MANUFACTURING INSURANCE · NZ SPECIALISTS
Manufacturing insurance for NZ businesses
Cover that protects your production line, your equipment, and your supply chain. From standard manufacturing operations to high-risk materials like EPS, we structure cover that responds, including for fire exposure, complex operations, and hard-to-place risks. As a specialist broker with 26+ years experience, we access markets others can’t to find you the right cover.
- No obligation
- Fast response
- Practical solutions
Ready to chat?
Tell us about your situation. We will review your details and be in touch, typically within one business day.
Tell us about your situation. We will review your details and be in touch, typically within one business day.
Why manufacturing businesses in NZ need specialised insurance
Manufacturing businesses face risks that most other industries don’t. From machinery breakdown and fire exposure to product recalls and supply chain delays, a single disruption can quickly impact production, revenue, and customer relationships.
The right insurance helps protect your physical assets, your balance sheet, and your ability to keep operating, even when something unexpected happens.
Food & Beverage
- Product contamination
- Recall exposure
- Export delays
- Temperature control failures
Wood & Paper
- Fire risk from combustible dust
- Equipment breakdown
- Production shutdowns
Machinery & Equipment
- Mechanical failure
- Manual handling injuries
- Workplace safety exposure
Chemicals & Refining
- Hazardous materials
- Fire and explosion risk
- Environmental liability
Plastics & Rubber
- Custom machinery breakdown
- Product defects
- Maintenance risks
Metals & Fabrication
- Plant shutdowns
- Equipment wear
Simple, expert-led insurance advice
We make complex insurance straightforward, from first conversation to cover in place.
Understand your risk
We take the time to understand your business, risks and current cover. No assumptions. No generic advice.
Structure the right cover
We design insurance that actually responds at claim time. Built properly from the start.
Place & support
We secure the right cover and support you ongoing. Especially when things get complex, or it's hard to get insurance in NZ.
Why Choose Us
26 Years Experience
Personal advice
We take the time to understand how your business operates and what risks actually matter. Then we'll recommend cover that’s practical, not overcomplicated.
Industry know-how
We work with businesses across a wide range of industries and understand the common risks they face. That means better recommendations and access to quality cover at competitive rates.
Support when it counts
From getting set up properly to handling changes or claims, we're here to help you stay protected. You’ll have clear guidance at every step.
Solutions for hard to get insurance
If your business is high-risk or difficult to insure, we can help find the right cover through specialist markets. Sentinel Insurance understands New Zealand’s manufacturing environment; including fire risk exposure, EPS, plant dependency, and regulatory requirements.
Get expert advice
Some risks don’t fit neatly into standard insurance. Tell us a bit about your business and what you need covered, we’ll help you work through it and find the right solution.
Prefer to talk now?
021 333 712
We’re happy to have a quick chat about your situation, no obligation.
Email us:
ash@sib.co.nz
We typically reply within one business day.
Client Testimonials
Success stories
What New Zealand business owners say about working with us.
Business Owner
“I contacted Ash to make sure our current business insurance was protecting our business and couldn’t be happier. Rather than simply email me a quote, we had a call where Ash explained why our current policy wasn’t aligned with our services and did quite a bit of research on what we needed to protect my business in terms of online data and cyber security. Being a virtual business it was a shock to hear we’d been paying for physical risk protection all these years and I’m so thankful we now have Sentinel looking after us.
Fantastic advice, no pressure, 3 quotes and friendly, professional and approachable support.”
Managing Director
“We were introduced to Ash Greer at Sentinel Insurance when we were specifically looking for a broker with strong expertise in construction and liability, and from the outset, it was clear we were in capable hands.
After meeting with Ash, we appointed him as our broker, and he immediately undertook a comprehensive review of both our business operations and our existing insurance programme. Ash took the time to truly understand how our business operates and where our risks lie, and then rebuilt our insurance structure accordingly.
The results have been outstanding. In the first year, Ash made significant improvements, ensuring all of our assets were appropriately covered. In the second year, he went even further, re-marketing our programme again to deliver further improvements.
Ash’s attention to detail, deep understanding of both our business and the insurance market, and proactive approach have delivered exceptional outcomes for us. We now have complete confidence that our insurance programme genuinely supports and protects our business.”
Faq
Answers to common manufacturing 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.
Most manufacturers require a combination of cover including material damage (property and stock), public and product liability, machinery breakdown, business interruption, and often product recall. The exact mix depends on what you produce, where you operate, and whether you export.
Product liability isn’t legally mandatory in NZ, but it is often contractually required by suppliers, distributors, or retailers. If your product causes injury or property damage, you could be legally responsible, which is why this cover is considered essential.
Standard liability policies usually don’t automatically cover recall costs. If you manufacture food, beverages, chemicals, or consumer goods, you may need dedicated product recall or contamination insurance to cover withdrawal costs, testing, disposal, and reputational management.
Machinery breakdown insurance covers sudden and unforeseen damage to production equipment, including electrical or mechanical failure. If a key machine stops working, this cover can help pay for repairs, replacement, and sometimes lost income while operations are interrupted.
If an insured event (like fire, machinery breakdown, or natural disaster) forces you to stop or reduce operations, business interruption insurance can help cover lost gross profit and ongoing fixed costs while you recover.
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.
Cyber Insurance
Professional service businesses often hold sensitive client information, financial data, and confidential records. Cyber insurance helps protect your business if you experience a data breach, ransomware attack, system outage, or cyber extortion event. It can cover response costs, legal expenses, client notification, and business interruption — helping you recover quickly and protect your reputation.