We're making some changes to your policies

For nearly 100 years MAS has been providing insurance products and services to protect our Members and their families. Our Members are at the heart of everything we do, which is why it's important to us that your policies provide the best possible cover.

To ensure we're meeting changing Member needs, we regularly assess the market and review Member feedback to identify ways to improve our products and services. EQC is also making changes that affect house and contents policies for all New Zealanders. As a result, we have made changes to our House, Contents, Motor and Boat policies that you need to be aware of. These changes apply from the date of your policy renewal.

Please read the information below carefully, as it outlines the key changes to your policy. As this is a summary only, we encourage you to read the new policy wording that provides more detail on what you are covered for, as well as the exclusions and limitations that apply.

This policy wording is available on our website. If you'd like a printed copy, or if you have any questions about any of these changes, please email us at info@mas.co.nz or contact us on 0800 800 627.

A new market-leading benefit - protecting you and your loved ones from the effects of cyberbullying

At MAS we count it a privilege to take care of the things that matter most to you, and one way we do this is by offering you cutting edge benefits. We are pleased to be the first New Zealand insurer to offer a personal cyberbullying benefit to our Members.

Technology has radically altered our everyday life, with rapid advancements in how we consume information, interact with one another and the world. But with these changes, our family members are becoming increasingly vulnerable. That includes the chance of cyberbullying - social and verbal bullying and physical threats using digital technology in some way.

And it's not just a young person's problem.

Recent studies show that one in ten people aged between 30 and 59, and twice that rate for those in their mid to late 20's, have experienced some form of cyberbullying.

Our new benefit is part of our Residential and Lifestyle Contents policies and provides up to $5,000 in any one policy term if you or a family member incur expenses caused by a cyberbullying occurrence. This could include the reasonable cost of counselling, rest and recuperation, lost salary, relocation, private tutoring, and school enrolment if relocating to an alternative school is necessary.

As part of this new benefit we have teamed up with EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) offering counselling sessions for our Members and their families who suffer a cyberbullying occurrence. This allows quicker and easier access to counselling services, where we will take care of the EAP counselling charges.

Market-leading cover for retaining walls

Replacing retaining walls can be complex with substantial variability in rebuild costs. our current retaining wall benefit is not capped, which means all Members currently bear the costs of expensive retaining wall repairs, regardless of whether the member has a high-value retaining wall, or no retaining wall at all. To provide consistency and fairness for all Members, we have capped our standard retaining wall benefit at $200,000. This is the highest level of cover currently available in the market (as at 1 September 2018).

Due to factors specific to your property, your retaining wall cover may have previously been capped at an amount below $200,000. Please check your policy schedule for the amount your retaining wall(s) are now covered for as you may find this has increased.

You can apply for more than $200,000 cover for your retaining walls if required. We will consider applications on a case by case basis, and we reserve the right to apply extra terms and conditions or charge you additional premium for that extra cover.

Premium change

From July 2019, premiums for most policies will change on renewal. This is due to the following factors:

Need help? Want to know more?

If you'd like to discuss any of the product changes, or your premiums and the options available to you, please email us at info@mas.co.nz or contact us on 0800 800 627.

Here's a summary of all changes made to your policies and full details are contained in the policy wording available on our website.

House Policy Changes

• Retaining Walls - We have introduced a cover limit for retaining walls of up to $200,000, unless otherwise specified in your schedule. Please check your policy and if the likely cost to rebuild your retaining wall exceeds this limit, or if you want to arrange additional cover, please email us at info@mas.co.nz or contact us on 0800 800 627.
• Protection Costs - We have enhanced this benefit to include the reasonable cost of refilling or replacing firefighting equipment after it has been used to protect your house from a loss. We will pay up to $10,000 for an event.
• Lifestyle Fencing (Lifestyle Policies Only) - All fencing, artificial windbreaks and shelter belts on the lifestyle property are covered for damage caused by defined perils such as a storm, flood, and impact by motor vehicles. We will pay to repair or replace the affected fencing, by replanting the materially damaged area of the shelter belts with new saplings or to the value of the damaged area of fencing immediately before the event, up to $20,000.
• Forest and Rural Fire Liability Cover - The Forest and Rural Fires Act (FRFA) was repealed from 1 July 2017 and liability under the FRFA is no longer applicable.
• New Building Work Benefit - We have changed the policy wording to meet regulator's expectations.
• Landlord's Property Benefit - We have increased the cover for your Landlord Property to $20,000, and we will settle any claims on the item's replacement value rather than the market value. If you have a stand alone Residential Rental Contents Policy you may need to contact us to update your sum insured given the increased cover in the Residential Rental House Policy.

Contents Policy Changes

• Cyber-bullying Cover (Lifestyle and Residential Policies) - We have introduced this new benefit which provides up to $5,000 in any one term of this policy, if you incur Cyber-bullying expenses caused by a Cyber-bullying occurrence during this term. Your no claims bonus will not be affected by a claim under this benefit.
• Protection Costs - We have enhanced this benefit to include the reasonable cost of refilling or replacing firefighting equipment after it has been used to protect your house from a loss. We will pay up to $10,000 for an event.
• Inclusion of a specified amount for cash and items purchased (including jewellery) while overseas (House Contents and Lifestyle Contents Policies Only) - We have changed this benefit to include cover up to $1,000 for any cash or pre-paid cards for any one event, while also covering items you purchase overseas (including jewellery and watches) for any one event up to $5,000. Larger items can be covered but different conditions and limitations apply.
• Forest and Rural Fire Liability Cover - The Forest and Rural Fires Act (FRFA) was repealed from 1 July 2017 and liability under the FRFA is no longer applicable.
• Specified Items - We are increasing the limits for the following categories of high-value items before you need to specify them on your policy: Bicycles, Collections, Jewellery, and Personal Health Items. refer to the policy document for the higher limits.

Motor Policy Changes

• Market Value - We have reviewed the "what you will receive" section of the policy for those that are insured for "Market Value". We will now pay you the current value of your vehicle up to the sum insured at the date of the loss, as assessed by us.
• Forest and Rural Fire Liability Cover - The Forest and Rural Fires Act (FRFA) has been repealed effective 1 July 2017 and therefore liability under the FRFA is no longer applicable.