How we got here.
Our History
Commercial & Rural Insurance Brokers Limited was founded in 1996 by Russell and Irene Smith, building on a tradition of insurance services in Central Otago that stretches back to the 1970s. Their vision was simple yet powerful: to provide reliable, community‑focused brokerage services for local residents and businesses.
From those early days, the company grew steadily, expanding its reach across Central Otago and Southland. As the industry evolved, so too did our firm - embracing new products, adapting to regulatory changes, and strengthening our expertise to meet the diverse needs of clients.
Today, C&R Insurance remains proudly family‑owned and community entrenched. Our history is not just about longevity - it’s about trust, resilience, and a commitment to safeguarding what matters most for generations of clients.
In every case, The C&R way is about doing what is best for our clients.
Doing the job properly - The C&R Way
At C&R insurance, we’re locally owned and an independent brokerage, connected to the ICIB Brokerweb group through an equity relationship that is part of the NZ Brokers group (with the support of the AUB Group in Australia). This supports us to maintain our strong local presence with national & international support.
Here at C&R, our team comes from diverse backgrounds, rich in professional experiences. We are here to offer full insurance services; from Life and Health cover, Domestic cover, Commercial, Rural and Corporate packages. C&R connects clients with all of their desired cover types, each tailored directly to the clients’ needs. Not only do we want to make sure you receive cover that is right for you, but our streamlined and straightforward service gives you the results, without complexities. We take pride in delivering ongoing customer support. Whether it's processing a claim or adapting to changes in a business's direction, we ensure that the insurance process remains seamless and efficient for our clients.
We are aware of the impact our business makes within the Central Otago region. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring we maintain the highest level of service and consistently strive to maintain a professional setting. At C&R, we stay industry leaders by keeping up to date with webinars, training sessions, conferences, and professional development sessions, provided by insurers, the insurance industry (IBANZ/Professional IQ/ANZIIF) and our business group NZ Brokers.
We proactively keep informed about relevant legislation updates to ensure we continue to meet our expectation requirements.
