Life and health insurer AIA celebrates its Centennial by partnering with the Mental Health Foundation

Significant donation to be used to support the provision of important mental health and wellbeing services in Christchurch as well as suicide prevention resources throughout New Zealand.

AIA is celebrating its Centennial by joining forces with the Mental Health Foundation.  The partnership is aimed at raising awareness of mental wellbeing and the need for greater support across New Zealand. 

On Friday, around 1000 New Zealand-based AIA staff will take part in a 100km baton relay at their offices at Smales Farm in Auckland.  The charity relay is the first of a number of activities in AIA’s partnership with the Mental Health Foundation this year.

Having recently merged with Sovereign, one of New Zealand’s leading life and health insurers, AIA is actively focused on improving the health and wellbeing of its employees, customers, partners and all New Zealanders. 

AIA New Zealand CEO, Nick Stanhope said:

“We know that nearly half of New Zealanders will live with a mental illness at some point during their lifetime.  We also know that one-in-five New Zealanders life with mental illness each year.”

“They are shocking statistics, and by any standards, demonstrate the need for better mental health support services across New Zealand.”

“What’s more, despite the incredible progress in improving life expectancy and physical health, we still have high levels of mental illness across New Zealand.  Thankfully we have organisations such as the Mental Health Foundation. We’re thrilled to be working with them and to help bring important support services to those in need,” Mr Stanhope said.    

CEO of the Mental Health Foundation, Shaun Robinson said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with the team from AIA. Our organisations are both in the business of wellbeing and we have been impressed by the level of commitment shown by the staff at AIA – a 100km baton relay is quite an achievement.”

“Right now the focus of the Foundation is on the people of Christchurch.  AIA’s donation will allow us to continue to offer our ‘All Right?’ resources to people in need in Canterbury as well as the provision of suicide prevention services throughout New Zealand.”

“We are very grateful for our partnership with AIA and I know our people in Christchurch and throughout the country will be very grateful too,” Mr Robinson said.   

At the end of the relay, with the help of their staff who have been fundraising throughout March, AIA will donate $100,000 to the Mental Health Foundation.       

For more details, for images or videos from the relay, or to arrange for an interview, please contact Craig Glover, Head of Corporate Affairs and External Communications, on 027 275 3405.

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About AIA and Sovereign: 

In New Zealand, AIA and Sovereign together employ around 1000 people. Since AIA arrived in New Zealand in 1981, it has consistently provided the market with innovative personal and business insurance products that suit the Kiwi way of life. In July 2018, the AIA Group acquired Sovereign, becoming the largest life insurer in New Zealand. AIA and Sovereign offer a complete range of risk management products that focus on the needs of customers. The companies are both based in Auckland, with regional offices in Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. Both companies are members of the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme and the Health Funds Association of New Zealand. AIA has an insurer financial strength rating from Standard and Poor’s of AA-. Sovereign has a rating of A+, from AM Best.

About AIA Group

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, New Zealand, Macau, Brunei, Cambodia, a 97 per cent subsidiary in Sri Lanka, a 49 per cent joint venture in India and a representative office in Myanmar.

The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai almost a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in the Asia-Pacific region (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$221 billion as of 30 June 2018.

AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia-Pacific, AIA serves the holders of 32 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).

About Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

Our work is diverse and expansive, with campaigns and services that cover all aspects of mental health and wellbeing. We take a holistic approach to mental health, promoting what we know makes and keeps people mentally well.

We provide free information and training, and advocate for policies and services that support people with experience of mental illness, and also their families/whānau and friends.

Established in 1977 from the proceeds of a telethon, the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is a charitable trust, with a governing board. Board members are experts in their fields – they are professionals who collectively guide our direction.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi and The Ottawa Charter are the core documents from which our principles and values are based, and the board is committed to directing our work to reflect this.

We value the expertise of mental health consumers/tangata whaiora and incorporate these perspectives into all the work we do. Our work is funded through donations, grants and contract income.