IAG-owned AMI has been crowned general insurance company of the year in New Zealand, while Marsh took top honours in the large broking company category.

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance handed out its industry awards last night in Auckland.

Insurance Advisernet won in the broker network category, Suncorp-backed AA Insurance took the claims team prize, and Dual was named underwriting agency of the year.

“The award submissions this year have highlighted the remarkable progress that is continuously being made across the industry to exceed expectations and foster a culture of professionalism and trust,” ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said.

“To the finalists, congratulations on your exceptional efforts in raising the bar for our industry. Lastly, to all those who submitted entries, your accomplishments have inspired us.”

IAG also won in the environmental, social and governance change category, and its technical claim manager John Archer was honoured with a lifetime achievement award.

AMI’s EGM consumer brands Paula ter Brake says being named general insurer of the year is a “wonderful acknowledgment” of the business’ focus on customer needs.

“A great deal of hard work had gone into simplifying and innovating the customer experience to provide more than insurance, offering rescue, restoration, risk prevention and mitigation, and we’re absolutely delighted to see this coming to fruition,” she said.

Dual New Zealand says the underwriting agency prize “is a true reflection of the calibre of our team, the quality of our work and our commitment to delivering value for brokers”.

McLarens – named top professional services firm for the fourth consecutive year – says it is “beyond excited, humbled and honoured”.

“This remarkable milestone reflects the relentless commitment and hard work of our everyday superheroes – our amazing team – who show up day after day, going above and beyond to deliver the best service ... to all our customers,” it said in a LinkedIn post.

Simfuni won the insurtech start-up award and said: “A huge thank you goes out to our dedicated team, supportive investors and valued clients – you made this achievement possible.”

The winners in all categories

• Large broking company: Marsh New Zealand
• Broker network: Insurance Advisernet
• Underwriting agency: Dual
• General insurance company: AMI
• Claims team: AA Insurance
• Life insurance company: Asteron Life
• Insurtech start-up: Simfuni
• Professional services firm: McLarens
• Service provider to the insurance industry: IVAA
• Excellence in workplace diversity, equity and inclusion: Tower
• Excellence in environmental, social and governance change: IAG
• Young insurance professional: Jake Carter
• ANZIIF lifetime achievement award: John Archer and Mike Austin