Employer’s Liability Insurance
Redwood Insurance Brokers makes employers’ liability insurance clear, practical, and relevant to employing people in New Zealand. We help you understand where ACC ends and legal exposure can still arise, and we structure cover to support your business if an employee alleges workplace injury, illness, or harm and seeks damages or legal costs outside ACC. If something goes wrong, we back you and help drive the claim through.
Why employers’ liability insurance matters
In New Zealand, ACC covers most personal injury claims, which is a huge benefit. But employers can still face legal exposure in certain situations, such as allegations of workplace-related illness, stress, or harm where damages are sought outside the ACC framework, and where legal defence costs arise while you respond.
Employers’ liability insurance is designed to help protect your business against certain employee-related claims and defence costs, subject to policy wording, exclusions, and the facts of the situation.
Plain-English takeaway: ACC helps a lot, but it does not make employer risk disappear.
What we help with
We can help you organise:
Employers’ liability cover suited to your industry, activities, and workforce
Defence costs support through the claims process (policy dependent)
Structure alongside other covers such as public liability, statutory liability, and management liability
Contract requirements where principals request evidence of cover
Risk alignment for hazardous work, multiple sites, contractors, and seasonal labour
We’ll talk through how work is performed, who controls the workplace, and what a realistic claim could involve, then recommend limits that make sense.
Employers’ liability vs statutory liability vs ACC (we make it clear)
These are often confused:
ACC: no-fault injury cover for most personal injuries in New Zealand.
Employers’ liability: may respond to certain employee-related claims for damages and defence costs outside ACC, subject to wording.
Statutory liability: may help with defence costs, and sometimes certain penalties where legally insurable, for unintentional breaches of specific legislation, subject to wording and law.
Plain-English takeaway: different tools for different risks. We help you choose what you actually need.
The gaps we look for (so you don’t find them mid-claim)
This is where a broker earns their keep. We check for:
Correct declared activities and wage figures (matters for underwriting and claims)
Multiple sites and site control (who controls the workplace can matter)
Contractor and labour-hire arrangements (who is the employer in practice)
Known circumstances and incident reporting requirements
Conduct exclusions and how terms like deliberate or reckless are defined
Overlap or gaps with management liability and other covers
Limits that do not match defence cost reality
If there is a gap, we will tell you straight and explain the practical options.
Risk management that makes claims less likely and easier to defend
You do not need perfection. You need consistent basics:
Clear inductions and training
Incident reporting and investigation
Documented procedures for higher-risk tasks
Contractor management
Good records that can be relied on later
Plain-English takeaway: good process reduces the chance of a claim and improves your position if allegations are made.
How Redwood does it differently
Independent
We compare options across insurers and recommend the best match for your business.
Advice, not just a quote
We explain what the policy does, and what it does not do, in plain English.
A sharper risk lens
We look at your workforce structure and real exposures, not just an industry label.
Claims advocacy
If you need to claim, we help you notify correctly, present the facts, and keep momentum.
Fast-moving
You deal with people who can make progress, not a maze of hand-offs.
Our process (simple, on purpose)
Quick chat: workforce, sites, activities, and key risk points
Review: existing cover (or start fresh)
Recommendations: clear options with differences in limits, deductibles, key terms, and conditions
Placement: we organise the policies and confirm key details
Ongoing support: changes, renewals, and claims help
If you need to claim
Employment-related matters can be stressful and time-sensitive. We help you:
Understand what to do first and what to document
Notify the insurer correctly and on time
Provide the right information without overcomplicating it
Coordinate with the insurer and advisers
Push for a fair outcome
Want a free second opinion on your Employer liability insurance?
Bring your current policy (or just tell us what you want covered). We’ll review it, explain what matters, and show you options.
FAQ’s
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Often yes, depending on your industry and exposure. ACC covers most personal injury, but employers can still face certain claims and legal costs outside ACC.
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No. Statutory liability relates to unintentional breaches of legislation, subject to wording. Employers’ liability focuses on certain employee-related claims and defence costs outside ACC.
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It depends on the wording, the allegations, and the facts. We’ll explain what is realistic and what is commonly excluded.
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Even small employers can face claims. We’ll help you weigh the risk and decide what makes sense.
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No. Insurance is financial protection. You still need sound health and safety processes.
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No. Personal grievances and employment relationship disputes usually fall under Employment Disputes or Employment Practices Liability. Employers’ liability is generally focused on injury or illness-related claims and legal costs outside ACC, subject to wording.
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No. We help businesses of many sizes. This page is focused on NZ employers’ liability advice.