BuildPath NZ logo

Insurance Guide

Understand the insurance questions before works start

Use this section to prepare for insurance conversations, gather proposal information, compare written terms, verify certificates and track expiry. It is not insurance advice and does not state that every product is available or required for every project.

36 insurance topicsClient and PM perspectivesBroker/insurer confirmation requiredLast reviewed 11 August 2026

20-step workflow

How to get project insurance

Identify roles, check contracts and lender requirements, gather the risk pack, seek quotes, disclose facts, review terms and save proof.

Field-by-field guide

How to fill an insurance proposal form

Understand common project fields, where to find the information, example formats and when to ask the broker or insurer.

Do not start works without written confirmation

Do not start works until the required insurance is confirmed in writing and the certificate of currency is saved in the project records.

36 results

Contract works insurance / construction all-risks insurance

Insurance guide

Contract works insurance / construction all-risks insurance may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceProject works and propertyClient / developer / principal

Principal's contract works interest

Insurance guide

Principal's contract works interest may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceProject works and propertyClient / developer / principal

Existing structure insurance for renovations or extensions

Insurance guide

Existing structure insurance for renovations or extensions may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceProject works and propertyClient / developer / principal

Vacant property or site insurance

Insurance guide

Vacant property or site insurance may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceProject works and propertyClient / developer / principal

Public liability / general liability for the principal

Insurance guide

Public liability / general liability for the principal may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceLiabilityClient / developer / principal

Property owner's liability

Insurance guide

Property owner's liability may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceLiabilityClient / developer / principal

Developer liability insurance

Insurance guide

Developer liability insurance may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceLiabilityClient / developer / principal

Professional indemnity for a developer

Insurance guide

Professional indemnity for a developer may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceProfessional riskClient / developer / principal

Directors and officers / management liability

Insurance guide

Directors and officers / management liability may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceBusiness riskClient / developer / principal

Statutory liability

Insurance guide

Statutory liability may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceBusiness riskClient / developer / principal

Cyber insurance for project information

Insurance guide

Cyber insurance for project information may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceBusiness riskClient / developer / principal

Business asset insurance

Insurance guide

Business asset insurance may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceBusiness riskClient / developer / principal

Business motor vehicle insurance

Insurance guide

Business motor vehicle insurance may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceBusiness riskClient / developer / principal

Transit insurance for materials

Insurance guide

Transit insurance for materials may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceProject works and propertyClient / developer / principal

Delay in start-up / advanced loss of profit

Insurance guide

Delay in start-up / advanced loss of profit may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceFinancial riskClient / developer / principal

Latent defects, structural warranty and residential building guarantees

Insurance guide

Latent defects, structural warranty and residential building guarantees may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsurancePost-completionClient / developer / principal

Lender-required insurance

Insurance guide

Lender-required insurance may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceFinancial riskClient / developer / principal

Settlement and completed dwelling insurance

Insurance guide

Settlement and completed dwelling insurance may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsurancePost-completionClient / developer / principal

Home insurance after completion

Insurance guide

Home insurance after completion may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsurancePost-completionClient / developer / principal

Landlord insurance for retained dwellings

Insurance guide

Landlord insurance for retained dwellings may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsurancePost-completionClient / developer / principal

Body corporate insurance for unit title developments

Insurance guide

Body corporate insurance for unit title developments may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsurancePost-completionClient / developer / principal

Insurance during the defects liability period

Insurance guide

Insurance during the defects liability period may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsurancePost-completionClient / developer / principal

Professional indemnity for a project manager

Insurance guide

Professional indemnity for a project manager may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceProfessional riskProject / development / construction manager

Public liability / general liability for a project manager

Insurance guide

Public liability / general liability for a project manager may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceLiabilityProject / development / construction manager

Statutory liability for a project manager

Insurance guide

Statutory liability for a project manager may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceBusiness riskProject / development / construction manager

Management liability for a project-management company

Insurance guide

Management liability for a project-management company may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceBusiness riskProject / development / construction manager

Cyber insurance for a project-management company

Insurance guide

Cyber insurance for a project-management company may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceBusiness riskProject / development / construction manager

Portable equipment, laptop and tools cover

Insurance guide

Portable equipment, laptop and tools cover may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceBusiness riskProject / development / construction manager

Commercial motor vehicle insurance for a project manager

Insurance guide

Commercial motor vehicle insurance for a project manager may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceBusiness riskProject / development / construction manager

Contract works insurance where the project manager is responsible

Insurance guide

Contract works insurance where the project manager is responsible may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceProject works and propertyProject / development / construction manager

Employer-related liability cover

Insurance guide

Employer-related liability cover may be considered for some residential projects or businesses. Whether it is available, suitable or required depends on the role, signed contracts, lender conditions, project facts and current insurer underwriting.

InsuranceLiabilityProject / development / construction manager

Subcontractor insurance verification checklist

Insurance guide

Use this subcontractor insurance verification checklist to check, record and follow up project insurance evidence without treating the record itself as proof of cover.

InsuranceVerification and recordsShared project control

Consultant insurance verification checklist

Insurance guide

Use this consultant insurance verification checklist to check, record and follow up project insurance evidence without treating the record itself as proof of cover.

InsuranceVerification and recordsShared project control

Certificate of currency request form

Insurance guide

Use this certificate of currency request form to check, record and follow up project insurance evidence without treating the record itself as proof of cover.

InsuranceVerification and recordsShared project control

Insurance expiry tracker

Insurance guide

Use this insurance expiry tracker to check, record and follow up project insurance evidence without treating the record itself as proof of cover.

InsuranceVerification and recordsShared project control

Insurance exclusions register

Insurance guide

Use this insurance exclusions register to check, record and follow up project insurance evidence without treating the record itself as proof of cover.

InsuranceVerification and recordsShared project control

Verification

Source / where to check

Use current official information and the controlled documents for the actual project.

Current insurance broker, insurer and policy wording

The proposal form, schedule, endorsements, exclusions, excesses, limits, definitions and full policy wording control the actual insurance. Ask the broker or insurer to answer project-specific questions in writing.

Construction contract, consultant agreements and lender requirements

Confirm who must arrange each policy, required limits, interested parties, evidence, duration and notification obligations against the signed contract, consultant engagements and lender conditions.

Use this as general consumer context for renovations and contract works insurance. Confirm current policy terms and the specific project directly with the broker or insurer.

The prescribed residential building disclosure material includes information about relevant contractor insurance policies, cover, exclusions, guarantees and warranties. Confirm current application with a lawyer or MBIE guidance.

Check the current residential building contract information and disclosure provisions before entering a relevant contract. Obtain legal advice for the project.

Use WorkSafe guidance to understand when a residential owner/developer or project manager may be a PCBU and how duties interact with contractors. Insurance does not replace health and safety duties.

PCBUs working together may share duties and must consult, co-operate and co-ordinate. Contract or insurance arrangements do not remove statutory duties.

Project-specific consented documents and professional advice override generic guidance.

Educational guide only

BuildPath NZ is an educational guide and project-management resource only. It does not replace advice from Auckland Council, a planner, architect, engineer, surveyor, quantity surveyor, lawyer, accountant, lender, insurer, insurance broker, WorkSafe, Watercare, utility provider, building consent authority or other qualified professional.

Read the full disclaimer