Almost six in 10 New Zealanders (59%) have bought or plan to buy travel insurance for an upcoming trip, according to new research from Allianz Partners, with around 70% of those taking out cover doing so at the time of booking or shortly afterwards.
The findings come from the second wave of the Allianz Partners Global Travel Confidence Index 2026, conducted by Ipsos across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan and New Zealand between late September and early October. Allianz Partners said the timing of purchase shows travellers are building protection into their plans from the outset, as they adapt their holidays rather than give them up.
Why travellers buy cover
Among New Zealanders likely to buy travel insurance, 90% cited protection against unforeseen disruption and 8 Almost 30% of New Zealanders and just over 20% of Australians plan to travel without insurance. Allianz Partners said this was likely to reflect domestic travel or trips to destinations covered by reciprocal health care agreements, such as those between New Zealand and Australia.9% cited peace of mind as their reasons. Allianz Partners said motivations were consistent across all markets surveyed. Allianz Partners noted that destination is only one factor in travel risk, with cover also extending to events that occur before departure. According to its claims data, around one third of all travel insurance claims are made before the traveller leaves home, including where illness, injury or other circumstances force a trip to be cancelled. In one recent claim, a New Zealand man fractured his sternum while exercising at the gym ahead of a planned holiday in Australia. Deemed medically unfit to travel, he cancelled the trip, with losses of around $48,000 covering flights, accommodation, deposits that could not be refunded and cancellation costs.
Summer travel plans hold firm
The research shows strong intent to travel this summer. Some 64% of New Zealanders plan a summer holiday, compared with 58% of Australians, even though 82% of New Zealand respondents said they were concerned about rising travel costs. Rather than cancelling, travellers are adjusting their plans. Of New Zealanders planning to travel, 71% are reducing discretionary spending to afford their trip, and 57% are scaling back their plans while still intending to go. Holidays remain a priority for wellbeing, with 82% of intending travellers saying an annual holiday is as important to their wellbeing as ever and 76% saying they are in desperate need of a holiday.
Spending and value
New Zealand travellers expect to spend an average of $4,565 per person on their summer holidays. Most are focused on value, with 73% saying they do not intend to spend on luxury travel experiences.
Domestic holidays in demand
New Zealand recorded the strongest preference for domestic travel of the markets surveyed. Some 39% of New Zealanders said they prefer to holiday at home, compared with 32% of Australians, with Allianz Partners linking the preference to rising costs. The insurer said the result reflects both the appeal of New Zealand’s own destinations and tighter household budgets.
Weather and safety
Environmental risks, including extreme weather events, were a concern for 56% of New Zealand respondents, and 67% said they factor environmental risks into their choice of holiday destination. Safety and security, including crime, terrorism, theft and scams, concerned 52% of New Zealand travellers, compared with 65% of Australian travellers. New Zealanders were among the least likely of the five markets surveyed to express concern about these issues. Allianz Partners attributed the difference between the two countries to the destinations each favours, their main travel corridors and varying exposure to global security threats.