Construction
Our Services
Construction Insurance for Builders and Contractors
Construction projects come with tight deadlines, large financial commitments, and risks that can change overnight. Whether you’re a contractor, developer, or builder, the right construction insurance helps protect your project, your reputation, and your bottom line from unexpected setbacks. From securing bonds to protecting work in progress and meeting contract requirements, having the right cover in place means you can focus on delivering the job, knowing your project is properly protected from start to finish.
Builders
Commercial contractors
Residential developers
Civil contractors
Subcontractors
Project managers
Types of Construction Insurance
Cover designed around the way you work
We’ll help make sure your have the right insurance options to protect your business, your people, and your projects, with clear advice to help you get the right cover for your risks.
Core Construction Cover
- Contract Works
- Public Liability
- Professional Indemnity (if design involved)
- Tools & Plant
Project & Compliance Cover
- Contract Surety Bonds
- Builders Warranty
- Principal-controlled policies
- Delay in Start-Up
Contract Requirements
Meeting contract insurance requirements
Many construction contracts require specific limits, wording, and extensions. We help ensure your insurance meets council, principal, and head contractor requirements — avoiding costly delays or rejected documentation.
Hard-to-Place & Earthquake Exposure
High-risk or difficult projects?
Projects with high earthquake exposure, unusual design, large values, or prior claims can be difficult to insure. We work with specialist markets to secure practical solutions when standard insurers decline.
Support when it counts.
If there’s damage, theft, or a claim during the build, we help manage the process — working with insurers so you can focus on getting the project back on track.
Types of Insurance
Extra cover to consider
Depending on how your business operates, you may need additional protection beyond standard policies. We can help you identify optional extensions and specialist cover that strengthen your protection and reduce potential gaps.
Business Insurance
Even if your main risk is the advice you provide, your physical assets still matter. Business insurance can protect your office contents, equipment, and income if you experience damage, theft, or an unexpected interruption. It brings together key covers like property, public liability, and business interruption into one practical policy — helping keep your business running if something disrupts operations.
Management Liability
If you run a professional services business, you carry responsibilities beyond client work. Management liability insurance helps protect you and your directors against claims relating to employment disputes, regulatory investigations, statutory breaches, and alleged mismanagement. It’s designed to safeguard your leadership team and business decisions — not just your professional advice.
Commercial Vehicle Insurance
If your business relies on cars, utes, vans, or light trucks, having the right cover in place is essential. Commercial vehicle insurance helps protect your vehicles against accidental damage, theft, fire, and third-party liability — whether you operate a single vehicle or a fleet. It can cover response costs, legal expenses, client notification, and business interruption — helping you recover quickly and protect your reputation.
Your insurance broker
Why work with us?
With over 26 years’ experience, Sentinel Insurance understands New Zealand’s manufacturing environment, including fire risk exposure, plant dependency, and regulatory requirements.
You receive:
– Practical, tailored advice
– Clear explanations of what you are and aren’t covered for
– Access to quality insurance markets
– Ongoing support when your business evolves
Faq
Answers to common business insurance questions
Here are some of the most common questions New Zealand business owners ask when arranging cover. Not sure where to start? Contact us today.
In many cases, no — the head contractor or principal will arrange Contract Works insurance for the entire project. However, you should never assume this. Always check the contract to confirm whether you’re covered under the main policy or required to arrange your own cover for your portion of the works, tools, or plant.
Who should arrange Contract Works – builder or principal?
There isn’t one standard limit, but many councils and commercial principals in New Zealand require public liability limits of $10 million or $20 million. Contract Works limits typically need to reflect the full contract value of the project, including materials and labour. It’s important to match the limit to the contract to avoid non-compliance.
Yes, in many cases you can. A previous claim doesn’t automatically mean you can’t get insurance — but it may affect terms, deductibles, or pricing. The key is presenting the full context of the claim and demonstrating what risk management improvements have been made since. Specialist placement can make a significant difference here.