The Accident Compensation Corporation (Te Kaporeihana Āwhina Hunga Whara, ACC) is a New Zealand Crown Entity responsible for administering the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act ; which supports citizens, residents, and temporary visitors who have suffered accidental injuries. ACC is the sole (and compulsory) provider of accident insurance for all work and non-work injuries. Because of this scheme, people who have suffered personal injury do not have the right to sue, except for exemplary damages. A Crown entity is a type of organisation that forms part of New Zealands state sector. ...

ACC describe themselves with this statement: Our pledge is to prevent injury, to provide the best treatment and care if injury occurs, and to quickly rehabilitate people back to work or independence at a price that offers high value to levy payers and all New Zealanders.'

History

ACC is rooted in the 1900 "Worker's Compensation Act", which established a limited compensation scheme for workers who had suffered injuries where there was no directly responsible party.

In 1967, a Royal Commission report ('The Woodhouse Report') recommended that this compensation should be extended. In states that are Commonwealth Realms a Royal Commission is a major government public inquiry into an issue. ...

Following this report, on 1 April 1974 the Accident Compensation Commission was established, to operate the 1972 Accident Compensation Act, and the 1973 Amendments.

In 1992 the Accident Compensation Commission became the Accident Compensation Corporation.

Opening to competition

From 1 July 1999 the Fourth National government allowed private insurance operators to provide work-related accident insurance, and ACC was briefly exposed to competition. Due the election of the Fifth Labour government, this change was repealed, and as of 1 July 2000, ACC was re-instated as the sole provider of accident insurance cover. This resulted in a considerable increase in premiums. The Fourth National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 2 November 1990 to 27 November 1999. ...

External links

• Accident Compensation Corporation website