Travel Insurance for New Zealand

Ms Mars on 27/09/2025 - 16:27
Last edited 27/09/2025 - 19:14 by 1 other user

Hi, would love some suggestions on best travel insurance, travelling to NZ for Christmas.

We would be two families meeting up in NZ. Family 1: two adults and 2yo, family 2: two adults and 16yo.
Some accommodation will be shared Airbnb, some separate. Nothing too adventurous is planned and each family will have car hire.

My concern is that we have elderly parents who are not doing too well health wise. If we need to pull out, will the other family still be ok with the shared accommodation. We have had trouble securing this accommodation as it is a very busy period.

Have not travelled for some years and looking for travel insurance suggestions.

Is it best to book as a group or individually?

TIA

Travel Insurance New Zealand Oceania Travel Insurance

Comments

  • Kail on 27/09/2025 - 16:55
    +1

    An elderly relative of mine had to go to hospital overseas and had no trouble claiming from CoverMore, they were very helpful.

    • mooseca on 27/09/2025 - 17:23

      I think they mean they have parents here in Australia and may have to cancel or return home

      • jv on 27/09/2025 - 20:44
        -1

        I doubt anyone would cover you if someone at home falls ill…

        • Ms Mars on 28/09/2025 - 07:09

          Yes, I’m meaning, if one of my husbands parents pass.
          We are sharing some costs of out travel with another family and I hope this won’t affect their part of the trip if we did have to cancel.

  • Benoffie on 27/09/2025 - 18:37

    Try Tokio Marine or Allianz direct. Most go via either anyway

    • Ms Mars on 28/09/2025 - 07:10

      Thanks, I will look them up.

  • boomramada on 27/09/2025 - 18:44
    +1

    Would love some suggestions on best travel insurance, travelling to NZ for Christmas.

    Best travel insurance is the one with a PDS that covers all your requirements.

    • YesPleaseThankYou on 27/09/2025 - 19:43

      This ⬆️

      The problem is that the people who ask for the 'best' travel insurance, health insurance, etc are the ones that don't read the PDS documents. It's always interesting to read their 'after' stories.

      • Ms Mars on 28/09/2025 - 07:11
        +1

        I will be reading all the fine print, just looking for suggestions on where to start looking. Thank you.

    • Ms Mars on 28/09/2025 - 07:24
      +1

      Yes, thanks, looking for the best cover not the best price. Was just hoping for suggestions before I start looking.

  • bargaino on 27/09/2025 - 19:19
    +3

    Question unclear? What are you wanting to insure against?

    For cancellation costs if your parents fall ill? That will be difficult, as insurance is for unforeseeable events, not pre-existing conditions.

    Australians have reciprocal medicare cover in NZ, but insurance still has benefits.
    For car hire, take advantage of the excess cover in travel insurance, and don't get ripped off for CDW (excess reduction) by the hire-car company.

    • jv on 27/09/2025 - 20:42

      not pre-existing conditions.

      Which pre-existing conditions are you referring to?

      • Muppet Detector on 29/09/2025 - 23:32

        Which pre-existing conditions are you referring to?

        Life of the parent.

        • jv on 30/09/2025 - 00:16

          They not covered by the policy.

          Read the PDS.

          • Muppet Detector on 30/09/2025 - 00:24

            @jv: That's ok, "they're" not going anywhere (unless they die, I suppose). But OP wants insurance to cover themselves in case the pre existing condition of the parents changes.

    • Ms Mars on 28/09/2025 - 07:16

      Both my husbands parents are quite elderly and he is hoping we don’t need to cancel if one of them becomes seriously unwell.

      • bargaino on 28/09/2025 - 09:08
        +2

        How old? over 85 can be an exclusion.

        who are not doing too well health wise.

        That sounds like a pre-existing condition, in which case insurance cover may be limited.

        during 3 years prior to issue of Your Policy, the Close relative: has not been hospitalised (including for day surgery or emergency department), required prescription medication, sought or received medical advice from a Medical practitioner or other health care professional, has had tests, investigations, care, treatment or medical attention for the Sickness or Injury that has resulted in Your need to cancel Your Trip or return Home early,

        https://help.fastcover.com.au/article/385-adv25
        https://www.nib.com.au/help/travel/am-i-covered-relative-sic…

        • Ms Mars on 28/09/2025 - 19:36

          Thanks you, that link was helpful as to what might be covered/not covered.

  • jv on 27/09/2025 - 20:41
    +1

    Hi, would love some suggestions on best travel insurance, travelling to NZ for Christmas.

    The free one on your credit card.

    • boomramada on 28/09/2025 - 08:58

      I have used it few times and made a claim as well, no issues.

    • Ponsonby on 28/09/2025 - 11:19

      In our experience, the free credit card insurance policies can be OK or can be quite useless, depending on the policy wording and your circumstances. There is no substitute for reading the policy. And do it every time you travel, as the policy conditions change.

      • boomramada on 29/09/2025 - 08:00

        I'm with CBA, and you agreed upon before you travel, and you can include optional extras. If you think it's useless, which means you have done your homework, the product is not for you.

        For the OP's case, "elderly parents who are not doing too well health wise", I assume a pre-existing medical condition, some insurance covers that with extra cost, some don't.

        " cancel our trip as most of the accommodation is jointly booked" I would book cancellable accommodation, or worst case, divide the cost between other family members if that happens. Or do separate bookings. Even with flights, separate bookings are easier to deal with than group bookings.

  • Stealtho on 28/09/2025 - 06:04

    Do your own on CC, tell the other family do their own. Why couldn’t the other family still sue the accom if you pull out?

  • Ms Mars on 28/09/2025 - 07:20

    I’m hoping that the other families plans will not be affected if we need to cancel our trip as most of the accommodation is jointly booked.
    I am hoping insurance would cover our share of the accommodation so that they don’t need to rebook anything last minute.

  • Lastchancetosee on 28/09/2025 - 07:48
    +1

    It's always a concern travelling if you have elderly parents.

    It is worth your while going to somewhere like the RAA or similar initially to see ehat insurance would work with your special circumstances. We've found Allianz excellent overall, but weren't taking into account returning for sick parents.

    • Ms Mars on 28/09/2025 - 19:37

      Thank you for the suggestion.

  • Muddled dead on 28/09/2025 - 11:18
    +1

    I imagine you would only have accommodation covered if it is booked in your husband's or your own name.
    You would likely need evidence from accomodation that it has been cancelled which would then mean the other family would have to vacate the accommodation when you do.

  • Sensiekatie on 28/09/2025 - 18:38
    +1

    I have somehow gotten on the list of a Travel Agent email full of interesting articles and updates. I'm learning all sorts of things and hearing news that hasn't made mainstream news too.

    Travel agents have been advised for a while now to recommend all flights be booked as flexible because if things change, flights can be changed easily. This obviously has come out of COVID and the frequent changing of status of flights, cancellations, and route changes.

    Accommodation: the recommendation is to only book where late cancellation (even within 24 hrs) is possible. All other bookings also recommended that the agents check cancellation policies of companies and choose those that have some flexibility or rill offer credits if plans change.

    The same source has also stated that travel insurance generally has increased the number of things they don't accept as good reasons to change travel plans…. Also leading to the flexible fare option recommendation. Additional travel insurance changes in other areas too as the world situations and pandemic has cost them heaps….

    I've had family here needing to fly to NZ for family emergencies and they've had flight disruptions requiring extra accommodation in NZ. Plenty of flight cancellations over there
    Just as there is here.

    • Ms Mars on 28/09/2025 - 19:39

      Thank you for your insights. Good things to consider.

    • YesPleaseThankYou on 28/09/2025 - 20:14
      +1

      The same source

      What's the mystery source? Sources typically have biases.

      There's little that's revelatory in what you have posted—it's common sense.

  • BrettSh on 29/09/2025 - 13:27

    Maybe these reviews would be helpful?
    https://www.productreview.com.au/c/travel-insurance

    We visit family in NZ yearly and use 1Cover, although primarily to reduce the rental car excess.

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