How much does public liability insurance cost for a NZ restaurant per year?

Indicative annual cost is $300–$720 ($25–$60/month) for a typical NZ restaurant. Large venues with high foot traffic, full alcohol service, or cover limits of $5M+ often sit at the upper end or above. Final premium depends on seating capacity, alcohol service, delivery operations, location and claims history.

What cover limit does a NZ restaurant need?

$2M is the most common entry limit. $5M is typical for licensed venues and busy CBD locations. $10M is used for large venues, multiple sites, or where a landlord or franchisor mandates it. Liquor liability cover may be needed alongside public liability.

Does ACC mean a restaurant doesn't need public liability?

No. ACC covers personal injury costs of the injured person. It does not cover property damage, your defence costs, or compensation beyond ACC's scope. Public liability fills that gap and is contractually required by most landlords and franchise agreements.

All answers / Restaurant PL cost

NZ restaurant public liability insurance — typical cost per year

A typical NZ restaurant pays $300–$720 per year ($25–$60/month) for public liability insurance, indicative. Large venues with high foot traffic, full alcohol service, or cover limits of $5M+ commonly sit at the upper end or above. Annual premium varies with seating capacity, alcohol service, delivery operations, location, and claims history.

What drives the annual price

Seating capacity: More seats means higher foot traffic and higher base premium.
Alcohol service: Full on-licence venues pay more than BYO/cafes. Some insurers price liquor liability separately.
Delivery operations: Off-premises delivery (own drivers or via aggregators) adds motor and product-liability exposure.
Cover limit: $2M is entry; landlord or franchisor may require $5M or $10M.
Location: CBD locations with higher rental and footfall typically attract higher premium.
Claims history: Previous slip/fall, food-illness or property-damage claims push premium up.

Indicative monthly cost band

Restaurant type	Indicative monthly	Indicative annual
Small cafe (BYO, <40 seats)	$25–$40	$300–$480
Mid-size restaurant (on-licence, 40–80 seats)	$40–$60	$480–$720
Large licensed venue (80+ seats, full bar)	$60–$150+	$720–$1,800+

Prices shown are indicative only. Final premium depends on the specifics of your venue.

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