The festive season in New Zealand is not solely about BBQs, sunshine and DIY because, as ACC statistics remind us, a surprisingly high number of festive injuries also take place! According to ACC data gathered from the last few years, around 2,500 Kiwis are injured every December doing Christmas-related activities, costing more than $2 million in recovery support over the past decade.
Those accidents include everything from hauling Christmas trees (around 1,200 injuries in the past ten years) to tangling with lights (391 claims), wrapping presents (237 claims) and even wrestling with the Christmas ham (about 500 claims)!
If that sounds mildly ridiculous, it’s because it is. But it’s also entirely true. ACC even reported more than 5,600 “festive decor” injuries and over 9,000 food-and-drink related mishaps during the 2023 holiday season alone. It seems Christmas in New Zealand really is a contact sport!
We’re fortunate to have ACC. It’s a world-leading scheme that supports Kiwis who suffer accidental injuries. It pays for treatment, rehabilitation and up to 80 percent of your usual income while you’re unable to work. But that 80 percent figure is where things get tricky.
But, if you’re used to earning a full salary, dropping to 80 percent (and possibly less if you earn above ACC’s maximum threshold) can be a shock. It’s enough to get by, but not always enough to keep your lifestyle steady – especially if you’ve got a mortgage, kids, or household bills that don’t take holidays.
And remember: ACC only applies if your injury was caused by an accident. If you’re sidelined by illness, stress-related conditions, or anything that doesn’t meet ACC’s criteria, you’ll need another safety net entirely.
This is where your private cover comes to the rescue.
Income protection ensures your household income continues, whether you’re off work from illness or injury. It offers a percentage of your income to cover expenses during illness or injury, but payments are offset against any other form of benefit (eg. ACC) or income (eg. rent, dividends etc) you may receive.
Mortgage protection focuses on keeping your home secure. It is an agreed value based on your rent or mortgage at the time you take out the policy. It is not offset against other forms of benefits or income in the instance your ability to work is impacted by illness or accident, ensuring that your mortgage or rent payments are covered and your lifestyle is protected from financial strain.
Medical insurance helps you skip long public-hospital queues for surgeries or specialist care, so you can get back on your feet faster (and back to the beach sooner).
Together, these covers bridge the gaps ACC doesn’t fill – the “other 20 percent”, the illness scenarios, the comfort and choice when you need treatment.
So, as you deck the halls, climb ladders, carve hams and wrangle trees, take a moment to slow down and maybe, while you’re at it, check your insurance cover too. Because whether you’re flattening the Christmas pavlova or the hedge, having the right protection in place can turn a painful mishap into just a funny story.
If you’d like a review of your current cover, or if you need to get a new policy in place, book a free chat with one of our insurance team. As a bonus, for every review booked this month, you’ll not only get great advice, you’ll also go into the draw to win $5,000 cash. That’s money you can use to spend, save or invest as you like! Click here to book your complimentary review.
The content of this article should not be taken as financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. These insights are based on current economic commentary, market pricing for interest rates, and our personal opinion. Threefold is not liable or responsible for any information, omissions, or errors present.