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Kōrero: Insurance

Government Life insurance policy

Formed in 1869 to offer low-cost life insurance to gold miners and other people with uncertain incomes, Government Life soon became the biggest life insurer in the country. This handsome policy from 1888 shows that Thomas Roe, a labourer from Maraekakaho in Hawke’s Bay, undertook to pay £3 13s. 4d. each year, with £200 payable to his family on his death.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: AAXF W3623 Box 15 NZ Govt Life Insurance Policy no. 59344

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Alan Henderson, Insurance – Early life insurance, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/zoomify/24129/government-life-insurance-policy (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Alan Henderson, i tāngia i te 4 March 2010.