Are we comparing apples with apples?

2 July 2026

When it comes to insurance, most club committees do what they should, they get multiple quotes, compare the numbers and look for value. On paper, that feels like due diligence.

We often say you need to compare apples with apples. The truth is, even that doesn’t go far enough.  What often looks like apples with apples is actually Granny Smith versus Jazz, similar at a glance, but very different where it counts.

And when something goes wrong, those differences matter.

Not all policies are created equal

Two policies can appear almost identical, they have the base detail the same, the insurer name is familiar, the sums insured are right, or pretty close to it.

But…they could be worlds apart in what they actually cover when it counts most, and that is at claim time.

In the famous words of donkey from the movie Shrek, its like an onion – lots of layers.

And with insurance the detail is in those layers.

Conditions and warranties, sub-limits, exclusions are all things that have nothing to do with price and what you are paying for your insurance, but everything to do with what will be put back or paid out for at claim time.

The Risk for Clubs

Insurance can be a hard spend, a large expense on your balance sheet and there is a lot of pressure out there at the moment. But it is something that needs to be done right. Having informed discussions about what coverage you should have, what insurance decisions you can make, and need to make, is the risk the Club committee is taking.

Choosing insurance solely on price exposes your club to risk, not just financial risk, but reputational risk and in some cases personal exposure for committee members. At the end of the day the committee is there to look after the asset of the club for its members.

Put simply: you have a duty to ensure your club is properly protected and on a policy you understand.

Designed by Clubs, for Clubs

Clubs are not standard commercial businesses. You’re managing a unique mix of:

• Members and guests
• Volunteers and staff
• Licensed premises
• Gaming operations
• Events and community activities

A generic, off-the-shelf policy doesn’t always reflect how clubs actually operate. That’s where gaps can emerge, not because anyone intended for them to, but because the policy wasn’t designed with clubs in mind.  Endorsements removing cover is a real risk for you, or reduced sub limits for gradual damage is a constant claims source from clubs – oh but the premium price was cheap.  But was the cover right? That’s the question.

Club Cover has been built over decades, with direct input from clubs, and an insurance programme built for Clubs. That means:

• Policy wording that reflects real club operations
• Cover designed around actual risks clubs face
• A focus on practical, relevant protection, not assumptions.

And importantly, an understanding that when something goes wrong, clubs need support.

A better way to compare

We are not saying don’t compare premiums. You have a responsibility to the financial bottom line of your club to review all costs.  But the real question isn’t “which policy is cheapest?” it’s “which policy gives us confidence we’re properly covered?”

Insurance is one of those areas where you only find out what you’ve bought when something goes wrong. By then, it’s too late to realise you weren’t comparing apples with apples.

Club Cover exists to give clubs confidence, that the cover in place reflects the way clubs actually operate, and that when it matters, it will respond the way you expect and more importantly understand.

Not sure if you're comparing apples with apples?

If you'd like to discuss your club's insurance cover, contact the team at Clubs New Zealand Insurance Services on 0800 081 443 or email clubsnzinsurance@abbott.co.nz.