Tower
Tower is a New Zealand-headquartered general insurer offering personal and small business lines — motor, property, specialty, and parametric insurance — to 300,000+ customers across New Zealand and five Pacific nations, operating as the only Kiwi-owned general insurer.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1869
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Tower does
Tower is a New Zealand-headquartered general insurer offering personal and commercial lines across motor (car, motorbike, caravan, motorhome), property (house, contents, landlord), specialty (boat, travel, pet), and small-to-medium business insurance. Founded in 1869 as the Government Life Insurance Office, demutualised and listed in 1999, it operates today with 501-1,000 employees from its 6 Green Star head office at 136 Fanshawe Street in Auckland, serving 300,000+ customers across New Zealand and the Pacific (Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands). Tower is the only Kiwi-owned and operated general insurer in the NZ market.
The company's technology backbone is the My Tower digital platform, a self-service portal for quoting, policy management, claims submission, and instant approvals, complemented by the Consumer Risk Rating Tool — a property-level risk assessment engine drawing on over 200 million data points to evaluate landslide, sea surge, earthquake, and flood exposure. Tower's parametric insurance products (Rainfall Response Cover, Cyclone Response Cover) use CelsiusPro technology to trigger automatic payouts when rainfall or cyclone thresholds are breached. Underwriting partnerships include Allianz Partners for travel and pet insurance and Coastguard NZ for boat insurance. AI-related capabilities concentrate on the risk rating predictive analytics engine rather than core underwriting or claims automation.
Tower generates revenue primarily through insurance premiums collected on a recurring subscription basis (monthly or annual), with tiered pricing structures (Standard, Plus, Premium) across most products. Half-year underlying net profit after tax for the period ending 31 March 2026 was NZD 36.8M, with full-year FY2026 profit guidance of NZD 55-65M and customer growth of 5% year-over-year. Distribution combines direct digital channels, phone-based sales, partner referrals, and corporate staff discount schemes with partners including Coastguard, AIA, Air NZ, Kiwibank, One NZ, and Xero. AM Best affirmed an A- (Excellent) financial strength rating with stable outlook, citing a 23.5% return on equity at FY-end 2025.
Tower firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tower
- Legal name
- Tower Limited
- Website
- https://tower.co.nz
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1869
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Tower is a New Zealand-headquartered general insurer offering personal and small business lines — motor, property, specialty, and parametric insurance — to 300,000+ customers across New Zealand and five Pacific nations, operating as the only Kiwi-owned general insurer.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tower industry classification
Industry- Product category
- General Insurance
- NAICS
- Insurance Carriers and Related Activities (524)
- SIC
- Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Landlord / Dwelling Fire (DP) Insurance (FSAJACAD)
Keywords
Where Tower is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tower business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Insurance Premiums: Tower generates revenue primarily through insurance premiums collected from policyholders. The company offers property insurance (house, contents, landlord), motor insurance (car, motorbike, caravan, motorhome), travel insurance, pet insurance, and business insurance. Premiums are collected on annual or installment basis.
- Parametric Insurance Products: Tower launched parametric insurance products including Rainfall Response Cover in Fiji and Cyclone Response Cover across Pacific nations, which automatically pay out when predefined weather thresholds are met.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Contents insurance with three tiers: Standard, Plus, and Premium |
| Subscription | Monthly | House insurance with three tiers: Standard, Plus, and Premium |
| Subscription | Monthly | Pet insurance for cats and dogs: Comprehensive/Essentials, and Accident Only |
| Subscription | Monthly | Car insurance with Comprehensive, Third Party Fire & Theft, and Third Party options |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Tower product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tower is a New Zealand general insurer offering a multi-line insurance portfolio spanning property (house, contents, landlord), motor (car, motorbike, motorhome, caravan), specialty (boat, travel, pet), and business insurance. Products are distributed primarily through a digital self-service platform (my.tower.co.nz) supplemented by phone sales and partner referrals, with risk-based pricing powered by a proprietary Consumer Risk Rating Tool that uses 200+ million data points to assess natural hazard risks at the property level.
Product overview
Tower is a New Zealand-based general insurer offering a broad portfolio of insurance products across personal and commercial lines. The core offering is structured as a multi-product platform anchored by motor insurance (Car, Motorbike, Motorhome, Caravan), property insurance (House, Contents, Landlord), specialty lines (Boat, Travel, Pet), and business insurance (Business Assets, Commercial Vehicle, Business Interruption, Business Liability). Supporting the product suite are digital self-service platforms including My Tower (policy management and claims portal), the Consumer Risk Rating Tool (property-specific natural hazard risk assessment using 200+ million data points), RoadWise roadside assistance, an online claims portal, and digital payment functionality. Risk-based pricing based on property-specific hazard data differentiates the house and landlord products. Tower operates across New Zealand and the Pacific (Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands) and maintains partnerships with Allianz Partners for travel and pet insurance, and CelsiusPro for parametric weather insurance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- My Tower: Self-service digital platform for managing insurance policies, making claims, and accessing policy documents online
Products and services
- Car Insurance Vehicle insurance covering cars, with Comprehensive, Third Party Fire & Theft, and Third Party only options. Includes new-for-old replacement within 2 years, repair guarantee, windscreen cover, RoadWise roadside assistance option, and up to $4,000 cover for damage by uninsured vehicles. For individual car owners in New Zealand.
- House Insurance Home insurance with three tiers: Premium (highest protection with up to $30,000 temporary accommodation, $3,000 hidden water damage), Plus (mid-tier with $25,000 temporary accommodation, $2,000 hidden water damage), and Standard (affordable essentials with $15,000 temporary accommodation, $1,000 hidden water damage). All tiers include natural hazard coverage, sustainability upgrade benefit up to $15,000, and risk-based pricing. For NZ homeowners.
- Contents Insurance Belongings insurance available in three tiers: Premium (up to $10,000 mobile phone, $10,000 prescription glasses, new-for-old replacement), Plus (up to $5,000 home office equipment, $5,000 prescription glasses), and Standard (essential coverage with $500 mobile phone, $1,000 prescription glasses). Covers accidental loss or damage anywhere in New Zealand. For homeowners and renters.
- Landlord Insurance
- Boat Insurance Comprehensive boat insurance covering runabouts, personal watercraft, launches/cruisers, yachts, trailer sailers, and off-beach dinghies. Includes emergency rescue up to $25,000, 3-year replacement from new, social yacht racing cover, and optional recreational equipment and lay-up cover. For NZ boat owners.
- Travel Insurance Domestic and international travel insurance underwritten with Allianz Partners. Domestic plans include Comprehensive and Cancellation Only options. International plans include Essentials, Comprehensive, and Frequent Flyer (up to 60 days per trip annually). Includes COVID-19 cover, 24/7 emergency assistance, and free cover for dependent children. For NZ travellers.
- Pet Insurance Cat and dog insurance provided in partnership with Allianz Partners, available in three tiers: Comprehensive (up to $15,000/year for injury and illness, specialist treatments), Essentials ($7,000/year), and Accident Only ($5,000/year for injuries only). Includes 20% co-payment, patella and cruciate ligament surgery coverage, alternative therapy, and optional dental care. For NZ cat and dog owners.
- Motorbike Insurance Motorcycle and scooter insurance with Comprehensive or Third Party Fire & Theft options. Includes two-year replacement from new, riding gear replacement up to $1,000, no-fault claims protection, and optional rental vehicle benefit up to $1,000. For NZ motorbike owners.
- Motorhome Insurance Motorhome, campervan, and RV insurance with Comprehensive or Third Party Fire & Theft options. Includes remote vehicle assessments, windscreen replacement, collision and natural disaster cover, lifetime repair guarantee, and optional accessories and motorhome contents coverage. For NZ motorhome owners.
- Caravan Insurance Comprehensive caravan and trailer insurance covering liability up to $25 million, collision, fire, theft, natural disaster damage, and optional accessories up to $5,000 and caravan contents up to $5,000. For NZ caravan owners.
- Business Insurance Business coverage including Business Assets (buildings, fit-out, equipment, stock, tools), Commercial Vehicle (comprehensive or third party for commercial use), Business Interruption (lost profits, increased cost of working), and Business Liability (landlord, product recall, tenant liability). For NZ small and medium businesses.
- Lifestyle Block Insurance Specialized coverage for lifestyle block properties, covering houses, contents, cars, and farms. Managed through a dedicated team via phone. For NZ lifestyle block owners.
- Rainfall Response Cover Parametric insurance product in Fiji that automatically pays out when rainfall exceeds preset thresholds, using CelsiusPro's white-label parametric insurance platform. Addresses climate resilience for Pacific Island communities.
- Consumer Risk Rating Tool Property risk assessment tool using over 200 million data points to evaluate natural hazard risks (landslide, sea surge, earthquake, flood) at individual properties. Supports Tower's risk-based pricing approach and is available free to all New Zealanders.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 90% of Tower customers received a reduction in the natural hazards portion of their premium after updating natural hazard ratings
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Tower
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Tower technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature4 records
Tower partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- CelsiusProcoreTower uses CelsiusPro's parametric insurance technology to deliver Rainfall Response Cover in Fiji and Cyclone Response Cover across Pacific nations. CelsiusPro provides the white-label platform enabling automatic payouts when rainfall exceeds preset thresholds.
- United Nations Capital Development FundmajorBacker of Rainfall Response Cover pilot initiative in Fiji as part of broader efforts to strengthen national disaster preparedness and climate adaptation in Pacific communities.
- Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation ProgrammemajorProgramme supporting Tower's parametric insurance launch in Fiji, contributing to climate resilience efforts across Pacific island nations.
- Allianz PartnerscoreAllianz Partners issues and manages Tower's pet insurance and travel insurance products. Provides 24/7 emergency assistance for travel insurance customers worldwide. One of the world's largest travel insurance providers.
- Reserve Bank of FijiminorSupporting broader efforts to strengthen national disaster preparedness in Fiji through oversight of SUN Insurance's revised parametric products.
- Coastguard New ZealandminorTower is Coastguard's recommended boat insurer, providing boat insurance coverage to Kiwi boaters.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tower competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Allianz Australia: Allianz Australia is the broader incumbent global insurer; Allianz Partners already issues Tower's travel and pet insurance, and Allianz Australia sells overlapping personal and commercial general insurance across Australasia. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping capability in the ANZ region.
- QBE Insurance Australia & New Zealand: QBE is a global general insurer with material ANZ presence across personal, commercial, and specialty lines. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in the same regulatory and competitive environment as Tower, with overlapping product categories in commercial and specialty P&C.
Direct peers
- Youi NZ: Youi is a digital-led, direct-to-consumer NZ general insurer focused on car, home, and contents. Comparable to Tower on product scope, D2C distribution model, and pricing-tech orientation, making it a relevant peer for digital customer acquisition benchmarks.
- Vero Insurance: Vero is the SME and commercial-focused brand within Suncorp NZ, offering business, commercial motor, liability, and rural cover. Comparable to Tower's business insurance book and to the channel mix via brokers and advisers serving NZ small commercial customers.
- AMI Insurance: AMI, owned by IAG, is a long-established NZ general insurer offering car, house, contents, and business cover. Closely overlaps with Tower's core personal lines and customer base within New Zealand, operating through a similar broker and direct distribution mix.
- nib New Zealand: nib NZ provides health and personal insurance, with growing digital distribution. Comparable to Tower on D2C/PLG insurance distribution model, NZ focus, and digital self-service platform orientation, though lighter on property/casualty lines.
- Insurance Australia Group (IAG) New Zealand: IAG's NZ business is the dominant general insurer in New Zealand, offering motor, home, contents, landlord, business, and commercial lines through brands including AMI and State. Directly comparable to Tower on product breadth, NZ geographic focus, and personal/small-commercial underwriting, and the primary competitive benchmark for share and pricing.
- Suncorp New Zealand: Suncorp's NZ arm, operating under the Vero brand, provides motor, home, contents, business, and rural insurance across New Zealand. Closely aligned with Tower on product set, geographic scope, and customer segments, making it a core direct peer on underwriting performance and digital claims experience.
- Partners Life: Partners Life is a New Zealand-domiciled insurer offering life, trauma, disability, and selected general insurance products. Overlaps Tower on the NZ personal lines customer base and advisers/broker channel, including growing business via Kiwibank and other partner brands.
- Fidelity Life: Fidelity Life is a major NZ life and disability insurer with growing general insurance capability, distributed through advisers. Comparable to Tower on NZ customer segments, adviser/partner distribution, and emphasis on Kiwi ownership as a brand differentiator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tower social profiles
Digital presenceTower financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tower leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Tower subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Tower funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tower M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tower
What does Tower do?
Tower is a New Zealand general insurer offering a multi-line insurance portfolio spanning property (house, contents, landlord), motor (car, motorbike, motorhome, caravan), specialty (boat, travel, pet), and business insurance. Products are distributed primarily through a digital self-service platform (my.tower.co.nz) supplemented by phone sales and partner referrals, with risk-based pricing powered by a proprietary Consumer Risk Rating Tool that uses 200+ million data points to assess natural hazard risks at the property level.
Is Tower a public or private company?
Tower is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Tower founded?
Tower was founded in 1869. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Tower based?
Tower is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Tower make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Insurance Premiums are the primary driver. The others are parametric Insurance Products.
Who are Tower's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Allianz Australia and QBE Insurance Australia & New Zealand. Direct peers are Youi NZ, Vero Insurance, AMI Insurance, nib New Zealand, Insurance Australia Group (IAG) New Zealand, Suncorp New Zealand, Partners Life and Fidelity Life.
Does Tower have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tower.
What industry is Tower in?
Tower's product category is General Insurance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAJACAD, Landlord / Dwelling Fire (DP) Insurance. Its NAICS code is 524 and its SIC code is 6331.