5 May 2023 by Jeremy Vargo

Southern Cross has been recognised in the 2023 Reader’s Digest NZ Most Trusted Brands survey, with a list of wins that it attributes to the dedication of its teams.

The long-running annual survey celebrates brands people trust, and this year, Southern Cross topped several categories, making it one of the top three awarded across all brands/services in New Zealand.

Winning the Health Insurance category for a seventh consecutive year, the business also took top spot in the Travel and Life Insurance categories. It rounded out its list of accolades with a Highly Commended nod in the Pet Insurance category.

Southern Cross Health Society Chief Executive Nick Astwick said he is proud of the teams’ efforts to support New Zealanders through life’s unexpected moments.

“This continued trust in Southern Cross is a real testament to the hard work our people put in to be with our members and customers when they need us,” he said.

“We currently help look after the health of more than 930,000 people and support wellbeing in almost 3,500 workplaces. We also care for more than 62,000 of the country’s pets and covered more than 185,000 Kiwi travellers last year.

“Keeping this high level of trust in our range of insurance services is a big job, but it’s something our people keep turning up to earn each and every day.”

The accolades come after a successful year for Southern Cross in the innovation and awards space.

Southern Cross Health Insurance has once again expanded its membership benefits to include even better access to essential healthcare services. This includes unlimited online GP consultations through telehealth service CareHQ, up to three online mental health sessions each policy year with Raise, and an annual health check2 through MedPro.

In the meantime, while Southern Cross Travel Insurance has been named inaugural most trusted travel insurer in New Zealand (this is the first year Readers Digest has included a travel insurance category), they have also celebrated winning the ITIJ International Travel Insurance Company of the Year award, in recognition of their swift response to the Covid-19 pandemic, quality products and policies, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Southern Cross Life Insurance hit the top spot with policy benefits such as early pay-out options for terminal illness, advanced funeral cover and an easy to navigate online quote and sign-up process.

Southern Cross Pet Insurance also embarked on a successful safety campaign, helping New Zealand’s beloved pets live happier and healthier lives.

The campaign included a road safety awareness drive, complete with an exclusive range of high-fashion hi-vis dog vests in collaboration with international designer Matthew Adams Dolan.

Astwick said the Southern Cross team is focused on delivering what our members and consumers really care about and that has obviously resonated with New Zealanders.

“We want to thank New Zealanders for trusting us with their insurance needs,” he said.

“We know how important it is to have the reassurance that an insurance company will be there when you need it most and we’ll continue to focus on doing exactly that.”

The Reader’s Digest NZ Most Trusted Brands Survey is conducted by Catalyst, an independent international research company. More than 1,700 consumers participated in the survey and voted across 70 different categories.