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Horticulture & Viticulture Insurance NZ 2026

Protect your orchard, vineyard, or market garden with specialist horticulture insurance. Compare cover for crops, packhouses, irrigation systems and more from NZ's leading rural insurers.

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Last Updated: 3 February 2026

New Zealand's horticulture industry is worth over $6.7 billion annually, from Hawke's Bay apple orchards to Marlborough vineyards and Bay of Plenty kiwifruit. Whether you grow pip fruit, wine grapes, vegetables, or berries, protecting your operation from weather events and other risks is essential.

Horticulture insurance is a specialist form of farm insurance that covers the unique risks growers face - frost damage during flowering, hail destroying fruit before harvest, wind knocking over tunnels, or fire sweeping through an orchard. The right policy protects both your crops and the infrastructure that supports your growing operation.

What Horticulture Insurance Covers

Growing Crops

  • • Frost damage (optional add-on)
  • • Hail damage to fruit/vegetables
  • • Wind damage to crops & trees
  • • Fire and smoke damage
  • • Flood damage (where available)

Infrastructure

  • • Packhouses & coolstores
  • • Irrigation systems & pumps
  • • Shade cloth & growing tunnels
  • • Frost protection equipment
  • • Trellising & support structures

Equipment & Machinery

  • • Tractors & ATVs
  • • Sprayers & spray equipment
  • • Harvesting machinery
  • • Grading & packing equipment
  • • Refrigeration units

Business Protection

  • • Business interruption
  • • Loss of harvest income
  • • Public liability
  • • Employer's liability
  • • Product liability

Insurance by Crop Type

Orchard Insurance (Pip & Stone Fruit)

Apple, pear, cherry, peach, and apricot orchards face significant weather risks. Hail can destroy an entire crop in minutes, frost during flowering reduces yields, and strong winds damage trees and fruit. Orchard insurance typically covers:

  • • Standing trees and developing fruit
  • • Hail netting and bird netting
  • • Frost fans and overhead irrigation
  • • Bee hives during pollination

Vineyard Insurance

Wine grape growing in Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, Central Otago, and other regions requires specialist cover. Vineyards are particularly vulnerable during budburst (September-October) when a single frost event can devastate yields.

  • • Frost damage cover (often higher premiums)
  • • Vintage protection for timing-sensitive harvests
  • • Spray equipment and vineyard machinery
  • • On-site winery equipment (if applicable)

Kiwifruit Insurance

New Zealand's kiwifruit industry (primarily Bay of Plenty) has unique insurance needs including post-harvest facility cover and consideration of industry-specific risks.

  • • Growing fruit and vines
  • • Pergola and T-bar structures
  • • Post-harvest coolstore and packing
  • • Wind and hail damage protection

Market Garden & Vegetable Insurance

Commercial vegetable growers need cover for both outdoor crops and protected cropping in tunnels and greenhouses. The fast crop turnover means business interruption cover is particularly important.

  • • Growing vegetables and crops
  • • Greenhouses and growing tunnels
  • • Irrigation and fertigation systems
  • • Hydroponic equipment

Horticulture Insurance Costs 2026

Horticulture insurance premiums vary significantly based on your crop type, location, infrastructure value, and coverage options. Here's a general guide to 2026 pricing:

Operation Type Annual Premium Range
Small market garden (1-5 ha) $3,000 - $8,000
Medium orchard (5-20 ha) $10,000 - $25,000
Large apple orchard (20+ ha) $20,000 - $45,000
Vineyard (10-30 ha) $15,000 - $40,000
Kiwifruit orchard (5-15 ha) $12,000 - $30,000
Large packhouse operation $25,000 - $60,000+

Note: Frost cover adds 20-40% to crop insurance premiums. Exact costs depend on your specific situation, claims history, and coverage limits.

Regional Growing Risks in NZ

🍎

Hawke's Bay

NZ's largest apple and stone fruit region. Main risks: spring frost, hail storms, cyclone flooding (as seen with Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 which caused major orchard losses).

🍇

Marlborough

Dominant wine grape region. Main risks: frost during budburst (September-October), drought conditions, occasional hail. Frost cover is essential for most vineyards.

🥝

Bay of Plenty

Centre of NZ kiwifruit production. Main risks: severe wind events, occasional hail, volcanic activity considerations. Post-harvest facilities need comprehensive cover.

🍒

Central Otago

Premium cherry and wine grape region. Main risks: severe frost, summer hail, rain damage to cherries at harvest. Extreme temperature variations require specialist cover.

Real Horticulture Insurance Claims

Hawke's Bay Apple Orchard - Cyclone Damage

A 25-hectare apple orchard suffered flooding, tree losses, and packhouse damage during Cyclone Gabrielle. Total claim included crop loss, replanting costs, and building repairs.

Claim value: $890,000

Marlborough Vineyard - Spring Frost

A late September frost event damaged newly emerged buds across 40 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc. Despite frost fans, the event exceeded protection capacity. Crop insurance covered the projected yield loss.

Claim value: $320,000

Canterbury Tunnel House - Wind Damage

Nor'west winds destroyed three growing tunnels and the tomato crop inside at a vegetable operation. Insurance covered structure replacement and lost production income.

Claim value: $145,000

Horticulture Insurance FAQs

What does horticulture insurance cover?
Horticulture insurance covers growing crops against weather damage (frost, hail, wind), fire, and other perils. It also covers infrastructure including packhouses, coolstores, irrigation systems, shade cloth, and growing tunnels. Some policies include business interruption if you can't harvest or process crops.

Can I insure my orchard against frost damage?
Yes, frost damage cover is available for orchards and vineyards, though it's typically an optional add-on with specific conditions. Insurers may require you to have frost protection equipment (frost fans, irrigation frost fighting) in place. Premiums vary based on your location, crop type, and frost risk history.

How much does horticulture insurance cost in NZ?
Horticulture insurance costs vary widely based on crop type, location, and coverage. Basic crop insurance typically ranges from 2-5% of crop value. A small market garden might pay $3,000-$8,000/year, while a large apple orchard could pay $15,000-$40,000/year. Vineyards with full frost cover often pay more due to higher risk.

Is vineyard insurance different from orchard insurance?
While both fall under horticulture insurance, vineyards have unique considerations. Wine grapes are highly susceptible to frost damage during budburst, require specific spray equipment coverage, and often need vintage (harvest timing) protection. Vineyard policies may also cover winemaking equipment if you process on-site.

What crops can be insured in New Zealand?
Most commercial crops grown in NZ can be insured including: pip fruit (apples, pears), stone fruit (cherries, peaches, apricots), kiwifruit, wine grapes, berries, avocados, citrus, vegetables, and nursery stock. Cover availability and cost depends on the crop's risk profile and your region.

Does horticulture insurance cover Psa (kiwifruit disease)?
Standard horticulture policies typically exclude Psa and other plant diseases. Some specialist policies may offer limited biosecurity cover, but disease outbreaks are generally considered uninsurable risks. Focus should be on biosecurity practices and Kiwifruit Vine Health's industry support programs.

What's covered for packhouse and coolstore insurance?
Packhouse insurance covers the building, packing equipment, grading machinery, coolstore refrigeration units, and controlled atmosphere storage systems. You can also insure stock in storage (packed fruit), business interruption if equipment breaks down, and spoilage if refrigeration fails.

Which insurers offer horticulture insurance in NZ?
FMG is the largest provider of specialist horticulture insurance in NZ, with specific products for orchards and vineyards. Vero and NZI also offer rural commercial policies that cover horticulture operations. Working with a broker helps access multiple options and specialist underwriters.

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Key Facts

  • NZ horticulture exports exceed $6.7 billion annually
  • Frost cover adds 20-40% to crop premiums
  • Cyclone Gabrielle caused $1B+ in horticulture losses
  • FMG is NZ's largest specialist rural insurer

Horticulture Insurers

  • FMG - Rural specialist
  • Vero - Commercial rural
  • NZI - Agri-business
  • Specialist underwriters
Compare all providers →

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