Skip to main content
  • Adviser
    • Adviser
    • Get Advice
    • Home Loans
    • Contact Us
    • MyAIA
  • Search
  • Home
  • AIA Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Health Insurance
    • Trauma Insurance
    • Total Permanent Disablement
    • Income Protection Insurance
    • AIA Starter Plans
    • Specified Accidental Injury Cover
    • Business Insurance
    • Corporate Solutions
    • Rural Insurance
  • AIA Vitality
    • AIA Vitality Simulator
    • AIA Vitality Premium Flex Explained
    • How to earn points
    • Benefits & Rewards
    • Physical activity points explained
    • Sprint to Silver
    • Content Hub
    • AIA Vitality Starter
  • Make a Claim
    • Health insurance claims
    • Life insurance claims
    • Income protection insurance claims
    • Trauma insurance claims
    • AIA CLAIMS 360 CARE
    • Corporate Solutions - Making a Claim
  • About AIA
    • Our Leadership Team
    • Careers
    • Media Centre
    • AIA Thrive
    • Sustainability
    • Charity Partners
    • Becoming an Adviser with AIA New Zealand
  • Help & Support
    • My AIA
    • Update your contact details
    • Contact AIA
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Product Updates and Policy Wordings
    • Consumers Price Index (CPI)
    • NEW TO NEW ZEALAND
    • Vulnerable Customers Support
    • Investment Products
    • Complaints
  • Get Advice
  • Home Loans
  • MyAIA
Menu
  • Adviser
  • Get Advice
  • Home Loans
  • Contact Us
  • MyAIA
AIA New Zealand AIA New Zealand
  • AIA Insurance

    Our insurance products

    The most important things in your life are your family, your lifestyle and your future. This is what life, trauma and disability insurance are there to protect.

    • offers Our latest offers
    • discount Multi-Benefit Discount

    For Individuals

    For Business

    • Life Insurance

      Lump sum payment if you were to pass away or are diagnosed with a terminal illness.

    • Health Insurance

      Choose from private health insurance or specialised cancer insurance.

    • Trauma Insurance

      Financial support if you or your child become seriously ill or injured.

    • Total Permanent Disablement

      Lump sum payment if you become permanently disabled and are unable to work.

    • Income Protection Insurance

      Provides financial support if you can't work due to an accident or illness.

    • AIA Starter Plans

      Simple plans you can buy online. Get protected with basic life, rent or mortgage protection.

    • Specified Accidental Injury Cover

      Lump sum payment if you have an accident and suffer one of the covered injuries.

    • Business Insurance

      Protection for business owners if a key person becomes seriously ill, is injured, or dies.

    • Corporate Solutions

      Providing cost effective and comprehensive corporate group insurance for your employees.

    • Rural Insurance

      Financial support if a key person of your farm becomes seriously ill, injured or passes away.

  • AIA Vitality

    AIA Vitality

    AIA Vitality encourages and supports you to live a healthier life, while giving you access to great rewards along the way.

    • AIA Vitality Simulator

      An interactive tool to help you calculate the benefits and rewards of AIA Vitality.

    • AIA Vitality Premium Flex Explained

      Learn how you can save on insurance with AIA Vitality.

    • How to earn points

      Start earning points for getting to know and improve your health today!

    • Benefits & Rewards

      Learn more about the amazing benefits, discounts and rewards you'll have access to with AIA Vitality.

    • Physical activity points explained

      Learn how you can earn up to 15,000 points and $260 a year in Active Rewards.

    • Sprint to Silver

      Find out how you can earn 25 Airpoints Dollars or $25 Woolworths vouchers.

    • Content Hub

      Your go to for science-backed health and wellbeing inspiration and advice.

    • AIA Vitality Starter

      Entry level membership automatically included with all AIA Starter Plans.

  • Make a Claim

    Make a Claim

    Get help with making a claim.

    • Health insurance claims

      Make a health insurance claim.

    • Life insurance claims

      Make a life insurance claim.

    • Income protection insurance claims

      Make an income protection or mortgage and income protection insurance claim.

    • Trauma insurance claims

      Make a Critical Illness, Critical Conditions, Progressive Care, Living Assurance or other trauma insurance claim.

    • AIA CLAIMS 360 CARE

      A personalised end to end claims experience when support matters the most.

    • Corporate Solutions - Making a Claim

      Get help with making a claim.

  • About AIA

    About AIA

    AIA Group is one of the largest life insurers in the world, with a presence in 18 markets across Asia Pacific. AIA New Zealand Limited is part of the AIA Group and has been providing insurance to New Zealanders since 1981.

    AIA New Zealand

    • Our Leadership Team

      Get to know our Board of Directors and Executive Team

    • Careers

      Explore opportunities to work at AIA

    • Media Centre

      The latest news from AIA New Zealand

    • AIA Thrive

      AIA Thrive is a network of qualified, experienced advisers helping New Zealanders plan well, so they can live well.

    • Sustainability

      AIA NZ is committed helping build a healthier, cleaner and more sustainable Aotearoa NZ.

    • Charity Partners

      Committed to making a difference in New Zealand with our AIA Vitality Charity partners.

    • Becoming an Adviser with AIA New Zealand

      All you need to know about applying to distribute our products.

    • Code of Conduct​ & Procedures

      AIA is committed to continuously improving conduct, culture and customer outcomes.

  • Help & Support

    Help & Support

    We're here to help! Check out our quick links and digital tools. Still have a question? Get in touch via Live Chat.

    Contact AIA

    Quick Links

    Understanding your policy

    Other useful information

    • My AIA

      View, claim and update your insurance with MyAIA.

    • Update your contact details

      Use this form to update your phone number, email and postal address if you don’t have access to MyAIA.

    • Contact AIA

      Have a question? We’re here to help. Phone, send us a message, or Live Chat during business hours.

    • Frequently asked questions

      Updating policies, moving house, changing names, Covid-19 support... our FAQs section has all the answers and forms.

    • Product Updates and Policy Wordings

      Product updates, enhancements and policy wordings for current and closed AIA or Sovereign policies.

    • Consumers Price Index (CPI)

      Find out more about CPI indexation and how it may affect your insurance cover.

    • NEW TO NEW ZEALAND

      Helpful advice if you have recently arrived, or are considering moving to New Zealand.

    • Vulnerable Customers Support

      A list of some of the services available in New Zealand that offer support, information and help.

    • Investment Products

      The latest AIA investment performance information, as well as a list of closed and terminated investment products.

    • Complaints

      If you have a complaint, we’ll do our best to resolve the situation.

  • Search
  • Contact Us
    • Log in to MyAIA

      View, claim and update your insurance

    • Send us a message

      via our online contact form

    • Talk to an adviser

      Get free expert insurance advice

    • Chat with us

      Available Mon-Fri, 8:30am to 5:30pm

    • Call Us

      0800 500 108 - Mon-Fri, 8:30am to 5:30pm

Environmental Exchange
Prev | Next
Contact Us
Talk to an Adviser
Back to Top
  • {{title}}

    {{label}}
  • How climate change is transforming our oceans and our livelihood

    AIA Vitality NZ - 4 min read

    05 October 2022

    Better Lives with AIA VitalityBetter Lives with AIA Vitality
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Mates

    Rising sea levels and extreme weather events are continuing to take a toll on our oceans, impacting coastal communities and causing land degradation at an alarming rate. Here, Australian AIA Vitality Ambassadors Layne Beachley AO and Tim Jarvis AM1, discuss their experiences with climate change and how we can take a stand against it.

    Layne Beachly

    Our oceans have seen increasing change over the last several decades, and according to Tim, the ocean is by far our largest carbon sink.

    “We currently have the highest levels of greenhouse gases we’ve had in the atmosphere for hundreds of thousands of years,” Tim explains. “And the oceans – our biggest carbon sink – have absorbed more than 90 per cent of it. A few things are happening due to this: the ocean is becoming warmer, and it’s becoming more acidic – 30 per cent more acidic now than at the beginning of the industrial revolution.”

    “And that’s having a dramatic impact on our environment,” Layne continues. “Over my career, I’ve seen less marine life. From where I am on the northern beaches, I’ve had less Bluebottle jellyfish sightings and interactions. There’s definitely something happening in the water, and it’s affecting more than just our wildlife.”

    Climate change impacts everyone’s livelihoods

    Some of the most damaging by-products of climate change are also rising sea levels and extreme weather events, including storms and bigger waves that contribute to land degradation.

    Surfers are one demographic that experience these changes firsthand. While climate change holds one small advantage to their sport, the disadvantages to local communities and coastal towns are much greater.

    “The build-up in storm activity causes bigger waves to form, so that’s a plus from a surfer’s point of view,” Layne says. “But that’s a very selfish way to look at climate change. Over the last 40 years I’ve been visiting Hawaii, I’ve seen beaches eroded and houses falling into the water – especially on the north shore of Oahu – I’ve never seen anything like it.”

    We don’t have to look far from our shores to see these changes for ourselves2. As Tim explains, extreme weather events are increasing globally and there is evidence that waves are becoming larger – and dangerously so – due to climate change-induced warming3. In the Asia-Pacific region, South Australia, Western Australia, parts of New Zealand and the Indonesian islands are particularly susceptible.

    “If you imagine this phenomenon happening in a developing country like Indonesia and its 17,000 islands that are fairly low above sea level, it can be absolutely devastating,” Tim explains.

    “Extreme storms compound the issues these people are already facing – many of them live in a state of subsistence – and can contaminate the land with salt water even when they retreat. And when these islands eventually become borderline uninhabitable, I expect to see climate migration becoming more and more of an issue.”

    Trees that count logo

    Help the environment by supporting Trees That Count

    With AIA Vitality, you can help the environment and benefit your health with your healthier choices. When you earn your weekly Active Reward you can donate to Trees That Count to support tree planting.

    If you’re not an AIA Vitality member (or if you’d like to donate independently), you can also opt to donate directly to them or join in on one of their tree planting events – all donations are tax deductible. Every New Zealander can help grow a brighter future.

    We must change to tackle climate change

    With such dramatic effects on our environment, Layne and Tim are adamant that we need to act now. The first thing we can change, as Layne explains, is our behaviour.

    “Every single one of our actions makes a difference, no matter how small it is,” Layne says. “But first, we need to change our behaviour towards nature, and our consumerist behaviours. We tend to have an apathetic mindset towards climate change – that we’ll just wait for someone else to fix the problem, and it doesn’t affect us. But the reality is, it is affecting us today, and will have a monumental impact on the future generations to come.”

    “As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second-best time is today,” Tim adds. “It's crucial for us to decarbonise as quickly as we can. This involves two things: sequestration, which is primarily done through tree planting, and mitigation, which is not emitting any more gases to make the problem worse. From switching to solar power to eating less meat – everything counts.”

    “Being mindful of our everyday actions also helps – an easy everyday item we can use is a reusable coffee cup," Layne continues. “Australians use 2.7 million disposable coffee cups a day – with the vast majority of them ending up in landfill4. Or if you go to a restaurant and they give you a plastic straw, let them know that it doesn’t sit right with you. There’s lots of things we can do to stand up for our planet, but it’s just a matter of starting somewhere and recognising your actions have a profound impact.”

    How we can influence others to help

    If you have friends, family or colleagues who are apathetic on climate change, Layne and Tim both suggest one solution: education.

    “You’ve got to show them climate change is real,” Tim says. “Convince them with metrics and evidence that speaks to them – a melting glacier isn’t necessarily going to influence someone in inner city Melbourne as it’s too far removed.” 

    “Find something closer to home that means something, shows the issue is real to them and instils a sense of urgency. And finally, show them the things they can do that are practical to them. For instance, signing up for a green electricity plan, investing their superannuation (or KiwiSaver) in funds that have divested from fossil fuels, eating less meat, cycling to work and getting involved in local climate or reforestation projects. It’s possible to reduce a huge amount of your carbon footprint in just a few weeks if you really set your mind to it.”

    Layne wholeheartedly agrees. “Education is the number one piece of the puzzle,” she adds. “Then pique their curiosity. Ask them: if there was one behaviour they were willing to change, what would it be? Could it be reducing their reliance on driving, or minimising red meat in their diet? And lastly, make sure to lead by example. We must adopt a proactive mindset and be committed to change. Just start with small choices, and you (and others) will eventually see the benefits of your actions.”

    Footnotes:

    1. Member of the Order of Australia
    2. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/14/we-are-custodians-the-fights-to-save-australias-eroding-beaches
    3. https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-making-ocean-waves-more-powerful-threatening-to-erode-many-coastlines-160998
    4. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/06/australians-ingest-a-credit-cards-worth-of-plastic-a-week-so-whats-it-doing-to-us#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20we%20ingest%20about,research%20scientist%20at%20the%20CSIRO.
    • Explore Content Hub
    • What is AIA Vitality?
    • Explore our Products
    • Get a quick quote
    • Talk to an adviser
      Talk to an Adviser
    • Apply online

    Article by: AIA Vitality Staff Writer

    Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday New Zealanders live healthier, longer, better lives. 

     

    Disclaimer: The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.


    This content is brought to you by AIA Vitality

    AIA Vitality is a science-backed health and wellbeing programme that provides the guidance, tools, and rewards to get more out of life so you can start thriving.

    Find out more on AIA Vitality.

    FOLLOW

    AIA NZ Tiktok

    You might like these

    17 December 2020

    Here are five tips for achieving work-life balance

    AIA Vitality NZ - 5 min read


    As we head into a new work year, it’s important to find balance between work and life.

    20 November 2020

    How to harvest a bumper crop from your own backyard

    AIA Vitality NZ - 6 min read


    Here’s how to harvest a bumper crop from your own backyard (even if you’ve got no garden at all!).

    29 January 2021

    Better Lives: How Nick's life changed with AIA Vitality

    AIA Vitality NZ - 5 min read


    With the help of AIA Vitality, Nick has gained motivation, a few new habits, and lost weight in the process.
    Contact Us

    Live Chat

    Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm

    0800 500 108

    Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm

    Postal address

    AIA New Zealand Limited
    Private Bag 92499
    Victoria St West
    Auckland 1142

    View all contact options
    CONTACT US

    Live Chat

    Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm

    0800 500 108

    Mon - Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm
    AIA House, 74 Taharoto Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0622, New Zealand
    View all contact options
    Company

    About AIA New Zealand

    Careers

    News and Press

    Our Policies & Code of Conduct​

    Our Financial Strength

    Environmental Social Governance

    Accessibility Tick Gender Tick
    Pride Pledge Logo Toitū carbonreduce certified
    Vist AIA.com to learn more about AIA Group.
    Quick Links

    AIA Vitality

    MyAIA login

    AIA Thrive

    Investment Products

    Past Insurance Products

    Make a Claim

    FAQs

    Our Products

    Life Insurance

    Health Insurance

    Income Protection Insurance

    Business Continuity Cover

    AIA Starter Plans

    GO Home Loans

    Get Advice

    Company
    About AIA New Zealand
    Careers
    News and Press
    Our Policies & Code of Conduct​
    Our Financial Strength
    Environmental Social Governance
    Accessibility Tick Gender Tick
    Pride Pledge Logo Toitū carbonreduce certified
    Visit AIA.com to learn more about AIA Group.
    Quick links

    AIA Vitality

    MyAIA login

    AIA Thrive

    Investment Products

    Past Insurance Products

    Make a Claim

    FAQs

    Our products

    Life Insurance

    Health Insurance

    Income Protection Insurance

    Business Continuity Cover

    AIA Starter Plans

    GO Home Loans

    Get Advice


    Copyright © 2025, AIA New Zealand Limited (Company Registration No: 352806), and its affiliates and subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement | Cookie Policy | Duty of Disclosure
    Thank you

    Thanks for getting in touch.

    We will be in contact as soon as we can.

    Did you know, with an eligible policy you can view, claim and update your insurance with MyAIA? Find out more