Asteron Life has announced an extended sponsorship of the Gut Foundation which is dedicated to improving the gut health of New Zealanders.
The insurer says New Zealand has some of the highest global rates of bowel cancer in the world, noting that Asteron Life has been a supporter since 2024.
This year it has extended that support further as platinum sponsor to provide funding to enable the Foundation to continue its research and education.
Asteron Life Executive Manager Life Portfolio and New Business, Claire Sutton, says over the last six months Asteron Life has been developing its relationship with the Gut Foundation, including hosting internal education sessions for staff, sponsoring a research intern and the foundation’s gala dinner.
It also invited Gut Foundation CEO, Alice Fitzgerald, to attend as keynote speaker at three of the Asteron Life Roadshow adviser events during 2024.
“The work that Alice and the foundation has achieved is hugely impressive. The strength of the Gut Foundation board, the commitment and expertise of the team and their collective dedication to the health of New Zealanders is inspiring.
“At Asteron Life, our brand purpose is to be ‘supporters for life’ for our customers, advisers and our people. The Gut Foundation’s vision and goals, clearly align with our mission in celebrating and supporting the lives of New Zealanders,” says Sutton.
Grant Willis, Asteron Life Executive General Manager, notes the partnership with the Gut Foundation provides an opportunity for the insurer’s team to proactively share knowledge with advisers and customers that can help prevent many illnesses.
Part of Asteron Life’s platinum sponsorship includes the funding of two scholarships. The first is a co-branded 12-month masters scholarship with the Liggins Institute which leads New Zealand in microbiome research and pioneering preventative interventions for gut-related diseases.
The second is a future health research scholarship at the University of Otago which will focus on advancing understanding in inflammatory bowel disease, as rates in New Zealand continue to climb.
Fitzgerald says the foundation is grateful to Asteron Life “…for not only providing the essential funds to propel our work forward, but also for their deep commitment to our kaupapa of improving gut health for all New Zealanders.”