Comprehensive insurance solutions protecting orchards, vineyards, and horticultural operations across New Zealand. From kiwifruit and apples to wine grapes and market vegetables, we find the right cover for your horticultural business.
New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture sectors are world-renowned, producing premium kiwifruit, apples, wine grapes, avocados, berries, and a diverse range of vegetables. These industries contribute significantly to the national economy and represent substantial investments for growers.
Horticultural and viticultural operations face unique and often unpredictable risks that can significantly impact productivity, profitability, and livelihood. From adverse weather events to biosecurity threats and market volatility, the sector requires specialised insurance protection.
Many orchard and vineyard ownership agreements, bank financing arrangements, and supply contracts (including Zespri and other cooperative agreements) require proof of adequate insurance. The right cover protects your investment, your crops, your infrastructure, and your ability to rebuild after unexpected events.
Every horticultural operation has different insurance needs based on the type of produce, scale, location, and specific risks. Here are the essential covers most NZ horticulture and viticulture businesses should consider:
Protects horticultural crops against weather damage, disease, pest damage, and market failure. Essential for kiwifruit, apples, wine grapes, avocados, berries, and vegetable crops. Can include cover for hail, frost, wind, drought, and flood damage. Particularly important given NZ's variable climate and increasing extreme weather events.
Specialised cover for glasshouses, polytunnels, shade houses, and controlled environment structures. Covers damage from storm, wind, hail, and fire. Essential for vegetable producers, seedling nurseries, and high-value crop operations. Includes cover for associated equipment like heating systems and climate control.
Covers farm buildings, structures, and contents against damage from fire, storm, lightning, theft, and vandalism. Includes packhouses, coolstores, processing facilities, farm houses, and rural infrastructure. Essential for protecting substantial capital investments in permanent crops and buildings.
Covers specialised horticultural machinery including tractors, frost fans, irrigation systems, spraying equipment, harvesters, and packhouse equipment. Can include cover for attached implements, accessories, and portable equipment. Essential for modern horticultural operations.
Protects your horticultural business if a member of the public, contractor, or visitor is injured or their property is damaged while on your property. Particularly important for operations with farm tours, U-pick operations, cellar door venues, or regular contractor visits.
Covers lost income and continuing expenses if your horticultural operations are interrupted by an insured event. Essential for maintaining cash flow during rebuild periods after natural disasters, frost events, or major incidents. Particularly important for perennial crops with long establishment periods.
Covers costs associated with recalling horticultural products due to contamination, disease, or biosecurity issues. Essential for businesses supplying major retailers and export markets. Can include cover for recall costs, wasted product, and reputation management.
Covers horticultural produce during transit to market, storage in coolstores, and while in the care of third parties. Essential for export growers and businesses supplying major retailers. Covers damage from temperature control failures, accidents, and handling damage.
NZ horticulture and viticulture operators face numerous risks that can result in significant financial loss. Understanding these risks helps ensure you have adequate insurance protection:
Horticultural insurance costs vary significantly based on factors such as crop type, scale, location, asset values, claims history, and risk management practices. Here are typical costs for NZ horticulture and viticulture operations:
| Cover Type | Typical Cost Range | Factors Affecting Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Crop Insurance | 3% - 12% of crop value / year | Crop type, location, cover level, historical claims |
| Glasshouse Insurance | $5,000 - $30,000+ / year | Structure value, construction type, location |
| Property Insurance | $3,000 - $20,000+ / year | Building values, location, construction type |
| Equipment & Machinery | $2,000 - $15,000+ / year | Equipment value, type, age, security |
| Public Liability | $2,000 - $15,000+ / year | Operation type, visitor activities, contract requirements |
| Business Interruption | $2,000 - $12,000+ / year | Revenue coverage, indemnity period, excess |
These are indicative costs only. Get a tailored quote from our brokers to understand your specific insurance costs. We compare multiple rural and horticultural insurers to find you the best cover at competitive prices.
Our brokers understand the horticulture and viticulture sector and work with specialist rural and horticultural insurers to find you the best cover for your business.
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