We believe the key to sustainability lies in reducing risk, and fewer risks means you can avoid unnecessary hardship and be provided with insurance at an affordable cost.
Our ability to pay all genuine claims, and provide insurance to you at an affordable cost, is affected by environmental and social factors, ranging from climate change to crime.
That's why we see it as our responsibility - and more importantly, good business - to operate in a way that recognises these impacts and responds to them effectively. So how do we manage our business in a sustainable way to ensure our survival in the future, and to reduce risk?
Because we see global warming and climate change as a serious business issue we are reducing our own environmental footprint.
This is one of the reasons Lantern insurance chose to be based in the Q4 building, Smales Farm, on Auckland's North Shore. The new building has many green features including: feature cedar shutters, rain water harvesting, floor-to-ceiling double glazing, natural ventilation and an exposed elevator shaft with a glass elevator. Staff are leaving the car at home and either walking, cycling or catching the bus to this well serviced location.
NZI's new 5 Green Star rated office building in Auckland will be one of New Zealand's most sustainable buildings.
Over the past year NZI have also launched a number of sustainable insurance products, available to Lantern Insurance customers, which not only make good environmental sense; they also save our customers money on their power and fuel bills.
House insurance
NZI will rebuild your entire home under an insurance claim, and depending what policy you take out, can contribute either $15,000 or $20,000 to add sustainable features.
Contents insurance
If you make a claim for whiteware, the item can be replaced with an energy-efficient equivalent, provided the item needs to be replaced.
Motor vehicle insurance
Low kilometres
If you drive less than 5,000km in a policy year you’ll receive a 10% discount on your comprehensive vehicle premium.
Hybrid or fuel efficient vehicle insurance
If you have a hybrid or fuel efficient vehicle that meets the qualifying criteria, you’ll receive a 10% discount on your comprehensive vehicle premium. The maximum combined discount for driving a hybrid vehicle less than 5000km per year is 15%.
NZI Commercial Motor
If you drive a hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicle that meets the qualifying criteria, you can receive a 10% discount on your comprehensive vehicle insurance premiums. (Note: This offer does not apply to fleet rated or rural business).
NZI Residential Dwellings (Multi-Dwelling)
For customers who insure their Body Corporate will receive an additional $5,000 per unit to incorporate sustainable products (up to a maximum of $25,000 per policy) when rebuilding, following a total loss to one or more unit.
NZI Material Damage
If you make a claim for office equipment under this insurance cover, you will have the opportunity to replace items with energy efficient equivalents provided the items need to be replaced.
NZI Material Damage - ‘Green Building Extension’
Customers who purchase the ‘green building’ extension on their policy will receive up to $250,000 extra to use more sustainable products when rebuilding their property following a total loss.
We are making environment and community central to the way we run our business, a commitment that embraces our 2,000 employees, our policyholders, shareholders and service providers. For a company which has almost 2.5 million policies in force and with a wide range of business products, this is an opportunity to make a significant difference. We encourage our customers and suppliers to do the same. We believe everyone - from individuals and families to communities and organisations - can contribute to protect our environment
Sustainability reporting
Sustainability reports measure a company's performance in three important areas: social, economic and environmental. We are proud to be the first insurer in New Zealand to report on these dimensions of its performance. NZI's sustainability programme is aimed at making the places in which we live safer and more sustainable for our customers, suppliers, stakeholders and the wider community.
The report details the steps we have made in these areas since our first report in 2005.
Read the reports online at www.seeonline.co.nz.
We welcome your feedback - please feel free to send your comments to sustainability@iag.co.nz