Visit vero.co.nz/eqc-update for more information on how the EQC changes affect your home or lifestyle block insurance.

If you choose to add the Excess-free windscreen and window glass replacement optional benefit you won’t need to pay an excess for windscreen or window glass replacement as long as you’re not claiming for any other loss or damage or legal liability.

If you choose to add the Excess-free windscreen and window glass optional benefit it provides cover for accidental damage to your vehicle’s windscreen or window glass as long as the damage is repaired or replaced. You won’t need to pay an excess as long as you’re not claiming for any other loss or damage or for legal liability.

With your existing Comprehensive cover, if there is accidental damage to your windscreen or window glass that can be repaired, the current Windscreen and window glass benefit allows you to claim for this repair with no excess. If your windscreen or window glass needs to be replaced, then an excess of $500 will apply.

If you have Third Party, Fire and Theft Cover, there is cover if your windscreen or window glass is accidentally damaged by fire or theft, however you will need to pay your excess. There is also limited cover if your vehicle’s windscreen or window glass is accidentally damaged by an uninsured third party and certain requirements are met.

If you have Third Party Only Cover, there is no general cover for accidental damage to your vehicle’s windscreen or window glass, but there is limited cover if your vehicle’s windscreen or window glass is accidentally damaged by an uninsured third party and certain requirements are met.

This optional benefit is available from 2 April 2022 for all new motor policies. You also can add this optional benefit at your policy renewal from 2 April 2022 onwards, or you can choose to select it after renewal (before a loss occurs).

Please talk to the Vero team on 0800 831 123 to obtain a quote and add the Excess-free windscreen and window glass optional benefit.

The new ANZ Asset Protector insurance policy wording has been re-written in plain language and achieved the WriteMark Plus.

The WriteMark is an internationally recognised quality mark awarded to documents written to a high standard of plain language.

The WriteMark Plus shows that as well as meeting established plain language criteria, we’ve rigorously tested the policy wording with readers and incorporated their feedback into the final version.

Both ANZ Asset Protector and ANZ Base Protect policy wordings now include a communicable disease exclusion.

Why has Vero added this exclusion?

We’ve added the communicable disease exclusion to ensure we can continue to be there for our customers in the long term.

Like all insurance providers, we rely on reinsurance cover – which is insurance for insurance companies. Having reinsurance in place means Vero is able to meet claims costs if there’s a large event like an earthquake or a major flood. Our reinsurance providers have recently added a communicable disease exclusion to the cover they provide us.

It’s important that the cover we provide customers aligns to our reinsurance cover. This is an important part of our ability to be a sustainable business and to ensure we can continue to pay claims in the event of a large-scale event.

Why have reinsurers introduced this exclusion?

Reinsurance can be influenced by external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic that’s had global impact. COVID-19 has resulted in significant financial impacts for reinsurers, and, as such, they have put this exclusion in place to protect the sustainability of their businesses.

Who will the exclusion apply to?

The exclusion will be applied to all Vero-underwritten policies.

It will apply to ANZ Asset Protector and ANZ Base Protect policies that start or renew on or after 16 June 2021.

If you are an existing customer, your renewal documentation will tell you the exact date it applies to you.

When will this exclusion be applied?

This exclusion will affect a claim or portion of a claim that’s related to communicable disease.

A communicable disease includes diseases which are infectious or quarantinable, for example coronaviruses or measles.

Vero remains committed to supporting customers in the event of any claim. If the exclusion applies to your claim or portion of your claim, your claims consultant will discuss it with you.

What are some examples of when the exclusion will apply?

The exclusion will only apply to a claim or portion of a claim that is related to a communicable disease. We'll still pay to repair or replace insured property that has been damaged by insured events – like an earthquake or other natural disaster.

The application of the exclusion will depend on the specific situation. Some examples of when it might apply could include:

• If New Zealand goes into COVID-19 Alert Level 4 while contractors are in the middle of an insurance repair that requires scaffolding at your property. The increased costs of having the scaffolding at your property over the lock-down period may not be covered.
• Any increased costs of a claim if Alert Level rules prevent flood damage from being dried and there are additional costs to reinstate the property due to mould damage which could have been prevented.
• Any increased costs of a claim, for example if due to Alert Level rules portable toilets are required for contractors who are carrying out repairs at your property.

We've removed the no claims bonus benefit from the home and contents sections of the ANZ Asset Protector policy wording – but will continue to provide the discount for home, contents, and motor vehicle policies where the discount criteria are met.

If you are an ANZ Asset Protector customer, your policy schedule will show if this discount has been applied to your policy.