Life Insurance.co.nz
Independent · plain-English · NZ-onlyCover, made plain.

Life cover, worked out properly.

We compare NZ life insurance brokers and explain the policies in plain English — so kiwi families with a mortgage and dependents can pick a sum-insured that actually matches the gap, not the brochure.

  • FSPR-registered brokers
  • Whole NZ market
  • Free cover calculator

The memorable detail

Work out the right number first.

Most kiwi families end up either over- or under-insured because they start with a quote, not a number. The calculator on the right takes thirty seconds and gives you a sensible starting figure based on the NZ heuristic — mortgage debt, ten years of household income, and a buffer per dependant, less your liquid assets.

It's not a substitute for adviser conversation; it's the figure to walk in with so you know whether the quote you're being shown is roughly right.

The Cover Calculator

● Worksheet · NZ heuristic

Sum-insured estimator

Cover calculator inputs
  1. 01

    Of the primary earner being insured.

  2. 02
    $145k

    Both partners' combined gross annual income.

  3. 03

    Children at home, or anyone else you financially support.

  4. 04
    $620k

    Current outstanding balance. Use your latest statement.

  5. 05
    $110k

    KiwiSaver, term deposits, shares — anything drawable in a year.

Recommended sum-insured

$2,460,000

A starting figure for the conversation with a broker — based on the NZ heuristic of mortgage debt + ten years of income + a buffer per dependant, less your liquid assets.

Breakdown

Mortgage debt
$620,000
Income × 10
$1,450,000
Dependants × $250,000
$500,000
Less liquid assets
-$110,000
Rounded recommended
$2,460,000

Educational only. Sum-insured choice depends on circumstances a calculator can't see — talk to an FSPR-registered adviser.

By region

Find a broker near you

At least one vetted local adviser in each major NZ market. Click through for the regional brief and full broker list.

Why this site exists

Because the insurer's own marketing is the worst place to start a cover decision.

Insurers price for the lowest-risk version of you, then upsell. Brokers see every NZ insurer's pricing — and aren't paid more if you buy more.

  1. 01

    We don't sell policies

    We don't take commission from insurers. We point you at NZ-licensed brokers who work the whole market and explain every cover type in plain language first.

  2. 02

    Whole-of-market view

    Brokers we list access AIA, Asteron, Chubb, Fidelity, nib, Partners Life and the underwriters underneath. One conversation, every NZ insurer compared.

  3. 03

    Built for kiwi families

    The cover calculator is tuned for NZ households — mortgage debt, KiwiSaver, ACC overlap, paid parental leave. Not a US calculator with the dollar sign changed.

  4. 04

    Independent reading

    Our long reads are written by humans who've actually claimed on a policy. No insurer-funded blog posts, no affiliate-link bait, no scaremongering.

Ask us directly

Want a broker introduction?

Tell us roughly what you're after and we'll match you with one or two FSPR-registered advisers who can quote across the whole market — no obligation, no on-sell.

  • Every adviser is FSPR-registered and operating under a licensed FAP
  • Free to ask, no obligation either way
  • Whole-of-market quotes, not single-insurer pitches
Get matched with a broker
Tell us roughly what you're after. We'll introduce you to one or two NZ-licensed advisers who can quote across the whole market.

We share your details only with the broker we match you with. No spam, no on-sell.