20 staff to lose jobs as Tower Insurance closes its Christchurch office

Tuesday, 30 January 2018

About 20 staff will be affected when Tower Insurance closes its Christchurch office.

Tower Insurance plans to close its Christchurch office after its outstanding local earthquake claims are settled.

Chief executive Richard Harding said about 20 employees would be affected.

Tower Insurance chief executive Richard Harding said the firm had decided on an early announcement about the closure to 'provide clarity for our people'.

Tower Insurance has fewer than 300 Canterbury earthquake claims left to settle. It expects to have these finalised by the end of the year or early in 2019.

Have you been affected by the cuts? Email michael.hayward@fairfaxmedia.co.nz about it.

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A spokesman said the company had planned to close the office as part of a nationwide consolidation in 2011, but decided to keep it open after the tremors struck.

He said the company planned to be a 'leading digital insurer' and would be able to provide full services to customers remotely.

Harding said the firm had decided on an early announcement about the closure to 'provide clarity for our people'.

Affected staff would receive the company's support, including career coaching and training, and would be given the opportunity to move to the Auckland or Rotorua teams.