NZ funeral insurance providers
Directory of New Zealand funeral insurance providers. Editorial framing only — no rankings, no star ratings without disclosed methodology.
Why we don't publish a "best of" ranking. NZ funeral insurance is priced on individual underwriting (age, sex, smoker, cover amount). The "best" provider for one household is rarely the best for another. We list the active NZ providers and what makes each distinctive, and we leave the ranking to your specific quote and policy-wording comparison.
What to compare on
- Premium at your age and sum-insured. Get a real quote — direct or through an adviser.
- Stepped vs level premium structure. Stepped is cheaper at signup but rises sharply with age.
- Waiting period. Most NZ funeral policies have a 12–24 month wait for non-accidental death. Accidental death is typically covered immediately.
- Maximum entry age. Insurers vary widely on the oldest age at which you can take out a new policy.
- Cover amount available. Pick the sum-insured that matches your funeral expectations and any non-funeral buffer.
- Indexation. Whether the cover amount grows with inflation, or stays flat.
- Premium continuation. Whether the policy ends at a defined age or continues for life.
- RBNZ financial strength rating. Look at the rating, not the marketing — the insurer's solvency regulator publishes ratings on rbnz.govt.nz.
- Wording exclusions. Read the policy document for what specifically is excluded from cover — not just the marketing summary.
Active NZ funeral insurance providers
AIA New Zealand
Funeral cover via the AIA Living suite. Largely adviser-distributed.
Partners Life
Funeral cover as a rider on Partners Life YouChoose policies. Adviser-distributed.
Fidelity Life
Funeral cover as a rider on Fidelity Life policies. Adviser-distributed.
Chubb Life
Funeral cover as a rider on LifeOne / LifeProtect products.
Pinnacle Life
NZ's largest direct funeral-specialist. Standalone product with online quote tool.
Momentum Life
Direct funeral specialist marketed at over-40s + over-50s.
AA Life
Funeral cover within the AA Life suite. AA member discount may apply.
NZ Seniors
Direct-to-consumer specialist targeting over-50s.
OneChoice
Funeral cover within the OneChoice life suite. Underwritten by Hollard.
Providers side by side
Structural attributes across all nine active NZ funeral cover providers — the facts to shortlist on before you quote.
| Provider | Product type | How to buy | Underwriting | Waiting period | Max entry age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Pinnacle Life | Standalone funeral cover | Direct | Both options | Standard 24-month natural-cause waiting period; accidental from day one | Up to age 75 on direct funeral cover |
 Momentum Life | Standalone funeral cover | Direct | Guaranteed acceptance | 24-month natural-cause waiting period; accidental from day one | Up to age 80 |
 NZ Seniors | Standalone funeral cover | Direct | Guaranteed acceptance | 24-month natural-cause waiting period; accidental from day one | Targeted at over-50s; entry ages on insurer site |
 OneChoice | Standalone funeral cover | Direct | Guaranteed acceptance | 24-month natural-cause waiting period; accidental from day one | Entry ages on insurer site |
 AA Life | Standalone funeral cover | Direct | Guaranteed acceptance | 24-month natural-cause waiting period (per Nov 2024 wording); accidental from day one | Premiums cease at policy anniversary after age 90 |
 Partners Life | Rider on life cover | Via adviser | Underwritten | Per main life-cover wording (YouChoose); rider terms apply | Per main YouChoose entry ages |
 AIA New Zealand | Rider on life cover | Direct or adviser | Underwritten | Per AIA Living Life Cover wording (Bereavement Support / Repatriation Benefits) | Per AIA Living entry ages |
 Chubb Life NZ | Rider on life cover | Via adviser | Underwritten | Per LifeOne / LifeProtect wording | Per LifeOne / LifeProtect entry ages |
 Fidelity Life | Rider on life cover | Via adviser | Underwritten | Per LifeProtect wording (Apr 2025); accelerated benefit terms apply | Per LifeProtect entry ages |
Choosing a provider — FAQs
Which funeral insurance is best in New Zealand?
No single policy is right for everyone. NZ funeral cover is individually underwritten on age, sex, smoker status and cover amount, so the policy that suits one household is rarely the one that suits another. Rather than a ranking, compare on the factors that change your outcome — premium structure (stepped vs level), waiting period, underwriting type, maximum entry age and the policy wording — then get a real quote from each provider.
How do I choose a funeral insurance provider?
Shortlist on structure first: standalone funeral cover vs a funeral benefit on existing life cover, guaranteed-acceptance vs underwritten, and stepped vs level premium. Then check the waiting period, maximum entry age, whether premiums continue for life or stop at a defined age, and the RBNZ financial strength rating. Finally, quote at the cover amount you actually want from two or three providers and read each policy wording before deciding.
How many funeral insurance providers are there in NZ?
This directory covers nine active New Zealand funeral cover providers: AIA, Partners Life, Fidelity Life, Chubb Life, Pinnacle Life, Momentum Life, AA Life, NZ Seniors and OneChoice. Some offer a standalone funeral policy; others provide funeral cover as a benefit or rider on a wider life-cover policy.
Where to get a quote
- Direct from each insurer's online quote tool — see the provider directory above.
- Through an FAP-licensed adviser — most NZ life advisers charge no upfront fee (commission-funded).
- Quote at two or three different sum-insured levels to see how price changes with cover amount.
Not personalised financial advice. Editorial commentary only. Quote with each insurer for current rates and confirm cover details in the policy wording.