Rod Bolivar

Rod Bolivar

Insurance Business New Zealand

Rod Bolivar

freelance news writer

18 years experience7,041 Total views on Insurance Business New Zealand in 2025

Rod's specialty topics

property insurance commercial insurance risk management

Rod Bolivar is a journalist and communications professional writing across insurance, mortgage, employee benefits, and workplace safety. His bylines appear in Key Media titles such as Insurance Business, Benefits and Pensions Monitor, Mortgage Professional, and Wealth Professional.

He brings more than 18 years of experience across broadcast journalism, public relations, and institutional communications. His broadcast career spans television, radio, and digital platforms.

Rod holds a bachelor's degree in mass communication and a master's degree in Government Management. He also completed a Certificate in Strategic Marketing for Competitive Advantage from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

How I think about writing for this industry…

“I cover insurance by focusing on the issues that matter to insurers, brokers, and policyholders, from market trends and regulation to emerging risks. I aim to deliver clear, accurate reporting that gives readers useful context and helps them understand how industry developments affect the people and businesses they serve”

Awards and recognition

  • Investigative Story of the Year for Digital (Winner), Globe Media Excellence Awards 2022, Philippines
  • Gandingan Award for Best Development-Oriented News Story (Winner), UPLB Gandingan Multi-Media Awards 2017, Philippines
  • News Reporter of the Year for Radio (Mindanao Finalist), Globe Media Excellence Awards 2022, Philippines
  • Reporter of the Year for TV (Mindanao Finalist), Globe Media Excellence Awards 2019, Philippines
  • Environmental Story of the Year for TV (Mindanao Finalist), Globe Media Excellence Awards 2019, Philippines
  • Reporter of the Year, Iligan City Youth Choice Awards 2018, Philippines

Also published by

ABS-CBN · Wealth Professional · Mortgage Professional · Benefits and Pensions Monitor · Canadian Occupational Safety

Featured content from Rod

Insurers eye data centre climate threats – First Street Kaikōura river's repair bill exposes New Zealand's funding fight MAS reports third consecutive year of profit

Previous experience

  • ABS-CBN Corporation — news correspondent, broadcast journalist
  • Mindanao Development Authority — public relations writer

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, Siliman University (Philippines)
  • Certificate in Strategic Marketing for Competitive Advantage, The Wharton School, (Institute of Executive Education – Online), University of Pennsylvania, USA

Read the latest stories by Rod

NZ health insurance lapses are becoming a broker problem

NZ health insurance lapses are becoming a broker problem

Lapse rates are up, premiums still climbing, and a client who cancels today may not qualify for the same cover tomorrow

NZ cyber guidance lands just as cheap cover gets cheaper

NZ cyber guidance lands just as cheap cover gets cheaper

One exclusion clause could decide who pays for what - and a new standard of care raises the stakes for clients who have not reviewed their supplier contracts

New Zealand broker's pitch being outsourced to AI

New Zealand broker's pitch being outsourced to AI

Millions in insurer penalties are fuelling the shift - and the gap AI is stepping into is the gap brokers are meant to fill

AXA XL just bought the vendor half of every cyber panel it sat on

AXA XL just bought the vendor half of every cyber panel it sat on

S-RM served AXA XL's rivals too - brokers running multi-carrier programs need to find out fast whether that continues

MAS reports third consecutive year of profit

MAS reports third consecutive year of profit

MAS delivers its third straight year in the black as it invests in advice and technology for the years ahead

Kaikōura river's repair bill exposes New Zealand's funding fight

Kaikōura river's repair bill exposes New Zealand's funding fight

A $15 million scheme elsewhere avoided 10 times its cost

Insurers eye data centre climate threats - First Street

Insurers eye data centre climate threats - First Street

AI infrastructure demand is accelerating worldwide - and so is the climate exposure underneath it

Aon names global builders risk lead in push on data centre construction insurance

Aon names global builders risk lead in push on data centre construction insurance

Capacity gaps drive new insurance structures

IB TALK

Why brokers can't ignore environmental risk anymore

How brokers can protect themselves and clients as environmental exposures reshape the risk landscape

Underwriters under the microscope

Do they really deliver on speed, flexibility and claims service?

Water risks: Closing coverage blind spots for manufacturing and agriculture

A broker playbook for identifying water exposures

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