Insurance in Hawke’s Bay carries risks most of the country does not think about, from horticulture and viticulture through to earthquake and flood exposure, so the best insurance brokers in Hastings are the ones who know the local ground and will fight a claim on your behalf. These five cover commercial, rural, domestic, life and health cover, with claims advocacy in house rather than through a call centre. Hurford Parker and Insure Hawke’s Bay are two of the most established local names.
1Hurford Parker
Hurford Parker was founded in Hastings in 1994 by Jeff Parker and the late Jim Hurford, set up deliberately as a locally owned alternative to the foreign owned broking firms. It brokes both business and personal cover across fire and general and life insurance, with separate commercial, rural and personal lines brokers rather than one person handling everything. It is the only firm on this list with its office in Hastings itself.
Services
- Business and commercial insurance
- Fire and general insurance
- Rural insurance
- Personal insurance including home, contents and vehicle
- Claims management and advocacy
Highlights
- Founded in 1994, so more than 30 years trading
- Locally owned and independent, established expressly as an alternative to international brokers
- Director Jeff Parker is a Fellow of the Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand with over 40 years in the market
- Foundation member of Brokernet New Zealand and NZbrokers Management
- Separate commercial, rural and personal lines brokers plus an in house claims proposition
Location & Contact
Name: Hurford Parker
Address: 106 Lyndon Road West, Hastings
Phone: 06 876 0513
Website: hurfordparker.co.nz
2Insure Hawke’s Bay
Insure Hawke’s Bay has looked after Hawke’s Bay business insurance since 2018 and works across Napier and Hastings. It is commercial only rather than running a mixed personal and business book, which means the whole team is pointed at one type of client. Claims advocacy is presented as a core service, and the firm is blunt about questioning and pushing back on insurers until it is satisfied with the outcome.
Services
- Small and medium business insurance
- Liability insurance
- Commercial property insurance
- Motor vehicle and cyber insurance
- Marine and hull, plant and equipment, and contract works insurance
Highlights
- Trading since 2018, founded as a local alternative in a market dominated by multinationals
- Commercial only specialism rather than a mixed personal and commercial book
- Team describes collectively close to a century of insurance experience
- Member broker of Insurance Advisernet New Zealand, a principal member of IBANZ
Location & Contact
Name: Insure Hawke’s Bay
Address: Level 1, 77B Dalton Street, Napier 4110
Phone: 06 651 2366
Website: insurehb.co.nz
3Rothbury Insurance Brokers
Rothbury’s Hawke’s Bay branch runs from the PwC Centre on Albion Street in Napier with a team of around 16, split into separate commercial, domestic, broker support and claims groups. Three claims advisers sit in the branch itself rather than in a centralised call centre, which matters when a claim goes sideways. It also runs speciality schemes for sectors including rural contractors and motor trade.
Services
- Commercial and business insurance
- Domestic and personal insurance
- Speciality insurance schemes including rural contractors, motor trade and not for profit
- Claims handling and advocacy
Highlights
- Branch of around 16 staff with dedicated commercial, domestic, support and claims teams
- Three claims advisers based in the branch rather than a centralised claims centre
- Local sponsor of Napier City Rovers, Hawke’s Bay United Football and the Master Painters Association
Location & Contact
Name: Rothbury Insurance Brokers
Address: Level 1, PwC Centre, 6 Albion Street, Napier 4110
Phone: 06 835 2770
Website: rothbury.co.nz
4Gallagher Insurance
Gallagher is the business formerly trading as Crombie Lockwood, and its Hawke’s Bay branch at Ahuriri states it services Napier, Hastings, Havelock North and the wider region. The branch lists 18 named brokers split across commercial, personal lines, small business and life and health, so it has the depth to cover unusual risks. Marine, construction and rural specialisms sit alongside the standard commercial book.
Services
- Commercial property, commercial vehicle and business interruption insurance
- Rural insurance
- Marine, boat and construction specialist risk
- Home, contents, car, landlord and travel insurance
- Life and health insurance
Highlights
- Branch team of 18 named brokers with separate commercial, personal lines and life and health specialists
- Dedicated rural, marine and construction risk specialisms
- 24 hour claims support
- Formerly Crombie Lockwood, now part of the global Gallagher group
Location & Contact
Name: Gallagher Insurance
Address: 36 Waghorne Street, Ahuriri, Napier 4110
Phone: 06 834 4820
Website: ajg.co.nz
5Matt Stent Insurance
Matt Stent Insurance is a Hastings based brokerage set up by Matt Stent after working in both large corporates and smaller brokerages managing commercial and rural clients. It covers commercial, rural and domestic markets and stays involved from the initial risk placement through renewal, remarketing and claims. It suits anyone who would rather deal with one named broker than be passed between a team.
Services
- Commercial business and property insurance
- Commercial and heavy motor vehicle insurance
- Rural insurance
- Domestic insurance
Highlights
- Locally owned, founded as an alternative to the large brokerages
- Matt Stent holds the New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services Level 5 and a Bachelor of Commerce
- Registered financial service provider, FSP number 1005446
- Member broker of Insurance Advisernet New Zealand, part of the AUB Group
Location & Contact
Name: Matt Stent Insurance
Address: Hastings
Phone: 027 629 0891
Website: msi.nz
Insurance Brokers in Hastings at a Glance
| Business | Based in | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Hurford Parker | Hastings | Founded in 1994, so more than 30 years trading |
| Insure Hawke's Bay | Napier | Trading since 2018 |
| Rothbury Insurance Brokers | PwC Centre | Branch of around 16 staff with dedicated commercial |
| Gallagher Insurance | Ahuriri | Branch team of 18 named brokers with separate commercial |
| Matt Stent Insurance | Hastings | Locally owned, founded as an alternative to the large brokerages |
How to Choose the Right Insurance Broker in Hastings
- Decide whether you need commercial, rural or personal cover, because some Hawke’s Bay brokers are commercial only while others carry a full mixed book.
- Ask who handles a claim, since a broker with claims advisers in the branch is a very different proposition from one that routes you to a national call centre.
- Ask about horticulture and viticulture experience if that is your industry, as crop, frost and contract works exposures are specialised and Hawke’s Bay brokers vary in how much of it they do.
- Check they are a registered financial service provider and an IBANZ member, which you can verify independently rather than taking on trust.
- Ask how they are paid, whether by commission from the insurer, a fee from you, or both, so you understand where their incentives sit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hastings Insurance Brokers
What does a broker do that I cannot do myself?
A broker places your risk across multiple insurers rather than one, negotiates wordings rather than accepting the standard policy, and argues the claim on your behalf when it matters. For a straightforward house and car, going direct can be fine. For a business, a farm or an orchard, the policy wording detail is where a broker earns their keep.
How are brokers paid?
Usually by commission from the insurer, sometimes by a fee charged to you, and occasionally both. They are required to disclose this. Ask the question directly, because a broker who is transparent about it is generally the sort you want.
Are brokers regulated in New Zealand?
Yes. Anyone giving regulated financial advice must be a licensed Financial Advice Provider or work under one, and be registered on the Financial Service Providers Register. You can check any broker’s registration yourself through the Financial Service Providers Register.
What if my broker gets it wrong?
Every licensed provider must belong to an approved dispute resolution scheme, and it is free for you to use. The main schemes are the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman and Financial Services Complaints Limited. Guidance on your rights and how to complain is published by the Financial Markets Authority.
Do any of these specialise in rural or horticulture?
Yes. Several list rural insurance as a distinct service line and one runs speciality schemes for rural contractors. Given how much of the Hawke’s Bay economy sits in orcharding and viticulture, it is worth asking specifically about crop, frost, hail and contract works cover rather than assuming a general commercial policy covers it.
Should I use a local broker or a national one?
Both work. A locally owned firm gives you a named broker who knows the district, while a national branch brings more specialists and deeper markets for unusual risks. Two of these are locally owned and independent, two are branches of national groups, and one is commercial only. Match it to how complex your risk is.
Will a broker help after an earthquake or flood?
That is precisely when they matter, and Hawke’s Bay has learned that the hard way. Ask how many claims advisers the firm has and whether they are local, because in a regional event the difference between a broker who advocates for you and one who forwards your paperwork is substantial.
How often should cover be reviewed?
Annually at renewal as a minimum, and immediately after anything that changes your risk: a new building, new plant, a change in turnover, or taking on staff. Underinsurance usually creeps in quietly through rebuild costs rising rather than through anyone making a mistake.
How We Chose the Best Insurance Brokers in Hastings
Every business in this guide was found by searching for insurance brokers in Hastings, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Hastings, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.