Project insurance workflow
How to get project insurance
Use this preparation sequence before relying on insurance for a residential development or construction project. The broker, insurer, contract, lender and lawyer must confirm the actual cover and responsibility.
- 01Identify your role: client, developer, principal, project manager, main contractor or subcontractor.
- 02Review the construction contract and consultant agreements.
- 03Check lender insurance requirements.
- 04List the project risks.
- 05Gather project information.
- 06Gather consent and drawing information.
- 07Gather contractor and consultant details.
- 08Confirm who is arranging contract works cover.
- 09Confirm public liability limits.
- 10Confirm professional indemnity requirements.
- 11Ask for quotes from a broker or insurer.
- 12Complete proposal forms accurately.
- 13Disclose known risks.
- 14Review exclusions and excesses.
- 15Confirm interested parties.
- 16Obtain a certificate of currency.
- 17Save the policy schedule and wording.
- 18Record the renewal or expiry date.
- 19Update cover if project value, scope or programme changes.
- 20Handover insurance records at completion.
Stop-work warning
Do not start works until the required insurance is confirmed in writing and the certificate of currency is saved in the project records.
Verification
Source / where to check
Use current official information and the controlled documents for the actual project.
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.
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.
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.
Insufficient data to verify — confirm against the current consented drawings, specifications, Auckland Council requirements, Auckland Unitary Plan, NZ Building Code, relevant NZ Standard, consultant advice, manufacturer instructions, insurance broker, insurer, lender, lawyer, accountant or project contract.