This guide breaks down the latest ACC data to show where New Zealanders are getting injured, which regions and industries are most affected, and why ACC costs are climbing faster than claim numbers. We also explain why ACC doesn’t cover illness and how income protection insurance can fill the gap.
Overview: The Year in Numbers (1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025)
ACC paid out $8.23 billion for 2,295,685 claims over the 2024/25 financial year—an 11.5% increase from last year, despite claims rising only 1.8%.
-
Average claim cost: $3,585 (up from $1,695 in 2015/16)
-
Most frequent location for injuries: Home (48.7% of claims)
-
Highest cost per claim: Road accidents ($8,210 per claim)
-
Highest-risk region: Otago (55 claims per 100 people)
-
Lowest-risk region: Wellington (33.9 per 100 people)
Costs are rising far faster than claim volumes, largely due to more expensive injuries, longer recovery periods, and an aging population.
How ACC Claims Break Down
| Metric | 2024/25 | Change vs 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Total new claims | 2,295,685 | +1.8% |
| General claims | 2,093,802 | +2.8% |
| Work-related claims | 201,883 | -7.5% |
| Total cost (active claims) | $8.23B | +11.5% |
| General claim costs | $6.81B | +13.2% |
| Work claim costs | $1.42B | +3.9% |
| Average cost per claim | $3,585 | +9.5% |
| Claims per 100 people | 43.3 | – |
Our perspective: Workplace claims fell 7.5%—the biggest drop outside COVID lockdowns—likely reflecting safer work environments or fewer hours worked. Meanwhile, general claims rose 2.8%, showing that accidents outside work continue to be a major driver of ACC costs.
Regional Risk: Where Kiwis Are Most Likely to Get Injured
Not all regions carry the same risk. By calculating claims per 100 people, we can see the true likelihood of injury regardless of population size.
-
Otago: 55 per 100 – adventure tourism in Queenstown drives high claim volumes
-
Northland: 50.3 per 100 – beaches, fishing, and outdoor activities contribute
-
Bay of Plenty: 49.1 per 100 – surfing, mountain biking, and other recreation
-
Wellington: 33.9 per 100 – office-based workforces tend to be lower risk
Outdoor recreation, tourism hotspots, and older populations account for the highest-risk areas. In contrast, regions dominated by office-based jobs, like Wellington and Manawatu-Whanganui, show the lowest rates.
Where Injuries Happen: Home Still the Most Dangerous Place
| Location | Claims | % of Total | Total Cost | Avg Cost per Claim | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 1,020,095 | 48.7% | $2.38B | $2,333 | Moderate |
| Recreation/Sports | 470,223 | 22.5% | $1.01B | $2,155 | Low |
| Road/Street | 124,099 | 5.9% | $1.02B | $8,210 | High |
| Commercial/Service | 115,730 | 5.5% | $566M | $4,891 | Elevated |
| School | 98,712 | 4.7% | $68M | $691 | Lowest |
| Industrial | 45,919 | 2.2% | $321M | $6,987 | High |
| Medical Treatment | 32,572 | 1.6% | $427M | $13,097 | Very High |
| Farm | 23,696 | 1.1% | $124M | $5,234 | Elevated |
Nearly half of all ACC claims happen at home—from DIY projects, gardening, kitchen accidents, and slips in bathrooms. Road accidents are far fewer in number but cost 3.5x more per claim due to their severity. Medical treatment injuries—complications during surgery or hospital care—are the most expensive per claim and have increased 145% over the past decade.
How People Get Injured
ACC claims show that everyday movements gone wrong account for the majority of injuries:
| Cause | Total Claims | % of All Claims | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss of balance / personal control | 624,849 | 27.2% | $2.06B |
| Lifting / carrying / strain | 413,364 | 18.0% | $1.08B |
| Twisting movement | 184,095 | 8.0% | $485M |
| Struck by person/animal | 153,531 | 6.7% | $399M |
| Puncture | 143,029 | 6.2% | $159M |
| Collision / knocked over | 134,753 | 5.9% | $443M |
| Slipping/skidding | 126,764 | 5.5% | $509M |
| Pushed or pulled | 117,923 | 5.1% | $257M |
| Tripping/stumbling | 110,844 | 4.8% | $283M |
Lifting injuries are up 43.6% over the decade, reflecting an aging workforce, growth in warehousing/logistics, and increased awareness of claimable injuries.
Work Injuries by Industry
| Industry | Avg Cost per Claim | Total Claims | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport / Postal / Warehousing | $6,195 | 15,301 | $95M |
| Mining | $5,885 | 945 | $5.6M |
| Financial & Insurance | $5,664 | 1,146 | $6.5M |
| Health Care / Social Assistance | $5,258 | 19,797 | $104M |
| Construction | $5,139 | 45,586 | $234M |
| Manufacturing | $4,365 | 41,232 | $180M |
| Agriculture / Forestry / Fishing | $4,259 | 32,298 | $138M |
| Education & Training | $2,901 | 12,059 | $35M |
Construction carries the highest total cost due to volume, while transport/logistics has the highest cost per claim. Even low-volume sectors like finance can show high average claim costs due to older workers and ergonomic injuries.
Who Gets Hurt
-
Age: 0–19 have most claims but lowest cost; 70+ have fewer claims but far higher costs
-
Gender: Males dominate work claims (68%)
-
Ethnicity: European 64%, Maori 12%, Asian 12%, Pacific 6%
Aging populations are the hidden driver behind rising ACC costs. Older Kiwis take longer to recover, and treatment is more expensive.
10-Year Trends (2015–2025)
-
Claims: +6.3%
-
Costs: +125%
-
Average claim cost: $1,695 → $3,585
ACC processed 22 million claims and paid $53.88B over the last decade. The gap between cost growth and claim growth highlights longer recovery times and more expensive treatments.
Accident Causes Over 10 Years
-
Puncture injuries: +135% (better reporting and claim awareness)
-
Lifting/strain: +43.6% (aging workforce, logistics growth)
-
Loss of balance: +12.1%
Accident Locations Over 10 Years
-
Medical treatment injuries: +145.7%
-
Home injuries: +10.9%
-
Road injuries: +6.5%
-
Commercial injuries: -6.8%
The Aging Effect
| Age Group | Change (2015–25) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 0–19 | -11.3% | Declining |
| 20–29 | -11.3% | Declining |
| 30–39 | +30.4% | Rising |
| 40–49 | +0.4% | Stable |
| 50–59 | +9.4% | Rising |
| 60–69 | +33.8% | Surging |
| 70–79 | +57.4% | Surging |
| 80+ | +41.8% | Surging |
Older Kiwis not only have more claims, but these claims are more expensive. Expect ACC costs to keep rising, even if total claim numbers stabilise.
Important: ACC Only Covers Accidents
ACC covers accident-related injuries, not illness. If you can’t work due to cancer, heart disease, chronic conditions, or mental health, ACC won’t pay.
Income protection insurance can replace up to 75% of your income for any reason you can’t work. Prices vary significantly between insurers, and many New Zealanders are surprised at how affordable it can be.
FAQs
Why are ACC costs rising faster than claim numbers?
Older claimants need longer and more expensive treatment. Over-70 claims grew 57% in the past decade while under-30s dropped 11%.
What’s the difference between ACC and health insurance?
ACC covers accidents (broken leg, hospital injuries). Health insurance covers illness (cancer, arthritis, chronic disease).
Who pays for ACC?
Employers, employees, drivers, and taxpayers all contribute.
Can tourists claim ACC?
Yes. Anyone injured in New Zealand can claim, which is one reason adventure tourism hotspots like Queenstown drive higher regional claim rates.
