Mary Devine

Founded in Christchurch in 1926 as the South Island Motor Union (SIMU), AMI Insurance has evolved over nearly 100 years into the largest wholly-owned New Zealand fire and general domestic lines insurance company. It is founded in Christchurch in 1926 as the South Island Motor Union (SIMU). With a head office in Christchurch, 73 branches and 21 agencies throughout the country, it is a truly national company, with nearly 500,000 customers holding some 1.2 million policies. Their New Zealand policyholders own AMI. That's because they have what is known as a “mutual” structure, common in the insurance industry overseas. There are no shareholders expecting to be paid a dividend out of the annual profit. Their profits are reinvested in the company for the benefit of policy holders. Their branch and agency network is the largest of any insurance company in New Zealand and they encourage their customers to deal directly with their staff, numbering about 1000 across New Zealand, for personal and friendly service. AMI is run for the benefit of their policyholders, who are also their owners. They do not pay dividends to policy holders, but retain profits as capital reserves for their future benefit, as well as investing in their community with sponsorships as diverse as the Canterbury Rugby, the Malaghan Institute for Medical Research, the Rugby Referees Association, Parents Inc, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and many others.

Foodstuffs South Island Ltd. distributes and wholesales grocery items & operates grocery stores. It operates full service supermarkets under the name New World; food barns/retail food warehouses under PAK'nSAVE or Write Price names; convenience order grocery stores under Four Square/Four Square Discount names; and small convenience stores under On the Spot name. The firm also operates full service liquor stores under the Henry's name, which offer beer, wine, and spirits. The company was founded by Heaton J. Barker and in 1988 and is headquartered Christchurch, New Zealand.

EziBuy Ltd. distributes home decorations and women's apparels. It offers tops, dresses, pants, knitwear, jackets, coats, lingerie, and plus size clothing. The company was founded by Peter Gillespie and Gerard Gillespie in 1978 and is headquartered in Albany, New Zealand.

Christchurch City Holdings Ltd. operates as an investment arm of Christchurch City Council. It engages in non-political buffer between the Council and the companies it owned. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Christchurch, New Zealand.

IAG New Zealand Ltd. engages in the provision of insurance services. Its brands include Lantern Insurance, Swann Insurance, and Lumley. The company was founded in 1859 and is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand.

Max Fashions Ltd. retails women's apparel. It offers dresses, tunics, tops, knitwear, merino knitwear, jackets, coats, vests, pants, skirts, shoes, and accessories. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand