Author.

Jo Joiner

CurrentlyCo-director of Word Joiner Ltd

ResidesMangawhai Heads, Northland, NZ

Jo Joiner

Jo’s special talent is translating insurance-speak into plain English that everyone can understand. Her work for the New Zealand insurances sector – both general and life cover – spans more than three decades.

Expertise

Content writing for insurance, financial services, travel, retirement, health, fashion and beauty.

Experience

For her entire working life Jo has been crafting words to inform, persuade or entertain – sometimes all three at once. Her background includes 15 years with leading advertising agencies, including Ogilvy & Mather, Saatchi & Saatchi and DDB Aotearoa, and more than 25 years of self-employment. Jo loves simplifying complex topics and making boring things interesting. These skills have been utilised by some of New Zealand’s leading insurance providers, including Sovereign, AA, ASB, BNZ, AMP, Fidelity Life, AIG and IAG.

Jos latest articles

What does pet insurance typically cover?

What does pet insurance typically cover?

Health treatment for pets is not subsidised by the government, so it’s usually much more expensive than care for people. In New Zealand, pet insurance

How much is pet insurance in NZ?

How much is pet insurance in NZ?

Vet bills can be surprisingly hefty, because they’re not subsidised by the government. Before the days of pet insurance, people confronted with unaffordable vet charges

A complete guide to pet insurance

A complete guide to pet insurance

For many New Zealanders, pets are essential companions. They offer unconditional love and emotional support. They enhance our well-being, reduce stress and bring daily joy

Income protection for self-employed people

Income protection for self-employed people

Whether you’re just thinking about working for yourself or you’ve already taken the plunge, it’s important to think about how you’d cope if you couldn’t

Do you need life insurance for a mortgage?

Do you need life insurance for a mortgage?

The short answer is no. Life insurance is not compulsory when you borrow to buy a property. However, it’s definitely something you should consider. In

The complete guide to trauma cover

The complete guide to trauma cover

Ongoing advancements in modern medicine have increased the likelihood of surviving serious illnesses or conditions. We all know of people who are successfully living with

The complete guide to TPD (total and permanent disability) cover

The complete guide to TPD (total and permanent disability) cover

How would you cope with becoming totally and permanently disabled? It could happen because of a medical event, like a stroke, or it could be

The complete guide to primary care (day-to-day) health cover

The complete guide to primary care (day-to-day) health cover

If you’re thinking about getting health insurance, you might be trying to decide between a day-to-day health expenses type of cover or a policy that

The complete guide to major medical health cover

The complete guide to major medical health cover

If you’ve arrived on this page, the question on your mind is probably “do I need private hospital cover in a country with a mostly-decent

The complete guide to life insurance in NZ

The complete guide to life insurance in NZ

If you’re reading this guide, it’s possible there’s change going on in your life. Usually people think about getting life insurance when something big is

The complete guide to life cover

The complete guide to life cover

Life is unpredictable and nobody can say for sure how long they’re going to live. This is something we all know, but don’t really want

The complete guide to income protection insurance

The complete guide to income protection insurance

Your ability to earn an income is potentially the most valuable thing you have. Without it, you’d be relying on savings, selling assets, and the

Understanding young drivers’ car insurance (under 25)

Understanding young drivers’ car insurance (under 25)

When you get car insurance in New Zealand, you’ll be asked to name the drivers and whether any of them are under 25. If a

How much is car insurance in New Zealand?

How much is car insurance in New Zealand?

Many factors affect the cost of car insurance. Some of them are quite individual, which is why your car insurance premium can be different from

How much is house insurance in New Zealand?

How much is house insurance in New Zealand?

The cost of house insurance in New Zealand depends on the age and size of your house, as well as things like construction materials, general

A complete guide to contents insurance in New Zealand

A complete guide to contents insurance in New Zealand

As soon as you leave the family nest, contents insurance becomes a must-have. If you’re not living in a home you own, renters’ insurance is

Home and contents insurance FAQs

Home and contents insurance FAQs

House insurance is usually required if you have a mortgage. Even if you don’t, your home is still likely to be your biggest asset, so

What does house insurance cover?

What does house insurance cover?

House insurance, aka home insurance, is designed to protect the structures on your property – your house, plus other things like the garage and fences.