cover requires a higher level of severity to be met on 11 of the more common conditions to be eligible to claim. Customers have the option to take Moderate Trauma on its own or mix and match their cover level across both Trauma and Moderate Trauma Covers. They’ll also have the option to take out Continuous Trauma on both covers.
Chubb have also made enhancements to Assurance Extra Trauma Covers and Assurance Extra Business Life, Trauma, Complete Disablement and Monthly Disability Covers. Assurance Extra Trauma Covers have added a Newborn Children’s Benefit, Complimentary Children's Benefit conversion enhancement and added a feature allowing policyholders to convert Trauma Cover to Moderate Trauma Cover. Assurance Extra Business policies have had to Age 65 and to Age 70 level premium review periods added and the payment term options have been extended to include a two-year payment term for Replacement Labour.
Chubb Life has made changes to the underlying premium rates on their Specific Injury Cover under Assurance Extra, Assurance Extra Business, Business Assurance and Agribusiness Extra. The new underlying rates come into effect on 8 May 2025 and will see the average Specific Injury premium increase by $3.10 per month depending on gender, occupation and cover level.
They have also updated their non-medical codes and associated limits – reducing the number of medical code categories and removing several mandatory testing requirements, and making some improvements to limits.
Chubb Life have also extended their 15% Lifetime Reward and 2 months’ free cover for new policies or cover increases under an existing eligible policy until 31 March 2026.
More news:
Rob Hennin to step down as nib CEO
Steve Wright writes of how advisers need a mindset change away
Naomi Ballantyne to lead TAP's inaugural Women in Advice event
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
RBNZ appoint Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand for a six-month term; RBNZ looking for new external member of Monetary Policy Committee; Medicines Amendment Bill passes its first reading; FMA file criminal charges against former financial adviser.
8 Apr 2025 - Christian Hawkesby has been appointed as Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand for a six-month term by the Minister of Finance, upon the recommendation of the RBNZ Board. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/04/christian-hawkesby-appointed-as-governor-of-the-rbnz-for-6-months
9 Apr 2025 - A public appointment process has started for a new external member of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to replace Professor Bob Buckle when his term expires on 30 September 2025. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/04/recruitment-of-new-external-member-to-the-monetary-policy-committee
10 Apr 2025 - Medicines Amendment Bill passes its first reading in Parliament and was referred to the Health Committee. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/medicines-amendment-bill-passes-first-reading
11 Apr 2025 - The FMA has filed a criminal charge against Auckland-based former financial adviser Prem Gounder for dishonestly using a document under section 228 of the Crimes Act 1961. https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/fma-files-criminal-charge-against-former-financial-adviser/
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
RBNZ Board is in the process of preparing a recommendation for the appointment of a Governor; FMA announce review of advice sector; FMA release regulatory returns snapshot; FMA publish Samantha Barrass’ speech; FMA release latest Jess Learns to Invest podcast; APRA accept Court Enforcable Undertaking from ANZ; Hon Scott Simpson’s March 2025 diary released; COFR held quarterly meeting; FMA publish fair conduct programme insights report; RBNZ welcome applications to ESAS under new criteria.
1 Apr 2025 - The RBNZ Board is in the process of preparing a recommendation for the appointment of a Governor for six months and will be sending it to the Minister soon. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/04/process-for-the-appointment-of-a-governor-for-a-six-month-term
2 Apr 2025 - FMA announce a review of the advice sector to help drive better outcomes for industry and consumers. It will focus on four key themes, which are:
Consumer preferences and demographics
Industry business models
Digital advice and innovation
Ease of provision of financial advice
2 Apr 2025 - The FMA release a Regulatory Returns snapshot for 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024. Key statistics (as of 30 June 2024)
1410 licensed financial advice providers submitted regulatory returns
8472 financial advisers compared to 9300 in 2021
Life and health insurance are the most common financial products advice is provided on
36 FAPs are providing digital advice and 86,500 retail clients received digital advice
97% of complaints received were settled within 3 months.
https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/reports-and-papers/financial-advice-providers-industry-snapshot/
2 Apr 2025 - The FMA publish Samantha Barrass' speech from the Financial Advice New Zealand Conference. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/speeches-and-presentations/financial-advice-new-zealand-conference/
2 Apr 2025 - The FMA release Jess Learns to Invest Episode 3 | Understanding Managed Funds with Tom Hartmann. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/podcast/jess-learns-to-invest-episode-3/
3 Apr 2025 - APRA has accepted a Court Enforceable Undertaking from Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) to address ongoing weaknesses in the bank’s non-financial risk management practices and risk culture. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-accepts-court-enforceable-undertaking-from-anz-and-increases-capital-add
4 Apr 2025 - Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hon Scott Simpson, March 2025 diary released with the following potential financial services sector related meeting noted:
6 Mar 2025 – MEET: Commerce Commission Chair and CE (Dr John Small, Adrienne Meikle)
10 Mar 2025 – MEET: NZ Banking Association CE (Roger Beaumont)
10 Mar 2025 – MEET: FMA Chair and Acting CE (Craig Stobo and Liam Mason)
10 Mar 2025 – MEET: Financial Services Stakeholders (Carl Blanchard & invited guests)
10 Mar 2025 - SPEAK: Financial Services Forum
11 Mar 2025 – SPEAK: Fintech Hui
13 Mar 2025 – MEET: Financial Ombudsman Reviewer (Nanette Moreau)
18 Mar 2025 -MEET: Financial Services Council CE (Kirk Hope)
18 Mar 2025 – MEET: ASB CEO (Vittoria Short, Louise Griffin)
19 Mar 2025 – MEET: FAMNZ (Leigh Hodgetts)
24 Mar 2025 – MEET: NZBA (Roger Beaumont and Dan Huggins)
25 Mar 2025 -MEET: CE of Westpac (Catherine McGrath)
26 Mar 2025 – MEET: Banking Ombudsman CE and Chair (Nicola Sladden and Miriam Dean)
26 Mar 2025 – MEET: Retirement Commissioner (Jane Wrightson)
27 Mar 2025 – MEET: FINCAP (Jake Lilley, Fleur Howard)
27 Mar 2025 – MEET: Financial Service Federation (Katie Rawlinson)
28 Mar 2025 – ATTEND: NZ Banking Assoc Council
31 Mar 2025 - MEET: Suncorp CEO (Jimmy Higgins)
4 Apr 2025 - The Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR) held its quarterly meeting on Monday 24 March 2025. The Council discussed the key external factors that could impact the financial system, noting in particular the rapid developments in artificial intelligence and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. The Council reviewed developments in New Zealand’s payments system and noted the importance of upcoming developments like the passage of the Customer and Products Data Bill. https://www.cofr.govt.nz/news-and-publications/quarterly-statement-by-cofr-march-2025.html
4 Apr 2025 - The FMA have published their fair conduct programme insights report. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/reports-and-papers/fair-conduct-programme-insights-report/
7 Apr 2025 - The RBNZ is welcoming applications to the Exchange Settlement Account System (ESAS) under new access criteria announced on 31 March 2025. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/04/rbnz-welcomes-new-applications-to-the-exchange-settlement-account-system
Fidelity Life announce premium changes
Effective from 1 April 2025, Fidelity Life are re-rating the premiums for customers in the Adviser channel.
Effective from 1 April 2025, Fidelity Life are re-rating the premiums for customers in the Adviser channel. Key aspects are below:
A re-shaping of the pricing curve to reflect a lower risk due to the underwriting selection effect.
A 5% increase to all lump sum premiums and disability premiums (where the benefit period is 2 or 5 years). And a 7.5% increase to all disability covers with a benefit period of ‘to age 65’ or ‘to age 70’ due to claims experience.
An adjustment of the rates for all customers.
More news:
Jon-Paul Hale suggests reasons for medical premium increases
Fitch has lifted the outlook on ASB's credit rating to positive from stable
ANZ-Roy Morgan’s report shows consumer confidence has dipped to 93.2
The Reserve Bank is considering loosening its bank capital rules
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
CoFI came into effect; RBNZ appears before the Finance and Expenditure committee; COFR publish Q1 2025 regulatory initiatives calendar; Parliament indicate IPP3A will come into force on 1 May 2026; RBNZ is opening access to its Exchange Settlement Account System’ APRA release private health insurance risk equalisation stats; Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill, Financial Markets Conduct Amendment Bill and the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Amendment Bill were introduced into Parliament.
31 Mar 2025 - The Conduct of Financial Institutions (CoFI) regime came into full effect today. 77 financial institutions have been licensed by the FMA - 17 banks, 46 insurers and 14 non-bank deposit takers (credit unions, building societies and some finance companies). https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/cofi-regime-in-effect/
31 Mar 2025 - The RBNZ appeared before the Finance and Expenditure Committee (FEC) for their banking inquiry and discussed the wide range of initiatives underway to support and improve competition in the banking sector. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/03/rbnz-outlines-work-to-support-competition
31 Mar 2025 - The Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR) has published their Regulatory Initiatives Calendar for Q1 2025. https://www.cofr.govt.nz/files/regulatory-initiatives-calendar/regulatory-initiatives-calendar-q1-2025.pdf
31 Mar 2025 - Parliament has indicated that IPP3A will come into force on 1 May 2026, and all organisations will need to have their systems in place to meet the new requirements by then. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner is aiming to have the guidance developed and published on their website to allow organisations plenty of time to implement the requirements of the new Act. https://privacy.org.nz/news/statements-media-releases/the-privacy-amendment-bill-is-coming-soon-heres-what-you-need-to/
31 Mar 2025 - The RBNZ is opening access to its Exchange Settlement Account System (ESAS) following a comprehensive public consultation. The new criteria will open ESAS eligibility to more non-bank entities in two phases:
• First, to licensed non-bank deposit takers (NBDTs) in New Zealand; and
• Second, to other entities that meet the access criteria. This may include payment service providers, overseas deposit takers and operators of designated Financial Market Infrastructures (FMIs)."
31 Mar 2025 - APRA has released its private health insurance risk equalisation statistics publication for the 2023/24 financial year. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-releases-private-health-insurance-risk-equalisation-statistics-for-4
31 Mar 2025 - Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill introduced into Parliament. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/6193a33c-40d6-4354-0d5a-08dd6ff875cc?Tab=history
31 Mar 2025 - Financial Markets Conduct Amendment Bill introduced into Parliament. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/8c9fe069-724a-4200-0d58-08dd6ff875cc?Tab=history
31 Mar 2025 - Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Amendment Bill introduced into Parliament. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/a4d89cb0-ce82-4d28-0d59-08dd6ff875cc?Tab=history
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
FMA publish monthly market engagement; research highlights barriers that can prevent NZers from opening bank accounts; Customer and Product Data Bill completes third reading; FMA consult on a range of class exemptions due to expire; committee stage of Privacy Amendment Bill completed; Chief Ombudsman releases final report.
23 Mar 2025 - The FMA now publishes monthly market engagement undertaken by the FMA on their website. https://www.fma.govt.nz/business/
25 Mar 2025 - New research commissioned by the RBNZ has highlighted barriers that can prevent some New Zealanders from opening bank accounts. The research, titled First steps to financial inclusion, explored opening bank accounts from the perspective of frontline bank staff and customers. It found that certain groups were reported to be most likely to find it difficult to open a bank account, including recent migrants, rural communities, the elderly, people with disabilities, and trusts (including Māori trusts). https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/03/new-report-suggests-that-collective-action-is-needed-to-improve-access-to-bank-accounts
25 Mar 2025 - Customer and Product Data Bill completes third reading. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/770A5F4E-2185-4F1F-1395-08DC75512299?Tab=history
26 Mar 2025 - The FMA are consulting on a range of class exemption that are due to expire before the end of 2026. https://www.fma.govt.nz/business/focus-areas/consultation/expiring-class-legislative-notices/
27 Mar 2025 - The committee stage of the Privacy Amendment Bill was completed. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/56e3fbe7-1f3d-464e-b54d-08dbae8917ae?Tab=history
27 Mar 2025 - The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has released his final report to Parliament. https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/news
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
The XRB remind entities to upgrade systems in light of NZ IRFS 18 requirements and will hold a webinar on NZ IFRS 18 requirements; XRB seek feedback on NZ IFRS 18 RDR concessions; XRB publish Transition planning - guidance for staff; FMA file criminal charges against former financial adviser; FMA release latest podcast; RBNZ wins two awards at Central Banking awards.
18 Mar 2025 - NZ IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements is mandatory for all Tier 1 and Tier 2 for-profit entities from 1 January 2027. Entities will likely need to update their systems, record-keeping and the financial statement preparation process by this date. NZ IFRS 18 will replace NZ IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements and introduces several new requirements, including
New categories and subtotals in the statement of profit or loss
Disclosure requirements for management-defined performance measures
Enhanced guidance on grouping (aggregation and disaggregation) of information
https://www.xrb.govt.nz/news/latest-news/
18 Mar 2025 - The XRB is holding a need-to-know webinar update session on 8 April at 12:30pm, which will include a high-level overview of the new NZ IFRS 18 requirements. https://www.xrb.govt.nz/news/latest-news/
18 Mar 2025 - The XRB are seeking feedback on proposed NZ IFRS 18 RDR concessions for Tier 2 for-profit entities via an open consultation. Consultation closes 29 May 2025. https://www.xrb.govt.nz/consultations/accounting-standards-open-for-consultation/rdr-concessions-nz-ifrs-18/
18 Mar 2025 - The XRB publish 'Transition planning - Guidance for staff'. This guide is for staff involved in coordinating or leading the transition planning process in their organisation. It covers the thinking and related business processes to develop a transition plan, as well as the drafting of the transition plan itself. https://www.xrb.govt.nz/dmsdocument/5342/
18 Mar 2025 - The FMA has filed criminal charges against former financial adviser David McEwen, for failing to comply with an FMA stop order, due to concerns he is still contacting potential investors. https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/criminal-charges-against-david-mcewen/
20 Mar 2025 - FMA releases ‘5 mins with the FMA’ podcast #11: Outcomes Focused Regulation. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/podcast/5-mins-with-the-fma-podcast-11/
21 Mar 2025 - The RBNZ has been named as the winner of two categories in this year’s Central Banking awards - the Corporate Services Initiative Award for their Information Management Uplift, and the Green Award for their climate stress testing work. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/03/rbnz-takes-out-two-wins-in-this-years-central-banking-awards
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
Assistant Governor Kate Kolich leaving RBNZ; FMA publishes speech by Craig Stobo to the Institute of Directors and New Zealand Initiative; Annual review of PHARMAC published; FSC publish their March 2025 Regulatory Forecast; FIU release latest National Risk Assessment, which RBNZ welcomes; FMA considering a class exemption to provide relief from certain reporting, audit and assurance obligations.
11 Mar 2025 - Assistant Governor/General Manager Information, Data and Analytics Kate Kolich will be leaving RBNZ at the end of March 2025. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/03/general-manager-information-data-and-analytics-departs
13 Mar 2025 - The FMA publishes speech by Craig Stobo to the Institute of Directors and New Zealand Initiative. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/speeches-and-presentations/speech-by-craig-stobo-to-the-institute-of-directors-and-nz-initiative/
13 Mar 2025 - Final report on the 2023/24 Annual review of the Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) was published by the Health Committee. https://selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/6/c493f47b-6545-4a41-1243-08dd61b37e3c
14 Mar 2025 - The FSC publish their March 2025 Regulatory Forecast, available to FSC members.
17 Mar 2025 - The Police’s Financial Intelligence Unit have released the latest National Risk Assessment for 2024. https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/fiu-nra-2024.pdf
17 Mar 2025 - The RBNZ has welcomed the release of the latest National Risk Assessment (NRA) from Police’s Financial Intelligence Unit. The report assesses threat and sectoral vulnerability, exploring their impact on money laundering and terrorism financing risk and proliferation financing in New Zealand. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/03/reserve-bank-supports-the-release-of-the-new-zealand-national-risk-assessment
17 Mar 2025 - The FMA are considering a class exemption to provide relief from certain reporting, audit and assurance obligations under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 and the Financial Markets Conduct Regulations 2014 for registered Managed Investment Schemes that are in wind-up. Consultation closes 12 May 2025. https://www.fma.govt.nz/business/focus-areas/consultation/consultation-proposed-reporting-audit-and-assurance-exemptions-for-schemes-in-wind-up/
Legal and regulatory update for the life and health insurance sector
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Adrian Orr has resigned; FMA release episode 2 of Jess Learns to Invest podcast; The Customer and Product Data Bill was read a second time; 2023/24 Annual reviews of the Financial Markets Authority, the Takeovers Panel and the External Reporting Board were published; RBNZ welcomes the release of Te Ōhanga Māori 2023 report.
5 Mar 2025 - Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Adrian Orr has resigned and will finish in the role on 31 March. Deputy Governor Christian Hawkesby will be Acting Governor until 31 March. From 1 April the Minister of Finance, on recommendation from the RBNZ Board, will appoint a temporary Governor for a period of up to six months. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/03/rbnz-governor-adrian-orr-resigns
5 Mar 2025 - The FMA release Women who Invest with Frances Cook | Jess Learns to Invest Podcast Episode 2. https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/podcast/jess-learns-to-invest-episode-2/#:~:text=Join%20Jess%2C%20a%2027-year-old%20newbie%20in%20the%20world,will%20share%20invaluable%20insights%20and%20tips%20about%20investing.
6 Mar 2025 - The Customer and Product Data Bill was read a second time. https://bills.parliament.nz/v/6/770a5f4e-2185-4f1f-1395-08dc75512299?Tab=history
6 Mar 2025 - 2023/24 Annual reviews of the Financial Markets Authority and the Takeovers Panel were published. https://selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/6/6e50c091-a305-4df6-4d5b-08dd5d059012
6 Mar 2025 - 2023/24 Annual review of the the External Reporting Board was published. https://selectcommittees.parliament.nz/v/6/4d1f9c2c-fc27-4249-4d5f-08dd5d059012
10 Mar 2025 - The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has welcomed the release of Te Ōhanga Māori 2023 report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment and Business and Economic Research Limited. Te Ōhanga Māori 2023 report builds on a series of reports that deepen our collective understanding of the Māori economy, and will inform and shape ongoing RBNZ initiatives, including Māori access to capital research and dashboard, facilitating lending on whenua Māori, the Māori data pilot, Te Waka Hourua, RBNZ's Te Ao Māori strategy, and related financial inclusion workstreams. https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/03/reserve-bank-of-new-zealand-welcomes-release-of-te-ohanga-maori-2023-report