By James Fletcher
Many musicians rely on ACC without realising how much it doesn't cover. Here's the gap between ACC and what specialist music insurance provides.
What ACC Covers for Musicians
ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) covers personal physical injury caused by accidents in New Zealand — including injuries sustained while performing, rehearsing, or teaching. If you're injured at a gig, ACC will cover your medical treatment and may provide some income compensation. ACC does not require you to prove anyone was at fault.
What ACC Does NOT Cover
Despite being comprehensive for personal injury, ACC does not cover:
- →Claims made against you by third parties for injury or property damage
- →Damage to your equipment or instruments
- →Event cancellation losses
- →Income loss beyond ACC's capped amounts
- →Overseas injuries if you're performing internationally
- →Property damage or professional liability claims
Why Musicians Still Need Music Insurance
ACC covers you if you're hurt. Music insurance covers everything else — protecting your equipment, covering liability claims from third parties, insuring your event revenue, and providing professional indemnity for teachers. The two operate in parallel, with ACC handling personal injury and music insurance handling everything beyond that.
CoverPlus Extra for Self-Employed Musicians
Self-employed musicians who earn income from performing or teaching should consider ACC CoverPlus Extra — an optional ACC product that allows you to set a fixed level of income cover rather than relying on ACC's calculation of your prior earnings. This is particularly useful for musicians whose income varies significantly from year to year.
💡 Tip: Review your ACC CoverPlus Extra level each year when you renew your music insurance. Your income level and insurance needs may have changed, and it's worth ensuring both are aligned.
Overseas Injuries — The ACC Gap for Touring Musicians
One of the most significant gaps in ACC cover is that it doesn't extend to injuries sustained outside New Zealand. For musicians who tour internationally — even for a short run of shows across the Tasman — there is no ACC protection. An injury in Australia, the United States, or Europe means medical costs are entirely out-of-pocket without appropriate travel insurance. All musicians performing internationally should arrange comprehensive travel insurance with good medical coverage, specifically checking that professional activities and music performance are not excluded from the policy.
Equipment and Liability — Outside ACC's Scope
It's worth being explicit: ACC covers your body if you're injured. It does not cover any of the other significant financial risks a musician faces. A stolen guitar is not an ACC matter. A venue claiming your equipment caused property damage is not an ACC claim. A student suing you over teaching advice is not handled by ACC. These risks — which can represent tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars of exposure — require specialist music insurance. Understanding this clearly helps musicians build the right insurance programme from the ground up.
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