NZI has been named “Underwriter of the Year” after a vote by the 1700 Insurance Brokers Association of New Zealand (IBANZ) brokers. The prestigious award to the IAG-owned company was made on Friday at the IBANZ national conference in Christchurch.

The award was welcomed by IAG-NZ CEO David Smith, who paid tribute to his “young, talented and dedicated” management team.

The win was especially welcome as it ended the three-year reign of arch-rival Vero as the brokers’ pick.

Four people were named as “Young Broker of the Year” – Nicholas Baker (John Baker Insurance); Blair Brady (Crombie Lockwood, Christchurch); Cameron Hollis (Primesure Brokers); and Miles Noble (Crombie Lockwood, Auckland).

Paul Yesberg was named Broker of the Year, while honorary life memberships of IBANZ were awarded to Colin Crombie, Don Grayson and Graeme Robertson.