We asked four AI platforms about choosing home and contents insurance and getting help with an existing policy or claim. The study compares their answers and insurer recommendations across twelve consumer situations and sixteen New Zealand regions, keeping home and contents results separate.
87of 94
Consumer-selection answers recommended Tower.Tower appeared in forty-two of forty-seven home answers and forty-five of forty-seven contents answers. AMI, AA Insurance and State also formed a common comparison group.
Compare insurer recommendations
27of 47
It appeared in only four of forty-seven contents answers. The insurer picture changes when the question concerns the building rather than the belongings.
Compare home and contents
4of 4
Both also appeared in all four rural-contents answers. The questions describe a rural block and belongings kept in the house and shed.
Explore the rural household
3of 4
These specialist options were more prominent for an unusual, high-value home. Contents answers for valuable jewellery and art included Tower in all four responses.
Explore high-value cover7of 7
It appeared in one of Wellington’s seven matched answers. Each region contributes the same four home and three contents platform answers.
Compare the regions5of 97
Seventy-seven were correct and fifteen were unclear or missing an important qualification. The checks cover selected claims about natural-hazard cover, policy benefits, insurer availability and disputes.
Read the checked statementsHow we asked the questions and counted the recommendations.
These questions concern the building. Each row shows the collected answers for that consumer situation; most have four, and the online-management question has three.
Showing all four assistants · 47 answers
| Consumer | Tower |  AMI |  AA Insurance |  State |  MAS | FMG | Initio | NZI |  AMP |  Cove |  Vero |  ANZ Insurance |  Westpac Insurance |  ASB Insurance |  BNZ Insurance |  Ando |  SBS Insurance |  Kiwibank Insurance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday household | ||||||||||||||||||||
| First home and first cover | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tight budget | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Renting and moving | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Younger household | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Family with children | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rural home | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Flood exposure | ||||||||||||||||||||
| High-value home and belongings | ||||||||||||||||||||
| After a difficult claim | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Someone to call | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Managing insurance online |
These questions concern belongings. Each row has four collected answers, except the family-with-children question, which has three.
Showing all four assistants · 47 answers
| Consumer | Tower | AMI | AA Insurance | State | MAS | FMG | Initio | NZI | AMP | Cove | Vero | ANZ Insurance | Westpac Insurance | ASB Insurance | BNZ Insurance | Ando | SBS Insurance | Kiwibank Insurance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday household | ||||||||||||||||||||
| First home and first cover | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tight budget | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Renting and moving | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Younger household | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Family with children | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rural home | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Flood exposure | ||||||||||||||||||||
| High-value home and belongings | ||||||||||||||||||||
| After a difficult claim | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Someone to call | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Managing insurance online |
The seventy-one support answers cover renewal, moving home, water and fire damage, replacement value, reopening a flood claim and getting help with a dispute.
They explain what to check, what evidence to gather and how to ask the existing insurer for help. None prefers a named insurer to provide ongoing support. Insurers mentioned as policy examples or future renewal options are kept separate from recommendations about an existing claim.
We compared twenty-two identical consumer-selection questions across the four platforms: eleven about home insurance and eleven about contents. ChatGPT recommended Trade Me Insurance in eight answers, Gemini in six, AI Overviews in four and AI Mode in three.
Forty-seven home and forty-seven contents answers. Each insurer counts once per answer.
Each tile is an answer. A raised bar is an answer recommending Trade Me Insurance.
We asked which house insurers to compare in sixteen named regions. Each region has the same four platform answers.
Showing all four assistants · 64 answers
| Region | Tower | AMI | AA Insurance | State | MAS | FMG | Initio | NZI | AMP | Cove | Vero | ANZ Insurance | Westpac Insurance | ASB Insurance | BNZ Insurance | Ando | SBS Insurance | Kiwibank Insurance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northland | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Auckland | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Waikato | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bay of Plenty | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gisborne | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hawke’s Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Taranaki | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Manawatū–Whanganui | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wellington | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasman | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nelson | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Marlborough | ||||||||||||||||||||
| West Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Canterbury | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Otago | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Southland |
Each region has the same three platform answers: ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Overviews. This comparison uses the same available platforms in every region.
Showing all four assistants · 48 answers
| Region | Tower | AMI | AA Insurance | State | MAS | FMG | Initio | NZI | AMP | Cove | Vero | ANZ Insurance | Westpac Insurance | ASB Insurance | BNZ Insurance | Ando | SBS Insurance | Kiwibank Insurance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northland | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Auckland | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Waikato | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bay of Plenty | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gisborne | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hawke’s Bay | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Taranaki | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Manawatū–Whanganui | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wellington | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasman | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nelson | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Marlborough | ||||||||||||||||||||
| West Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Canterbury | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Otago | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Southland |
Read the insurer recommendations, policy guidance and original answers for home and contents insurance in each situation.
Explore the websites behind the answers, from insurers and comparison tools to government, consumer organisations and news. Select a question group to compare the sources each assistant used most.
ChatGPT
31%insurer websites
Had sources372of 372
Showed you a link371of 372
consumer.org.nz, consumer & industry groups,cited in 258 answers258
icnz.org.nz, consumer & industry groups,cited in 186 answers186nzi.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 164 answers164
consumerprotection.govt.nz, government,cited in 160 answers160
naturalhazards.govt.nz, government,cited in 155 answers155mas.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 144 answers144aainsurance.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 116 answers116ami.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 102 answers102tower.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 91 answers91state.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 90 answers90Gemini
35%insurer websites
Had sources335of 372
Showed you a link6of 372
moneyhub.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 113 answers113
quotehub.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 79 answers79aainsurance.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 66 answers66tower.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 65 answers65ami.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 50 answers50
canstar.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 48 answers48
quashed.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 36 answers36icnz.org.nz, consumer & industry groups,cited in 31 answers31amp.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 30 answers30state.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 28 answers28Google AI Mode
27%insurer websites
Had sources342of 363
Showed you a link123of 363
moneyhub.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 86 answers86consumer.org.nz, consumer & industry groups,cited in 80 answers80aainsurance.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 70 answers70icnz.org.nz, consumer & industry groups,cited in 58 answers58state.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 50 answers50naturalhazards.govt.nz, government,cited in 49 answers49quashed.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 47 answers47quotehub.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 47 answers47tower.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 45 answers45canstar.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 43 answers43AI Overviews
31%other
Had sources335of 369
Showed you a link143of 369
tower.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 140 answers140moneyhub.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 139 answers139aainsurance.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 134 answers134ami.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 106 answers106state.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 101 answers101consumer.org.nz, consumer & industry groups,cited in 98 answers98quashed.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 97 answers97quotehub.co.nz, comparison & tools,cited in 97 answers97
initio.co.nz, insurer websites,cited in 95 answers95A website counts once per answer, however many times the answer used it. Counts come from the archived answer sources; “Showed you a link” counts answers containing a web URL.
We reviewed fifty factual claims across four platforms. This ledger compares the ninety-seven statements the answers made with policy documents, insurer information and official sources, including natural-hazard cover, benefit limits and dispute options.
5 wrong0 out of date15 unclear77 correct
Google AI Mode
“When looking for sensible, straightforward contents cover for everyday family belongings in New Zealand, several mainstream insurers consistently feature in market overviews and consumer satisfaction awards. Most standard policies cover fire, theft, accidental damage, and natural disaster (via the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, formerly EQC).”
NHC stopped contents cover; private policies insure possessions.
Checked against NHC: Quake Safe Your Home, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · 2026-10-12
Gemini
“2. Excesses to Review Standard Excess vs. Specific Hazard Excess: Check if your insurer applies a separate, higher excess specifically for storms, floods, or natural disasters compared to a standard fire or theft claim. Some insurers enforce a distinct percentage-based or elevated fixed excess for weather-related events. Land vs. Building Excesses (NHC): If a storm causes land damage handled by the NHC, note that land claims carry separate excess rules (calculated as 10% of the settlement amount, subject to minimums and maximums) compared to building-related claims. Below-Excess Risk: Keep in mind that minor storm damage (like a few lifted tiles or a ruined garden shed) that falls below your policy's excess amount means you will cover the repair costs entirely out of pocket.”
Building and land each have a $500 excess, GST inclusive.
Checked against Natural Hazards Commission: NHCover and current legislation (opens in a new tab) · 2026-10-12
Gemini
“1. Check the Natural Hazard Rating: Before purchasing or renewing a policy, review the property's risk profile regarding local council LIM (Land Information Memorandum) reports for flood zones and fault lines. 2. Audit Your Sum Insured: Use online Cordell-type calculators or professional quantity surveyor estimates to ensure your private sum insured covers a 100% total rebuild after subtracting the $300,000+GST NHC cap. 3. Scrutinize Excesses: Look closely at the policy document to see what excess applies specifically to floods, natural disasters, or general claims, as a high flood excess can leave you significantly out of pocket after a weather event. 4. Maintain Continuous Cover: Never let your private house policy lapse, as this breaks your continuous access to the statutory NHCover scheme.”
Set sum insured for full rebuild; subtracting NHC also underinsures non-NHC events.
Checked against NHC: Home buyer risk and full rebuild sum insured (opens in a new tab) · 2026-10-12
Gemini
“4. Understand Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) Cover In New Zealand, standard house insurance policies automatically incorporate levy collections for the Natural Hazards Commission (NHC, formerly EQC). The Rule: Ensure your chosen policy includes standard fire insurance, which triggers your eligibility for NHC natural disaster coverage (up to $300,000 + GST for your home and immediate land). Your private insurer manages this claim process, but the baseline statutory framework remains consistent across licensed providers.”
Building cap and land valuation limits are separate.
Checked against Natural Hazards Commission: NHCover and current legislation (opens in a new tab) · 2026-10-12
AI Overviews
“If you want to avoid digital interfaces, you may want to steer clear of Cove (built completely around internet chatbots) or State Insurance , which heavily incentivizes automated claims processing via the "My State" app and openly markets a "no small talk" digital approach.”
Cove publishes telephone help for quotes, policies and claims.
Checked against Cove: phone, chat and claims contact channels (opens in a new tab) · 2026-10-12
Consumer situations, question groups and how insurer recommendations were counted.
Read the methodExplore the exact questions and captured responses from each platform.
Explore the evidenceNZBrands.ai is a research publication from Onsomble. We take no view on any business, party or policy. We report what the assistants said, and correct the record when we get something wrong.
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