As with many industries, life and health insurance providers sometimes change their names, particularly following acquisitions or structural shifts.

Here’s a helpful breakdown of recent insurer name changes and what they mean for your policy.

Why are insurance companies changing names?

In recent years, several life and health (L&H) insurers in New Zealand have been bought or sold. This trend is especially noticeable where banks have chosen to focus on lending and outsource insurance to dedicated providers, rather than handling policies in-house.

For policyholders, this can create confusion, especially when you receive a letter from a company you don’t recognise. And with the rise in insurance scams, you might even question if the correspondence is legitimate.

Recent life & health insurer name changes

Here’s a list of recent life insurance company name changes to help clarify who your policy may now be with:

Asteron Life (previously owned by Suncorp Australia) was sold to Resolution Life in 2025.

• BNZ Life was acquired by Partners Life in 2022.
• Westpac Life NZ was sold to Fidelity Life in 2022.
• AMP Life, including the AXA Life brand, was sold to Resolution Life in 2020.
• OnePath Life NZ was sold by ANZ to Cigna in 2018.
• Cigna Life Insurance NZ was later sold to Chubb Life in 2022.
• AIA acquired Sovereign in 2018, and Sovereign policies were rebranded to AIA. Note: ASB Life is also part of the AIA NZ group.

What happens to my policy if the insurer changes names?

If your insurance provider changes name, your policy remains valid. In all transitions listed above, the original policy terms were honoured. Often, it's the same team operating behind the scenes, just under a different brand.

Could this be a good thing?

In some cases, joining a specialist life insurer may bring added value, such as improved claims processes or even enhanced cover options. Consolidation can mean better service and innovation.

Unsure who your policy is with?

If you’re unsure who your life or health insurance policy is now with, or if you're concerned about any unfamiliar correspondence get in touch. We’re here to help.

Contact our Life & Health team