Life and health insurer AIA celebrates its Centennial

Life and health insurer AIA celebrates its Centennial by partnering with the Mental Health Foundation

Significant donation to be used to support the provision of important mental health and wellbeing services in Christchurch as well as suicide prevention resources throughout New Zealand

Auckland, 5 April 2019.

AIA is celebrating its Centennial by joining forces with the Mental Health Foundation. The partnership is aimed at raising awareness of mental wellbeing and the need for greater support across New Zealand.

On Friday, around 1000 New Zealand-based AIA staff will take part in a 100km baton relay at their offices at Smales Farm in Auckland. The charity relay is the first of a number of activities in AIA’s partnership with the Mental Health Foundation this year.

Having recently merged with Sovereign, one of New Zealand’s leading life and health insurers, AIA is actively focused on improving the health and wellbeing of its employees, customers, partners and all New Zealanders.

AIA New Zealand CEO, Nick Stanhope said:

“We know that nearly half of New Zealanders will live with a mental illness at some point during their lifetime. We also know that one-in-five New Zealanders life with mental illness each year.”

“They are shocking statistics, and by any standards, demonstrate the need for better mental health support services across New Zealand.”

“What’s more, despite the incredible progress in improving life expectancy and physical health, we still have high levels of mental illness across New Zealand. Thankfully we have organisations such as the Mental Health Foundation. We’re thrilled to be working with them and to help bring important support services to those in need,” Mr Stanhope said.

CEO of the Mental Health Foundation, Shaun Robinson said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with the team from AIA. Our organisations are both in the business of wellbeing and we have been impressed by the level of commitment shown by the staff at AIA – a 100km baton relay is quite an achievement.”

“Right now the focus of the Foundation is on the people of Christchurch. AIA’s donation will allow us to continue to offer our ‘All Right?’ resources to people in need in Canterbury as well as the provision of suicide prevention services throughout New Zealand.”

“We are very grateful for our partnership with AIA and I know our people in Christchurch and throughout the country will be very grateful too,” Mr Robinson said.

At the end of the relay, with the help of their staff who have been fundraising throughout March, AIA will donate $100,000 to the Mental Health Foundation.

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