Hawke’s Bay Insurance Brokers

Why Hawke’s Bay residents should work with a financial adviser from Policywise insurance brokers

Hawke's Bay is one of New Zealand's most distinctive regions, known for its sunny climate, thriving food and wine scene, and a strong sense of community. Spread across four districts—Napier, Hastings, Wairoa, and Central Hawke's Bay—the region is home to around 179,700 people as of June 2025.

Over recent years, the region’s population growth has slowed, experiencing a -0.1 percentage decline from 2024.

Source: Regional Economic Activity Web Tool

You will find a mix of families, rural workers, health and education professionals, seasonal workers, and retirees across Napier, Hastings, and the wider region. Each group faces different financial pressures.

How does the economy look in Hawke's Bay?

Hawke's Bay has a diverse economy shaped by primary industries, construction, healthcare, and other services. Its top seven sectors include:

• Manufacturing
• Healthcare and social assistance
• Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
• Construction
• Retail
• Education and training
• Professional, scientific, and technical services.

These industries currently employ 88,431 people, or 64.4% of the working-age population.

Here’s a breakdown of each industry:

Source: Stats NZ

Here’s the employment rate in Hawke’s Bay vs New Zealand:

Source: Regional Economic Activity Web Tool

While Hawke's Bay's employment rate is lower than the national, mean household earnings sit noticeably higher than the national average.

Mean household earnings in Hawke's Bay vs New Zealand are:

Source: Regional Economic Activity Web Tool

However, with a regional median income of $39,300 per adult—compared to the national median of $42,500—many households are working with tighter financial margins than those in other parts of the country.

Much of the region's employment is concentrated in sectors that require:

• Physical presence and manual labour (manufacturing and construction)
• Seasonal demand (agriculture and horticulture)
• Consistent, ongoing ability to work (healthcare and education).

How much are residents paying for housing?

The 2023 Census counted 70,632 dwellings in Hawke's Bay, an increase of 6.5% since 2018. Demand for housing has grown alongside the region's population, and rental costs have followed.

According to MBIE data, the median rental price in Hawke's Bay reached $583 per week as of the first quarter of 2026. At its peak in recent years, the median rent went up to $588 per week, and has not fallen below $500 since 2023.

Source: Regional Economic Activity Web Tool

Mean household earnings in the region sit at $146,200 per year. After paying rent alone, many households have limited capacity to cover unexpected expenses.

If your income suddenly stopped due to illness or injury, your ability to meet the following costs comes under risk almost immediately:

• Mortgage repayments or rent
• Power, water, and other utilities
• Groceries and day-to-day costs
• Supporting your family.

Your income is one of your most valuable assets and needs protection.

How income and mortgage protection insurance help

If you cannot work due to illness or injury, income protection and mortgage protection insurance can help keep things on track, providing regular payments while you recover.

Key benefits:

• Replace a portion of your income
• Help cover rent, mortgage, and bills
• Reduce financial stress during recovery

→ You can combine income and mortgage protection for more flexibility

→ Some policies include redundancy cover.

A Policywise adviser can compare options across insurers and help you choose what suits your situation.

Healthcare pressures in Hawke's Bay

The healthcare system in Hawke's Bay is under significant pressure, driven by an aging population and health industry workforce shortages.

An aging population

The median age in Hawke's Bay is 40.4 years, slightly older than the national median of 38.1 years. According to the 2023 Census, 19.4% of the region's population—33,918 people—are aged 65 or over.

Source: Stats NZ

The Regional Skills Leadership Group forecasts that by 2028, around 22% of the region's population will be 65 years or older. By 2050, this age group could make up more than one quarter of Hawke’s Bay’s population.

As the population ages, demand for healthcare services rises—and the system is already stretched.

A health workforce under pressure

According to the 2023 Figure NZ report, Hawke’s Bay ranks sixth among the highest cancer incidence rates per 10,000 people, currently sitting at 359.

Source: Figure NZ

Nationally, as of January 2025, over 37,000 patients were waiting longer than the target period for treatment, and over 77,000 patients had been waiting four months or more for a first specialist assessment.

For Hawke's Bay residents, this means longer waits for appointments, potential delays in diagnosis, and limited access to some procedures through the public system.

As of the April 2025 report for Hawke’s Bay:

• 3,564 patients were waiting longer than the recommended timeframe for a first specialist assessment

• 971 patients had been approved for treatment, but were not treated within the required timeframe.

If you choose private healthcare to avoid those delays, the costs can be high:

Without private health insurance, these costs come entirely out of pocket—at a time when you may already be unable to work.

How health and trauma insurance help

Health insurance helps you access private care faster and reduces out-of-pocket costs.

It can help you:

• Get treatment sooner
• Avoid public system delays
• Cover surgery, tests, and specialist care

→ Options include cover for cancer, mental health, and non-Pharmac drugs
→ Plans are available for individuals, couples, and families.

Trauma (critical illness) insurance provides a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious condition.

This helps you:

• Focus on recovery without financial stress
• Cover treatment costs or time off work
• Support your family during a difficult period.

Total permanent disability (TPD) insurance gives you extra protection if you are unable to return to work long-term.

It can help you:

• Cover ongoing living and medical expenses
• Make necessary home or lifestyle modifications
• Support your family if you can no longer earn an income.

With public wait times growing and healthcare costs rising, having the right cover in place before you need it makes all the difference.

Talk to a Policywise adviser today, and find out which combination of health, trauma, and TPD insurance gives you and your family the protection you need.

Lifestyle, dependants, and financial risk

The 2023 Census shows that 19.8% of the Hawke’s Bay Region's population—34,641 people—are under the age of 15. 19.4% are aged 65 and over. These figures equate to approximately 4 in 10 residents who possibly rely on others for financial support.

Source: Stats NZ

The region has a significant proportion of families and sole-parent households. There are currently 43,473 families in the region, 38.3% composed of couples who are living with their children.

18.6% comprise households with solo parents.

Source: Stats NZ

While government support exists, most households depend heavily on their own ability to earn. For families with children, a mortgage to pay, or dependants to care for, the financial impact of losing an income can be severe and far-reaching.

How life insurance helps protect your family

Life insurance provides a lump sum payment if you pass away or are diagnosed with a terminal illness.

This helps your family stay financially secure and can help:

• Pay off the mortgage or outstanding debts
• Cover daily living costs while your family adjusts
• Fund your children's education

→ You can combine life cover with trauma or disability insurance

→ Options include joint and family cover.

A Policywise adviser can walk you through what level of cover makes sense for your household and compare options across New Zealand's leading insurers to find what fits your situation and budget.

Why it's best to get a financial adviser from an insurance broker in Hawke's Bay

A broker’s value is in choice, clarity, and advocacy. Here’s what changes when you use Policywise instead of handling everything yourself.