OrbitProtect

What OrbitProtect does

OrbitProtect is a Christchurch, New Zealand-based insurance provider founded in 2005 that specialises in health and travel insurance for inbound visitors to New Zealand, including international students, working holiday visa holders, Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) and seasonal workers, non-resident workers and their families (Experience NZ), and Parent Boost Visitor Visa holders. The company sells five core insurance plans — International Student, Working Holiday, Experience NZ, RSE Protect/Seasonal Worker, and Parent Boost — typically structured in Prime and Lite tiers with optional coverage for pre-existing conditions, personal belongings, and travel disruption. A distinguishing technical asset is the OrbitPay Card, an eftpos-supported swipe card introduced in 2011 that enables policyholders to access approved medical centres and pharmacies without upfront payment, with monthly direct settlement to providers; the company also operates an online claims portal, an I-CERT agent/producer management system, and an affiliate programme platform.

OrbitProtect generates revenue primarily through insurance premiums (one-time or periodic, depending on policy duration) and pays commission to its distribution partners. It runs a three-channel go-to-market: direct-to-consumer online sales via the quoting.orbitprotect.com portal, a commissioned agent/producer network comprising NZ schools, education agencies, and financial advisors, and an affiliate programme for travel bloggers and website owners. A network of approved medical providers who accept the OrbitPay Card adds a fourth, service-delivery channel that reduces friction for policyholders.

Since 2022, OrbitProtect has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of nib nz holdings limited, part of the publicly listed nib Group that provides health insurance to over 1.9 million Australian and New Zealand residents. From 1 March 2024, policies have been underwritten and issued by nib nz limited rather than Orbit Protect Ltd, formalising the regulatory and capital relationship with the parent. The company is headquartered in Christchurch with 11–50 employees and serves the New Zealand market exclusively.

Name

OrbitProtect

Legal name

OrbitProtect Ltd

Website

https://orbitprotect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OrbitProtect is a Christchurch-based New Zealand insurance provider, founded in 2005, that sells specialised health and travel insurance plans to inbound international students, working holiday visa holders, seasonal workers, non-residents, and Parent Boost visitors, distributed via direct online sales, agent networks, and affiliates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Christchurch

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premiums: OrbitProtect generates revenue through insurance premium payments from policyholders. Customers purchase travel and health insurance policies with premiums based on plan type, duration, and coverage level. Policies include International Student, Working Holiday, Experience NZ, Seasonal Worker/RSE, and Parent Boost plans.
2. Agent/Producer Commissions: OrbitProtect compensates agents and producers with agreed commission rates for selling OrbitProtect insurance products to their customers or clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OrbitProtect underwrites and distributes specialised health and travel insurance for non-residents visiting or moving to New Zealand on student, working holiday, work, seasonal/RSE, and parent visitor visas. Coverage includes medical treatment, hospital stays, emergency dental, medical evacuation, repatriation, and optional add-ons for pre-existing conditions, personal belongings, and travel disruption. The OrbitPay Card provides claims-free direct settlement at approved New Zealand medical providers.

Product overview

OrbitProtect is a New Zealand-based travel and health insurance provider offering a portfolio of specialized insurance products for visitors to New Zealand, including international students, working holiday holders, seasonal workers, and family members. The product lineup consists of five core insurance plans (International Student, Working Holiday, Experience NZ, RSE Protect/Seasonal Worker, and Parent Boost Insurance), supplemented by the OrbitPay Card system for direct medical provider payments and online platforms for claims management, agent/producer management, and affiliate distribution. The company operates as part of the nib Group following acquisition in 2022 and was originally established in 2005.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GeoBlue: Provider of international travel health insurance for students, travellers, and expatriates; overlaps with OrbitProtect on inbound visitor and international student medical cover globally.
• World Nomads: Specialist travel insurance provider targeting backpackers, working holiday makers, and adventure travellers globally; comparable on the working-holiday and visitor traveller customer base that OrbitProtect serves in NZ.
• Pacific International Insurance: NZ-focused insurer offering travel and seasonal worker insurance products, including cover for RSE workers; directly comparable on the seasonal worker and visitor insurance niche OrbitProtect serves.
• Southern Cross Travel Insurance: One of the largest NZ-based travel insurance providers, directly competing with OrbitProtect for the same inbound visitor and domestic traveller segments; comparable product breadth across single-trip, annual, and visitor plans.
• IMG Global Medical Insurance: Provider of international medical insurance products for students, travellers, and expatriates; directly comparable to OrbitProtect's medical-coverage-led visitor insurance proposition across inbound traveller segments.

Broad incumbents

• Allianz Care: Global health and travel insurer offering international health and visitor insurance plans; competes with OrbitProtect in the inbound international student and expatriate segments at scale across multiple geographies.
• Cigna Global Health: Worldwide health insurer providing individual and group international health insurance including travel medical cover; overlaps with OrbitProtect's student, worker, and visitor segments via its global product suite.

Emerging players

• SafetyWing: Digital-first insurtech offering Nomad Insurance aimed at remote workers, travellers, and digital nomads; emerging competitor in the international traveller insurance category with comparable visitor/traveller target audience.

Others

• nib NZ: Direct parent and underwriter of OrbitProtect's policies since March 2024; nib NZ provides the underlying health insurance product, while OrbitProtect serves as the specialist visitor-inbound distribution brand.

Regional players

• AA Insurance New Zealand: Major NZ general insurer offering travel insurance among other personal lines; competes for the same NZ-based buyers of visitor and travel cover, though from a broader product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@orbitprotect8754
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orbitprotect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OrbitProtect