New Zealand

New Zealand Insurance Law Association (NZILA) 

NZILA was established in 1991 to promote an interest in, and understanding of, the law relating to insurance and to encourage the exchange of information and ideas concerning insurance law. NZILA is a not for profit association which encourages collaboration between those working in the insurance industry and lawyers practicing in this field. It has over 550 members.

NZILA’s primary function is delivering educational and networking opportunities. NZILA holds two principal events each year and various smaller events throughout the year.  The principal events are a national lecture series given in March by an eminent insurance law practitioner or scholar, and an annual conference in September attracting 300+ delegates over two days to learn from local and international speakers on topical issues. 

Membership:

NZILA has more than 550 members and membership numbers are consistently rising. Our membership base is increasingly diverse and includes insurance law professionals drawn from across the industry – underwriters, claims managers, brokers and loss adjusters, as well as lawyers engaged in private practice.

Annual Conference:

Conference attendance increases each year (313 delegates attended the 2017 conference). Typically, the annual conference features a mix of international and local speakers.  Recent international speakers include: Professor Rob Merkin QC (UK), Professor Craig Brown (Canada), Chris Rodd (Australia), Tim Hardy (UK), Ian Hanger QC (Australia), Dr Grant Lester (Australia). Recent local speakers include Justice Mark O’Regan (Supreme Court), Justice Stephen Kos (President of the Court of Appeal), Justices Helen Winkelmann and Forest Miller (Court of Appeal), Dr Jan Wright (Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment), Tim Grafton (CE, Insurance Council of NZ) and Professors Stephen Todd and Ursula Cheer (University of Canterbury).  The 2018 conference will be held in Christchurch on 19 to 21 September 2018.

Annual lecture series:

The annual lecture series is now embedded as a permanent fixture on NZILA’s activity calendar and is one of NZILA’s two principal events held each year. The lecture series has been modelled on AILA’s annual Geoff Masel lecture series. The annual lecture series has been held three times to date:

• 2016 – Professor Ian Enright of the University of Technology, Sydney.  Ian spoke on The Insurance Social Contract: 1788 and all that
• 2017 – Neil Campbell QC of Shortland Chambers, Auckland.  Neil spoke on Inherent Vice: Limits and Tensions
• 2018 – Professor Rob Merkin QC of the University of Exeter, UK.  Rob spoke on Can the assured’s conduct defeat a claim?

Relationship with ICNZ: 

Together with the Insurance Council of New Zealand, each year NZILA hosts a series of up to four liability discussion group sessions in Auckland. 

University law prize:

NZILA sponsors an academic prize for the top student in insurance law at each of the law schools in New Zealand that offer an insurance law course (except the University of Auckland where a prize is already offered).  

Relationship with YIPs: 

The Young Insurance Professionals (YIPs) is a growing organisation focussed on helping young insurance professionals further their careers in insurance. A number of YIPS members attend NZILA events each year, including the annual conference, at which YIPs members enjoy a discounted registration fee. At recent NZILA conferences NZILA has held an event dedicated for YIPs delegates to meet with NZILA’s National Committee members. 

Relationship with AILA: 

NZILA continues to enjoy a strong relationship with the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA). NZILA and AILA contribute jointly to Resolve – an e-publication produced every two months about topical issues in the Australian and New Zealand insurance market, and in insurance law.  The president of NZILA writes a regular column. 

Relationship with AIDA:

NZILA has been an active participant in AIDA and its activities for many years.  NZILA members have participated in a number of AIDA working parties, including by completing regular questionnaires about topical insurance law issues.In 2017, NZILA co-hosted with various other AIDA chapters the first Asia-Pacific Insurance Conference, held in Singapore.  That event brought together more than 250 insurance lawyers and insurers from around the world.  In 2018, NZILA’s president, Jonathan Scragg, was nominated to join AIDA’s Presidential Council.

Further details of NZILA and activities can be found on its website: www.nzila.org 

Governance

NZILA is led by a National Committee, made up of the Executive Officers and National Committee Members.