From August 2025 the Government has made it illegal to insure fines levied under the Resource Management Act. Statutory liability policies will still cover associated costs, such as legal fees and expert witnesses and any remediation or reparations ordered by the Court.
This brings it in line with fines under the Health & Safety at Work Act, which also can’t be insured against. Again, legal defence costs and reparations are still covered and these frequently exceed tens of thousands of dollars.
Other fines still covered include those imposed under the Building Act (such as performing work requiring a building consent without obtaining one) and Fair Trading Act (such as misrepresentation and misleading conduct).
