We’re here to change the way you think about insurance. Our mission isn't just to provide you with a policy but to create a digital experience you'll genuinely enjoy.
Founders Rene & Sam
About initio
We offer instant online insurance for homeowners, making us the easiest and friendliest insurance experience you can have. Through our innovative approach and streamlined process, we make insurance simple.
Initio is underwritten by IAG, New Zealand’s largest general insurer.
Our people
Easy at claim time
Our claims are all about efficiency and transparency. If you need to make a claim, you'll find the process quick and hassle-free.
Our simple online process is backed up by real people who are there when you need them.
Support when you need it
Our knowledgeable and friendly support team is ready to assist when you need it most. Having a friendly person at the other end of the phone can sometimes make all the difference, especially when stress levels are high.
We also have an online library chockablock with resources and articles aimed at empowering you to find the information you need when you need it.
Your experience first
Our team of designers, analysts, and thinkers provide cover and recommendations that are both comprehensive and tailored to your unique needs.
Their expertise enables us to offer innovative, easy-to-manage solutions for your property.
They play a key role in ensuring that initio remains a trusted, forward-thinking insurance provider.
Keeping your things safe
The whizzes who make sure your online experience is smooth from start to finish.
Security, speed, and reliability are their top priorities.
Their hard work ensures that you can focus on what matters most, while we take care of keeping your data safe.
Creating a strong community
We've partnered with some of New Zealand's most trusted organisations for landlords and homeowners.
Teaming up with other like-minded businesses such as NZPIF, Bachcare, and MyRent allows us to offer a comprehensive service, making property investment easier for Kiwis across New Zealand.
Easier, faster, smarter house insurance
We use our technology to save you time and money
Kickass cover
We don't expect you to build your own policy, we include the things that matter, bells and whistles too.
Everything online
We provide instant, online quotes for your property, and take the same approach to claims.
Support on claims
We are on a mission to cut the nonsense and pay claims fast; we love paying claims, not delaying them.
Get a quote in seconds. No personal contact details required.
Our journey so far
Founded in 2011 by a couple of Kiwis set on making the process of getting insurance easy and paying claims fast.
- 2011
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Initio founded by Rene Swindley and Sam Brook
Getting house insurance was clunky and these two friends knew what was needed to fix it. Rene's insurance and commercial knowledge, combined with Sam's software engineering was a match made in heaven.
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Launch: New Zealand's first 100% online house insurance policy
Lumley General Insurance backs initio as its insurance partner, and the first online house insurance policy is purchased online for a rental property in Hamilton. Quoted in seconds, insured in minutes - 100% online.
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Bookabach partners with initio for holiday homes
Holiday home owners that also rented their bach to paying guests needed an insurance solution. Initio built a specific policy for Kiwi bach owners, and Bookabach spread the word.
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First total loss house fire
The very purpose of initio's existence is to help out when a customer is in need. This was its time to shine, and it did. Initio facilitates the $255,000 rebuild for an Auckland property.
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Enhanced insurance for landlords
Initio's origin was with landlord insurance. Initio deployed an enhancement to its online offering to make it easier for landlords to add loss of rents, contents and malicious damage cover to their policy.
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NZI becomes new underwriter
NZI (IAG New Zealand Limited) acquires Lumley insurance. NZI confirms its commitment to initio and it's vision for digital insurance.
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Official insurance partner to the New Zealand Property Investors Federation
Initio is selected as the insurance partner to the 10,000 member strong NZPIF for the provision of rental property insurance.
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Own Home & Contents insurance launched
Customers asked for it, so we built it. A combined policy for owner occupied homes and personal contents, including the ability to add specified items like rings, watches and bikes dynamically.
- 2017
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Milestone: $1b of insured property
Kiwi’s collectively choose to entrust initio with $1b of insured property. That's a heap of New Zealand's houses insured with initio, from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
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Instant claims v1 launched
Initio kicks off its mission to pay claims as quick as it insures properties. The claim process is streamlined and is a success with the fasted non-complex claim paid in 28 mins (money in the customers account).
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Multi Unit Property insurance launched
Property owners wanted a way to insure blocks of flats and apartments so initio built this feature - all online, insured in an instant.
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Finalist for 'Underwriting Agency of the Year'
Recognised by The Australian & New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance for the innovation, and underwriting as a Managed General Agency of NZI.
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Official insurance partner to GRA
GRA Property Accountants (New Zealands biggest accounting firm - by number of tax returns) selects initio as its insurance partner.
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Initio Co-Founder, Rene Swindley, awarded ANZIIF Young Insurance Professional
The Australian & New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance Awards Rene Swindley as the 2018 Young Insurance Professional of the Year, citing his leadership in insurance innovation and technology.
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New Policy Wordings launched
With the experience of 5 years of claims data, three new policy wordings were developed to meet the needs of the initio customer. initio landlord & holiday home policy, initio home owners policy, initio contents policy.
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Milestone: $2b of insured property
Kiwi's collectively choose to entrust initio with $2b of insured property.
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Monthly Payments launched
An automatic monthly renewing insurance policy. Our customers wanted a payment solution that allowed them to set and forget their insurance, with an automatic payment by credit card each month.
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Finalist for 'Innovation of Year'
Kiwi insuretech platform recognised for changing property insurance. The Australian & New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance recognising initio for its customer-centric digital insurance products that enable customers to instantly change and update their policy themselves online.
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Initio Co-Founder, Rene Swindley addresses ICNZ Conference
Presentation to the Insurance Council of New Zealand and 500 attendees on how insurers need to change for the insurance buyer of tomorrow.
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Smart Claims
Paying claims even faster is our mission. Smart claims will provide customers with real time advice and an instant response to their claim.
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Lattitude-Longitude
We get super smart about insuring property by its specific latitude and longitude - which means real time underwriting and smart data
- 2022
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Motor Vehicle Insurance
Customer's asked for it so we built it. Instant online motor vehicle insurance to compliment the existing home and contents covers. Available now.
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Backed by giants
Initio underwritten by IAG, New Zealand’s largest general insurer. Previously NZI (NZI is a brand of IAG's), initio now reports directly to IAG.
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$8b of insured property
Initio hits $8b insured property milestone. That's the total insured value of all the houses we provide insurance on. We've got NZ's largest general insurer standing behind us in case of a major catastrophe.
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5-star Insurance Technology Provider
We took out the win through our advanced smart technology. Insurance technology providers were nominated, and then brokers rated their overall satisfaction. The highest-rated providers were named as 5-Star Award winners.
- 2023
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MoneyHub Editors Choice: Favourite Home Insurance Innovation
A symbol of excellence and the result of extensive research conducted by the MoneyHub team. MoneyHub strives to showcase insurers and products that go above and beyond standard offerings. Their focus lies in identifying providers that bring real value and benefits to policyholders.
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Top Insurance Employers
We're proud that we've officially been recognised as one of the best insurance companies to work for in New Zealand. People come first at initio, this means both our customers and our team are central to our business.
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$10b of insured property
Initio hits $10b insured property milestone. That's the total insured value of all the houses we provide insurance on. We've got NZ's largest general insurer standing behind us in case of a major catastrophe.
- 2024
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5-star Insurance Innovators
We took out the win through our advanced smart technology. Insurance technology providers were nominated, and then brokers rated their overall satisfaction. The highest-rated providers were named as 5-Star Award winners.
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Canstar Innovation Excellence Award
We are thrilled to receive the 2024 Canstar Innovation Excellence Award, celebrating our dedication to setting new benchmarks for convenience and efficiency in insurance claims.
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MoneyHub Editors Choice: Favourite Home Insurance Innovation
A mark of distinction and the result of in-depth research by the MoneyHub team in 2024. MoneyHub aims to highlight insurance providers that go beyond the basics, offering real value and benefits to their policyholders. Their focus is on identifying companies that make insurance easier, more transparent, and genuinely beneficial.
- 2025
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Partnership launched with NZFSG
New Zealand Financial Services Group (NZFSG), the largest financial services group in New Zealand, selected Initio as an official insurance partner.
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$15b of insured property
Initio hits $15b insured property milestone. That's the total insured value of all the houses we provide insurance on. We've got NZ's largest general insurer standing behind us in case of a major catastrophe.
- NOW
Want to work for a kickass insurance provider?
We’re always on the lookout for thinkers, creators, and lively souls eager to influence the next chapter of insurance for our clients.