Snow sports injury claims reached their highest levels in five years in 2025, with the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) accepting 8,309 skiing claims at a cost of $32 million and 5,425 snowboarding claims at a cost of $14 million. Released by ACC on July 15, 2026, the data arrives as both the public scheme and New Zealand’s private insurance sector absorb rising claims costs – a convergence that gives the seasonal figures direct commercial relevance across the market.
The snow sports figures sit within a much larger cost problem at ACC. The corporation’s Injuries in New Zealand: Insights from 2025 report, published in June 2026, found that injuries generated an estimated $8.7 billion in lost productivity and more than 20 million days away from work during 2025. Sport and recreation injuries alone resulted in more than 480,000 claims, generating 2.5 million days of weekly compensation, $389 million in scheme costs, and an estimated $1 billion in lost productivity, according to ACC.
Across the broader scheme, ACC estimates its total future liability at approximately $63.6 billion, against reserves of approximately $53.8 billion. The proportion of weekly compensation recipients still receiving payments one year after injury has nearly doubled, from roughly 5% a decade ago to roughly 9% today, according to ACC’s own Turnaround Plan documents. If current trends continue, ACC projects a funding shortfall of $26.3 billion by 2030. Earners’ Account levies have risen in response. New Zealand increased the ACC Earners’ levy rate to $1.75 per $100 of liable earnings from April 2026. Government funding policy caps annual levy increases at 5% for levied accounts, constraining the pace at which ACC can recover rising costs from contributors.
Within this context, snow sports represent a concentrated, seasonal, and geographically predictable source of claim volume. ACC paid 73,630 days of weekly compensation for snow sports injuries in 2024 at a cost of $10.6 million. The gross maximum weekly compensation payable rose to $2,466.20 from July 1, 2026 – a 1.97% increase derived from movements in the March 2026 Labour Cost Index, according to ACC. Anyone earning above the compensation threshold absorbs the residual income shortfall through private cover or savings. Injury patterns from 2025 show regional concentration: Otago recorded 7,168 claims, followed by Canterbury with 2,384, Auckland with 1,429, and Manawatu/Wanganui with 1,070, according to ACC. Soft-tissue injuries accounted for 74% of snow sports claims and fractures and dislocations made up 16%. The leading age groups were 20-24 for skiing and 25-29 for snowboarding.
ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said early-season behaviour is a recurring factor. “It’s natural to be excited when you get back on the mountain, but the first day back is not the time to test your limits. Start with an easier run, build up gradually, and be honest about your ability, your fitness, and the conditions. Taking a moment to think about the risk can help you make good decisions and avoid an injury that could sideline you for weeks or months,” Whitaker said. Ski Area Association of New Zealand (SAANZ) chair Toby Arnott noted that the industry has measures to support participant safety. “Ski fields all around New Zealand have excellent steps in place to ensure people are safe – we’re keen to help as many people as possible to experience everything our fields have to offer,” Arnott said.
The ACC data lands in a private market already absorbing rising claims costs across product lines. AIA New Zealand paid $790 million in total claims in 2025, including $108.69 million in income protection claims and $177.31 million in health insurance claims, supporting more than 789,000 New Zealanders, according to its Claims Compass report published in May 2026. AIA NZ chief customer officer Maddie Sherlock said rising medical complexity is reshaping the market’s cost base. “New Zealanders are benefiting from advances in medical treatment and earlier diagnosis, but these innovations often come at a higher cost,” Sherlock said.
KPMG’s New Zealand Insurance Update 2026, covering results to December 31, 2025, found that disability income claims across the sector saw increased incidence and, in some cases, increased duration – partially driven by the economic environment. Health insurance medical inflation is running at approximately 15% per annum, and Southern Cross Medical Care Society – which holds a 74% share of health insurance revenue – reported that 52% of members submitted at least one claim in the past 12 months.
For income protection writers, snow sports injuries create a defined residual exposure. ACC does not cover the first week of incapacity following a non-work injury. If an injury occurs outside work – such as on a ski field on a Saturday – there is no statutory obligation on the employer to cover that gap. This layered structure, with ACC as base cover and private products absorbing the edges, means rising snow sports claim frequency carries pricing implications for income protection and supplementary health writers.
That exposure sits against a persistent underinsurance gap. The Financial Services Council’s (FSC) Money & You: Managing Risk Through Challenging Times report, published in November 2024, found just 41% of New Zealand respondents currently hold life insurance and 39% hold health insurance. FSC chief executive Kirk Hope said the pattern reflects a known structural problem. “New Zealand continues to grapple with an underinsurance challenge. Despite this low uptake, over 90% of those that have life and health insurance believe their policies offer good value for money,” Hope said.
ACC’s 2026/27 Service Agreement states the corporation plans to invest $59 million in injury prevention activity, with spending targeted at claims with the greatest impact on the scheme – specifically high-cost and high-volume injuries affecting overall liabilities and levy rates. Snow sports, which produced their highest five-year claim volumes and costs in 2025, sit directly within that criteria. ACC and SAANZ jointly deliver the Snow Safety Code, which covers knowing one’s limits, controlling speed, giving other slope users space, and wearing appropriate protective equipment including helmets. Whitaker said the aim is to support informed decision-making rather than discourage participation. “Know your limits, look after your body, and ease into the season. A good day on the snow is one you can enjoy from the first run to the last – and then do it all again next weekend,” Whitaker.
