Tower has entered into a new partnership with HealthCarePlus, aiming to expand insurance access to New Zealand’s education and public sector workers.
HealthCarePlus is a not-for-profit organisation co-owned by five education unions and the Public Services Association. It currently serves over 180,000 members across the teaching, tertiary, and public service sectors in New Zealand.
This collaboration will enable members of relevant unions to obtain Tower’s house, contents, and motor insurance products.
Through the partnership, Tower joins a network of providers offering various benefits to union members, such as discounted life insurance and health care services.
Jonathan Beale, managing director of partnerships at Tower, expressed the company’s commitment to enhancing insurance accessibility through this alliance.
“Tower is proud to partner with a like-minded Kiwi organisation to offer more New Zealanders easier access to insurance. HealthCarePlus is a not-for-profit that supports the member unions for some of Aotearoa’s most valuable professions; we feel incredibly honoured to support them,” he said.
Starting next month, members of HealthCarePlus will be able to access Tower’s insurance products directly through the HealthCarePlus website and its member platform.
John Seed, chief executive of HealthCarePlus, highlighted the partnership’s value in strengthening member support.
“Partnering with Tower not only helps us bolster our member offering but helps us take another step in protecting New Zealand by way of supporting crucial roles such as teaching and the delivery of public services,” he said.
This new partnership adds HealthCarePlus to a list of organisations that have recently partnered with Tower, including Kiwibank.
Tower has also named the latest recipients of its Climate Change Scholarship, a partnership with the University of Waikato designed to support students pursuing a Bachelor of Climate Change degree.
Each recipient, Maia Waudby and Hannah Dagger, will receive NZ$5,000.
The announcement comes at a time when New Zealand faces increasing pressure to intensify its climate action efforts.
The Climate Change Commission recently released an assessment of the national adaptation plan, highlighting the need for a more proactive approach to managing climate risks.
In addition, a recent survey found that 65% of respondents believe more resources should be allocated to addressing climate-related risks, with nearly 70% citing natural disasters as a significant factor in rising insurance premiums.
The Tower Climate Change Scholarship program, launched in 2021, offers three annual scholarships to students enrolled in the climate change program at the University of Waikato.
Both Waudby and Dagger are focusing their studies on the effects of climate change on Māori and Pacific communities. Waudby, currently in her third year, is involved in a Tower project aimed at reducing emissions within its underwriting portfolios.
