Back to Blog

Farm Insurance Checklist: Is Your Cover Keeping Up?

Farming businesses don’t stand still — and your insurance shouldn’t either.Over time, small changes can add up. New equipment, rising costs, changes in stock levels or staffing — all of these can affect whether your cover is still fit for purpose.This simple checklist is a good way to sense-check where things are at — and whether it might be time for a review....

Farm Succession Planning: Protecting Your Business and Your Family

For many farming families, the business isn’t just an income — it’s something that’s been built over generations, with a clear intention to pass it on.Succession planning is often thought of as something to deal with “later”, but in reality, it’s just as much about protecting the farm today as it is about the future.Because if something unexpected happens, having the right plan in place can make all the difference — for both the business and the people behind it....

Protecting Farm Income: What Happens If You Can’t Work?

In many rural businesses, a small number of people keep everything running — often family, or a tight-knit team who know the operation inside out.If one of those people is suddenly unable to work, the impact can be immediate — not just operationally, but financially.It’s not always something that gets prioritised, but protecting your ability to earn an income is one of the most important parts of any rural insurance plan....

Rural Insurance for Farmers: What Cover Do You Actually Need?

Running a farm means managing risk every day — from unpredictable weather to machinery breakdowns and everything in between.While you can’t control every variable, you can make sure your insurance is set up to support your business when things don’t go to plan.As we move through the financial year, it’s a good time to step back and ask a simple question: Does your current cover still reflect how your farm operates today?...

Business Insurance Checklist: Is Your Cover Keeping Up?

Businesses evolve over time — and your insurance should evolve with them.New equipment gets purchased, teams grow, contracts change, and risk exposure shifts.But insurance doesn’t always keep pace, which can lead to gaps that only become clear when it’s too late.This simple checklist is designed to help you sense-check whether your cover still reflects how your business operates today....

Protecting Your Business: Key People, Owners & Succession Planning

Behind every successful business is a group of people driving it forward — often a small number of individuals who play a critical role in revenue, operations, and decision-making.But what happens if one of those people is suddenly unable to work?It’s not always something that’s planned for, but the impact can be immediate — both financially and operationally.Taking a proactive approach to protecting key people and business owners can make all the difference when it matters most....

Business Insurance NZ: What Should You Be Reviewing Each Year?

As we head into a new financial year, most businesses naturally turn their focus to the numbers.But it’s just as important to look behind those numbers — at the risks that could impact them.A well-structured business insurance programme helps ensure the income, assets, and people driving your success are protected if something unexpected happens.We’ve broken this down into three key areas — your people, your assets, and your overall risk exposure — each worth reviewing in more detail....

2026 Kiwisaver updates

Recent global tensions have understandably caused some concern. Headlines can make market movements sound dramatic, here's what's important to know:Markets move fastBy the time news is widely reported, markets have usually already adjusted. Diversified portfolios have moved only a few percent in recent weeks, well within the normal range for balanced funds.Don't react to the noiseSwitching strategies after markets have already fallen is often too late. Your portfolio is structured with diversifi...

2025 - A year in review

As we wrap up another rewarding year, we wanted to share a quick update and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who continues to trust us with their financial well-being. Supporting More Clients, All Under One Roof One of the real highlights this year has been seeing more clients choose to streamline their insurance by keeping everything in one place.From house, car and contents cover through to business and liability insurance, and right across to life, income protection and key person solutions...

Supporting Our Community This Christmas

As we head into Christmas, there are so many wonderful charities and community organisations doing amazing work. While we can’t feature every organisation that we’re proud to support, we wanted to highlight a few that hold a special place in our hearts this year....

Get to know Gemma Wilshier

Hi, I’m Gemma! I joined Carricks in 2025 as part of the Adviser Support team, working closely with our advisers to ensure clients receive the highest level of care and attention throughout every stage of their journey. My role involves keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes, from preparing documentation and managing communication to making sure each client interaction feels organised, clear, and personal.What I enjoy most about my work is knowing that what I do helps make a...

Kids in Need Waikato – 2025 Colour Run

Sunday, 19th October, we pulled out everything orange we could find to make an impact and stand out at the 2025 Kids in Need Colour Run!What an amazing event, one that brought smiles to the faces of kids, parents, supporters, and sponsors alike. Throwing paint at the runners and handing out an enormous number of lollies definitely made this a highlight work event for the year. It was such a fun, happy day filled with laughter and plenty of creative costumes....

Celebrating Women’s Suffrage Day with Our Community

Carricks was honoured to attend the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Lunch, held in celebration of Women’s Suffrage Day, a moment to recognise the leadership, resilience, and strength of women shaping our communities.The event featured an inspiring panel of speakers: Gabby Byrne (Cambridge Community House), Sam Ogden (Cambridge RDA), and Linda Roil (Kids in Need Waikato). Three remarkable women leading organisations that Carricks is proud to support. Each shared powerful s...

Get to know Tamsin

Hi, I’m Tamsin,  I’ve been part of the insurance industry for almost 30 years and joined Carricks in 2020, right as Covid arrived. I support our General Insurance advisers, Sally and Caitlin, helping to ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. With my experience across domestic, farm, and business insurances, I bring a wealth of knowledge and skill to assist clients with their insurance needs, and I’m proud to be a valued member of the Carricks team. I love being part of th...

Change to Probate Threshold

From 24 September 2025, the threshold for when probate is required will increase from $15,000 to $40,000. What does this mean  The increase in the threshold means banks, insurers and others will be able to distribute assets   in smaller estates without the relatives and other beneficiaries of the deceased person having to go to the High Court, leaving more of an estate for the beneficiaries.   The change means small, straightforward estates can be quickly distributed without inc...

Finding freedom in every stride

James Carrick is a psychology graduate living with advanced Choroideremia, a rare degenerative eye condition. After turning his own grief into purpose, he earned four scholarships, completed a Bachelor of Psychology at the University of Waikato, and an Honours degree at the University of Auckland. Today, James is an active advocate through Retina NZ and My Life My Voice, and serves as Co-Chapter Lead of Achilles Hamilton, where he both runs and supports others to run freely without barriers.He i...

Tool Theft: How Kiwi Tradies Can Stay One Step Ahead

Tool theft is a real concern for New Zealand tradespeople, and at Carricks, we know the value of your tools goes far beyond their price tag. They are the backbone of your work and your livelihood.That is why we wanted to share some practical advice, originally published on Covernote, about reducing the risk of theft and making sure your insurance cover gives you confidence. Smarter Physical Security Improving how you secure tools, whether on-site or in your vehicle, is one of the most effective ...

Get to know Kate Terry

Hi, I’m Kate!I joined Carricks in January 2023 to support Paul and Nick with their clients and manage the day-to-day running of their diaries. Since then, my role has grown to include keeping the office running seamlessly, coordinating with our team and external providers, and ensuring every client is welcomed and cared for with the attention they deserve. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is helping clients with everything from policy changes to liaising with suppliers, making s...

Get to know Sally Carrick

Kia ora,  I thought it was about time I reintroduced myself! For those I haven’t yet had the pleasure of meeting, I’m Sally, General Insurance Broker here at Carricks. My role is to help individuals, families, and businesses protect what matters most – from their homes and cars through to their livelihoods and futures. ...

Get to know Nick Carrick

joined Mum and Dad in the family business at the beginning of 2018, after several years working across a range of hands-on roles, including farming various animals, private gardening, commercial landscaping, and machinery operation. Starting at Carricks was my first "inside job", and while I sometimes miss the crisp winter mornings outdoors, I definitely appreciate the four walls and air conditioning when it hits 30 degrees and the sun is beating down.My role in the business has grown significan...

KiwiSaver Updates

Why compounding interest and a new government policy could make all the difference for your kids’ financial futureYesterday’s Budget announcement brought in some important updates to KiwiSaver. While most of the headlines focused on policy, there’s a bigger message underneath, especially for parents.The new rules mean that from 1 July 2025, 16- and 17-year-olds will become eligible for government KiwiSaver contributions, and from April 2026, employers will start contributing to their accou...

2025 Waipa Networks Business Recap

Our team were thrilled to attend the Waipa Networks Business Awards on Friday 2 May. This is a prestigious event organized by the Cambridge Business Chamber. The Business Awards recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements of businesses across Waipa.As proud sponsors of the Excellence in Large Business category, we’re honoured to support and spotlight organisations with 16 or more full-time staff who are making a significant impact through innovation, leadership, and growth. These bu...

Rainy Days Happen – Are You Ready?

Why a Reserve Fund Is Your Financial UmbrellaLet’s face it—life has a way of throwing us curveballs when we least expect them. Whether it’s a car that won’t start, a redundancy notice, or a sudden spike in your weekly shop, these moments can cause real stress—especially if your finances aren’t prepared for them.That’s where a reserve fund comes in. Also known as emergency savings, it’s your first line of defence when life doesn’t go to plan. And right now, in Aotearoa, the need...

The Mane Event

Carricks is proud to announce our ongoing support for The Mane Event 2025, a heartwarming and impactful event supporting the incredible work of Cambridge RDA (Riding for the Disabled). We’re honoured to contribute to an organisation that has been changing lives in our community for over 40 years.Cambridge RDA provides therapeutic riding programmes for children, youth, and adults living with intellectual, physical, emotional, or behavioural challenges. Their goal-based interactions with horses ...

Carrick's WOF

Undergoing a business warrant of fitness (often referred to as a business risk review or insurance audit) with Carricks offers several key benefits for a client:1. Comprehensive Coverage AssessmentA business warrant of fitness ensures that your insurance coverage is up-to-date and appropriate for your current business needs. Carricks will review all aspects of your policy, checking that you're not over-insured or under-insured. This way, you avoid paying for unneces...