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

      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

Think Well
Prev | Next
Contact Us
Talk to an Adviser
Back to Top
  • {{title}}

    {{label}}
  • What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

    AIA Vitality NZ - 3 min read

    25 July 2023

    Better Lives with AIA VitalityBetter Lives with AIA Vitality
    • Healthy habits
    • Mental Wellbeing

    For many of us, the focus during winter months is on our immunity and staying on top of colds and flu. What we often forget is how the change of season can impact on our mental wellbeing.

    AIA Vitality | Seasonal Affective Disorder

    Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), sometimes known as ‘winter depression’, is commonly associated with people living through long winters in the Northern Hemisphere. What many don’t know, is SAD also affects 10% of New Zealanders1.

    SAD is a form of depression that appears at certain times of year, but most commonly in winter when daylight hours are shorter. Symptoms include a lack of energy, finding it hard to wake up in the morning, feeling tired all the time, overeating and weight gain. Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? Those winter blues you have been feeling, may in fact be SAD.

    Whilst it is normal for many to feel and behave differently during the colder months by sleeping more, eating more or spending more time at home, increased feelings of tiredness and depression could be signs of SAD.

    Causes of SAD

    So what causes SAD? During the winter months, the days become shorter which results in reduced exposure to natural sunlight. This can affect the body’s internal clock, disrupt circadian rhythms and reduce levels of vitamin D, which is responsible for helping regulate mood.

    Here in New Zealand, our winters are often very wet, meaning outdoor activities are limited. This can lead to reduced social interaction, an important factor many people rely on to boost their mental wellbeing. 

    Symptoms of SAD

    For some, the symptoms of SAD are unpleasant but mild, not overly interfering with their daily routine. However for others, SAD can be distressing and debilitating, preventing them from functioning day to day without medical intervention.

    Signs of SAD to look out for (from the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand):

    • Persistent low or depressed mood
    • Loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy
    • Irritability
    • Changes to sleeping patterns
    • Changes in appetite
    • Decreased energy or persistent tiredness
    • Reduced contact with your network of family and friends
    • Thoughts of hopelessness or death
    • Unable to think clearly
    • Agitation or anxiety 

    Similar to depression, SAD can affect how you feel and behave for significant periods of time. Symptoms will typically appear once the weather turns cold in Autumn and continue until the days get longer and sunnier in Spring. It's interesting to note that some people experience the opposite, with symptoms appearing in Spring or Summer, although this is less common.

    At a time when many New Zealanders are already facing rising anxiety levels due to factors such as the increased cost of living, it is important to know the signs of SAD to look for, and what you can do to help ease the symptoms.

    What can you do if you think you may be suffering from SAD?

    There are many ways you can help combat the effects of SAD. The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand notes that these can range from steps as simple as spending a short period of time outside each day, to requiring medication to help treat symptoms of depression2. If you are experiencing serious symptoms of SAD, it is important you seek professional advice from your doctor.

    Some simple steps you can take to ease SAD and help stabilise energy levels include maintaining a daily routine, exercise, having a consistent sleep schedule and regulating meal times. When planning your meals, ensure you are consuming enough whole foods like fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, and lean protein - cutting down on processed food can make a difference in the way you feel, especially during winter.

    Keeping a schedule also allows you to plan for social interaction. Staying connected with friends, family and your support networks helps you seek emotional support and combat the feeling of isolation. With International Friendship Day coming up on the 30th July, why not plan a catch up with friends and family?

    Light therapy is also a common treatment used to help combat the effects of SAD. This can be as simple as spending time outdoors, especially in the morning, and opening curtains or blinds in your home to let in natural light. This can help improve mood and regulate sleep cycles.

    Finally, self-care is an important step to help keep SAD at bay. This could include making time for activities that promote relaxation and wellbeing such as meditation, breathing exercises or hobbies you love. Self-care is known to create a feeling of fulfillment and elevate your mood.

    So don’t brush off that change in mood you might be feeling as ‘winter blues’. Take steps to help reduce the impacts of SAD, and you might just feel better for it. The colder months can take a toll on your physical and mental health, and, while you can’t change the temperature, you can make choices to help mitigate the effects it has.

    If you think you have SAD, or are currently struggling with symptoms similar to depression, please seek medical assistance. You can contact your GP or health care provider, visit www.depression.org.nz or the depression helpline at 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 (to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions). 

    Footnotes:

    1. https://www.drfrances.co.nz/images/pdfs/The-Winter-Blues.pdf
    2. https://mentalhealth.org.nz/conditions/condition/seasonal-affective-disorder
    • 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

    19 April 2023

    What to do during the day, to rest well at night.

    AIA Vitality NZ - 3 min read


    Getting a good night’s sleep starts when your alarm goes off. So, start preparing for sweet dreams from the moment you wake up.

    21 February 2023

    Try these heart healthy recipes from the Heart Foundation

    Heart Foundation - 5 min read


    Try one of these delicious heart healthy recipes - designed by nutrition professionals to take the fuss out of healthy eating.

    12 June 2023

    Ian's five tips for mental and physical health this week

    AIA Vitality NZ - 3 min read


    AIA Vitality Ambassador Ian Jones shares his health journey, and the important connection between physical and mental health.
    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