Who are we?
United by a shared brand and for purpose ethos, Southern Cross is a group of independent businesses offering a diverse range of health and financial services.
Businesses that share the Southern Cross brand are Southern Cross Health Insurance, with more than 955,000 members; Southern Cross Healthcare, annually providing care for more than 100,000 people across New Zealand; Southern Cross Travel Insurance and Southern Cross Pet Insurance.
Southern Cross Healthcare is proud to support a number of community initiatives with the aim of advancing the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. You can find more about these initiatives in our annual Community Impact Report.
The Southern Cross businesses
A focus on the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders
As a group of independent health and insurance-related businesses that share a common brand, our focus is on the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.
Southern Cross Healthcare Limited is the key subsidiary of Southern Cross Health Trust, with a primary purpose to advance the provision of quality healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Southern Cross Healthcare owns and operates a nationwide network of wholly owned hospitals, joint venture hospitals, specialist centres and community-based healthcare providers. They support New Zealanders’ health and wellbeing through surgical and medical procedures, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, mental health support and personalised workplace health solutions.
Providing care and support for the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders, Southern Cross Healthcare also delivers charitable healthcare services via a charitable surgery programme under the auspices of the Trust.
Southern Cross Health Insurance has been supporting New Zealanders on their health journeys since 1961. Today, the insurer provides cover for nearly one in five New Zealanders.
As a member focused Society, Southern Cross Health Insurance operates solely for the benefit of members, rather than shareholders or overseas owners. Paying more claims than any other health insurer, Southern Cross Health Insurance is proud of its industry-leading rate of return1. In FY24 the business returned $1.498 billion in claims from $1.605 billion received in premiums, representing more than 93 per cent of premiums returned to members by way of claims.
Six decades after Southern Cross Medical Care Society was established, Southern Cross branded businesses remain committed to providing New Zealand households with the protection and care they need to live their lives with confidence.
Our community impact section highlights Southern Cross businesses’ contribution to the communities they are a part of.
Southern Cross Medical Care Society Group
The Southern Cross Medical Care Society Group (Health Society Group) comprises Southern Cross Medical Care Society (the Society or Southern Cross Health Insurance), and its subsidiaries Southern Cross Pet Insurance Limited, Southern Cross Benefits Limited trading as Southern Cross Travel Insurance, Southern Cross Insurance Services Limited (derives commission from marketing of life insurance policies); Southern Cross Ventures Limited (holds 50% partnership in CareHQ Limited (General Partner), which provides virtual GP and nurse consultations), and Southern Cross Health Services Limited (dormant entity).
The Society is a Friendly Society, registered in New Zealand under the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act 1982. A ‘for purpose’ entity, Southern Cross Health Society operates for the benefit of its members.
The Society operates the Southern Cross Health Insurance business, providing health insurance to its more than 950,000 members.
Health Society subsidiaries, Southern Cross Travel Insurance and Southern Cross Pet Insurance, while sharing the Southern Cross brand, are operated as separate insurance businesses, with separate insurance licences, separate management teams and independent boards.
The Society’s subsidiary Southern Cross Insurance Services Limited promotes Southern Cross branded life insurance policies which are underwritten by Chubb Life Insurance New Zealand Limited.
Southern Cross Health Trust
The Southern Cross Health Trust is a Charitable Trust registered under the Charities Act 2005. The Trust has a vision to give more New Zealanders access to timely, affordable, and quality private healthcare.
The Trust has a subsidiary company – Southern Cross Healthcare Limited (which operates the hospital network and invests in other healthcare businesses).
The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Board. Trustees also serve as Directors on the subsidiary company Boards.
