Community Impact Report 2023
We’re proudly here for Aotearoa New Zealand. Our vision is to enable healthier years for more New Zealanders.
Caring for our communities
Southern Cross businesses are committed to working together to achieve positive impact for their people, communities and the environment.
The Community Impact Report highlights the work that Southern Cross businesses are doing to drive positive impact in communities and support a healthy future for New Zealanders. It represents a genuine aspiration to enhance health and wellbeing today and for generations to come.
The Community Impact Report gives us the opportunity to look back at how Southern Cross businesses have supported communities over the past year and share how they plan to help New Zealanders to live well for longer in the future.
Growing access to surgical care
The Southern Cross Northland Surgical Centre, a new Southern Cross Healthcare joint venture, formed in September 2023. The significant new development at Southern Cross Wellington Hospital began in 2023. These developments will ensure local communities have increased access to quality healthcare services.
Most awarded
Southern Cross was voted New Zealand’s top health, travel and life insurance brand in the Reader’s Digest ‘Most Trusted Brand’ survey. In a clean sweep, we also won Gold in the Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards across four insurance categories – health, travel, pet and life.
Society membership hits 31-year high
More New Zealanders value their health than ever before, with health insurance membership sitting at 940,105 members, growing by almost 32,000 in the year to 30 June 2023.
New career pathway for registered nurses
Over 100 nurses have completed or are currently completing the Registered Nurse Anaesthetic Assistant programme. It was launched by Southern Cross Healthcare in 2018 in response to a shortage of Anaesthetic Technicians. Upskilling registered nurses into anaesthetic assistance reduces the risk of patient surgery being postponed at short notice.
Te Ao Māori
Southern Cross businesses continue to deepen employee knowledge of te ao Māori and embed tikanga and matauranga into our values and behaviours. Southern Cross Health Insurance offers enrolment in te reo Māori classes, and the Te Kaa Māori cultural competency programme is offered to leaders of each business. Matariki and Te Wiki o te Reo Māori celebrations are well attended by our people. Southern Cross Healthcare also has a clear roadmap for becoming a cultural leader in clinical practice in Aotearoa.
Growing healthy minds
Since Southern Cross Healthcare partnered with Pause Breathe Smile in 2020 to fully fund the mind health programme, more than 125,000 children in 440 primary and intermediate schools have been taught skills to learn how to navigate life’s ups and downs.
Safe nights for pets
Southern Cross Pet Insurance increased its support of Pet Refuge this year, becoming a cornerstone partner. Pet Refuge is New Zealand’s first shelter dedicated to temporarily housing pets affected by domestic violence. Since the shelter opened in 2021, Pet Refuge has provided 39,287 safe nights, helped 408 pets from 249 families, of which 378 have been reunited or rehomed.
Active communities
Southern Cross became naming rights sponsor of Round the Bays in Auckland for the first time, with 20,000 participants completing the iconic course along Tāmaki Drive, which hugs the shores of the stunning Waitematā Harbour. Next year, our sponsorship will also include Round the Bays Wellington.
Wayfinder Awards
Southern Cross Health Insurance launched the inaugural Wayfinder Awards to inspire businesses with new ways of improving leadership through workplace wellbeing, and to acknowledge people who know that good wellbeing and good business go hand in hand. Six category winners were chosen from 69 entries.
Travel Insurance claims paid
The travel industry has roared back to life after Covid-19. Southern Cross Travel Insurance insured 413,962 individuals across NZ and Australia in FY23 and paid $25m in travel claims to New Zealand customers.
Reducing plastic waste
Southern Cross Healthcare saved 13.77 tonnes of plastics and metals from going to landfill in FY23, helping to preserve our precious environment.
GenderPledge
Our Healthcare business has taken the GenderPledge, demonstrating its commitment to progressing equality, safety and inclusion for all gender identities.
All figures relate to the financial year ended 30 June 2023, unless stated otherwise.
