New Zealand’s largest insurer IAG lifted its full-year insurance profit by a third to AUD $606 million (NZD $664m) as rising margins and premium income, coupled with lower claims costs, boosted results.
Gross written premiums in New Zealand rose 1.7 percent to $4.17b, with homeowner rates up over 10 percent, while private motor premiums dipped slightly. Claims expenses fell 3 percent to AUD $1.1b, helping push the group’s insurance margin to 27.4 percent from 22.5 percent.
Across its trans-Tasman operations, after-tax profit surged 51 percent to AUD $1.36b, with CEO Nick Hawkins citing strong momentum, strategic execution, and relatively mild weather in New Zealand.
