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Evidence · Home and contents insurance

Every question, every answer, every source

Explore all 372 home and contents insurance questions and the 1,476 answers saved on 11 October 2026. Read the original responses and download the tables behind the study’s comparisons, sources, sentiment and factual checks.

questions
372
answers saved, of 1488 planned
1476
consumer situations
12
named regions
16
AI platforms
4

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question went to the four AI platforms. All were collected with a New Zealand setting. Open a question to read every captured answer in full.

Showing 20 of 372 questions

Show all 372

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Questions

    questions.csv

    One row per question, with its exact saved wording.

    Question ID, source references, question, consumer situation, named regions, question group and collection setting

    372rows

    Download questions (CSV)

  • Answers

    answers.csv

    One row per captured answer, with its full text.

    Answer ID, question ID, platform, collection setting, consumer situation, named regions and full answer

    1,476rows

    Download answers (CSV)

  • Sources by answer

    sources.csv

    One row per website recorded as a source of an answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, assistant, collection setting, website and publisher type

    9,014rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • Checks against primary sources

    checks.csv

    One row per stated assertion checked, for one platform.

    Check, question and answer IDs, assistant, exact passage, verdict, primary-source finding, URL and date

    97rows

    Download checks against primary sources (CSV)

  • Consumer recommendation coding

    consumer-recommendation-coding.csv

    One row per reviewed provider role in a consumer-selection answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, provider, role, counted recommendation, exact passage and conditions

    659rows

    Download consumer recommendation coding (CSV)

  • Consumer selection membership

    consumer-selection-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the matched consumer-selection comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, question group and full text; twelve home and twelve contents selection questions, with missing captures preserved

    94rows

    Download consumer selection membership (CSV)

  • Ongoing support coding

    support-coding.csv

    One row per reviewed named-provider role in an eligible support answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, provider, role, support-preference decision and exact passage

    75rows

    Download ongoing support coding (CSV)

  • Ongoing support membership

    support-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the actual consumer-support group.

    Answer ID, question ID, consumer, platform, question group and full text; acquisition validation is excluded

    71rows

    Download ongoing support membership (CSV)

  • Regional recommendation coding

    regional-recommendation-coding.csv

    One row per reviewed provider role in a region-named selection answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, named consumer region, platform, provider, recommendation decision and exact passage

    1,017rows

    Download regional recommendation coding (CSV)

  • Regional selection membership

    regional-selection-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the matched regional comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, named consumer region, platform and equal-comparison membership; four home and three contents platform answers per region

    112rows

    Download regional selection membership (CSV)

  • Insurer sentiment

    insurer-sentiment.csv

    One row per unique saved claim about an insurer in a selection answer.

    Claim, question and answer IDs, insurer, saved stance, exact passage and original-answer offsets

    3,828rows

    Download insurer sentiment (CSV)

  • Recorded source URLs

    source-urls.csv

    One row per recorded answer, website and URL association.

    Answer ID, question ID, platform, website, URL, source records and presence in the captured answer text

    13,048rows

    Download recorded source urls (CSV)

  • Matched consumer platform membership

    platform-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the identical-question platform comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, product, consumer and platform; 22 identical questions per platform

    88rows

    Download matched consumer platform membership (CSV)

  • Matched regional platform membership

    regional-platform-membership.csv

    One row per answer in the identical-question regional platform comparison.

    Answer ID, question ID, product, region and platform; 31 identical questions per platform

    124rows

    Download matched regional platform membership (CSV)

Use these tables to trace findings back to the original questions and answers. The full text of each answer is also on this page, under its question.

03

Read in full and checked

Some answers were read in detail or checked against official sources. Those appear on the study page, beside the findings they support.

ChatGPT · New Zealand

We're trying to save money. What contents cover can we cut without leaving ourselves badly exposed?

If you're trying to save money on contents insurance in New Zealand, I'd focus on cutting the cost of the policy before cutting the protection for things that would be expensive or impossible to replace.

The biggest risk is often underinsuring your belongings, not simply having a lower level of cover. A fire, major leak, burglary or other serious event could mean replacing clothes, furniture, appliances, computers and everything else in your home at once.

My rule of thumb: keep protection against a financial disaster; trim cover for smaller losses you could comfortably afford to pay for yourselves.

What you can consider cutting

1. Optional accidental-damage cover

First thing to review

If your policy charges extra for broader accidental damage, compare the saving from removing it. You'd be accepting more risk for things like accidentally damaging a TV or spilling something on a laptop. Check whether your standard policy already includes some accidental damage.

2. Extra cover for valuables

Review separately specified jewellery, watches, cameras, bicycles and other expensive items. If you no longer own an item, or its value has fallen, update the policy. Don't remove specified cover for something valuable without checking the standard item limit first.

3. A higher excess

This is often a practical way to reduce premiums. You agree to pay more towards a claim, while retaining cover for larger losses. Choose an excess you could pay immediately, even during a financially difficult period. InsuranceHow much does contents insurance cost?

4. An inflated sum insured

Calculate what it would cost to replace all your belongings today, including clothes, linen, kitchenware, furniture and electronics. If your current limit is too high, reducing it to a realistic figure may save money. But don't simply lower it to the value of your possessions at a garage sale: replacement costs can be much higher. How to get the best house and contents insuranceUnderstanding your contents sum insured

What I wouldn't cut first

I'd be reluctant to remove these protections just to save a few dollars:

  • Fire and major-event cover, including applicable natural-disaster cover.
  • Theft and burglary cover, particularly if replacing everything stolen would be difficult.
  • Personal liability cover, where included, which can protect you if you're legally liable for damage to someone else's property.
  • Enough total cover to replace your belongings after a major loss.

These are the sorts of losses that can be financially devastating. Check the actual policy wording because cover, limits and exclusions differ between insurers. General insuranceWhat Home, Contents & Car Insurance Don't Cover (NZ)

The savings strategy I'd use

  1. Ask your current insurer for quotes with a higher excess and without optional extras.
  2. Compare a basic policy against your current policy, checking fire, theft, natural disasters, liability and replacement-value terms side by side.
  3. Check for duplicate cover under other policies, but don't assume that travel or credit-card insurance replaces household contents cover.
  4. Check the annual premium saving, not just the monthly payment difference.

Consumer NZ's house and contents insurance guide is a useful independent starting point for comparing cover and costs. How to get the best house and contents insurance

Let's work out what you can safely trim

I can help you make this more specific to your household. The most useful starting point is whether you rent or own, and what you're paying now.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

We're trying to save money. What contents cover can we cut without leaving ourselves badly exposed?

When you are tightening your household budget, cutting contents insurance can feel tempting, but getting it wrong can leave you vulnerable to major financial shock. To lower your premiums without leaving yourself badly exposed, you need to distinguish between core protection and high-cost "extras."

1. Optional Add-ons You Can Safely Drop or Tweak

In New Zealand, standard contents policies come with a bundle of standard and optional benefits. You can usually trim these to lower your baseline cost:

  • Specify-Only High-Value Items You No Don't Own: If you have items like high-end jewelry, cameras, or watches listed as "specified items" on your policy, check if you still own them or if they've depreciated. Remove items you no longer have or that are no longer worth the extra premium.
  • Portable/Away-from-Home Cover: Many policies include or offer optional cover for items stolen or damaged outside the home (e.g., laptops, phones, or sunglasses while you are out and about). If you work from home or don't frequently carry expensive gear around town, dropping or dialing back portable cover can yield immediate savings.
  • Excess-Free Add-ons or Low-Priority Perks: Some policies feature minor perks like free replacement of certain keys or specific medical devices. While nice, check if they inflate your baseline cost.

2. What You Should NOT Cut (Your Core Protection)

To avoid being left dangerously exposed, keep these foundational elements intact:

  • Total Sum Insured (Don't Over-Cut): Avoid arbitrarily slashing your total contents value. If your house burned down or was completely gutted, replacing everything—clothes, whiteware, furniture, and tech—adds up fast. Use an insurer calculator to find your actual replacement cost rather than guessing. Under-insurance leaves you drastically exposed in a total-loss event.
  • Accidental Damage Cover: If your policy splits fire/theft-only cover from Accidental Damage (sudden, unintended mishaps like spilling wine on a couch or breaking a TV), think carefully before dropping it. While accidental damage costs slightly more, it covers the most frequent everyday claims Kiwis face.
  • Legal Liability: Standard NZ policies include up to $1M or $2M in legal liability (e.g., if you accidentally cause a fire in a rental property that damages the landlord's building or neighboring property). Never drop this, as a liability claim can run into the hundreds of thousands.

3. Alternative Ways to Lower Your Premium Without Changing Cover

Instead of stripping out insurance features, you can reduce your bill by adjusting how your policy is structured:

  1. Raise Your Excess: Increasing your voluntary excess (the amount you pay out-of-pocket when you make a claim) from $250 to $500 or $1_000 will immediately lower your regular premium. Just ensure you have that cash set aside in an emergency fund so you can afford it if you do need to claim.
  2. Switch to Annual Payments: If you currently pay monthly, check if your insurer charges compounding admin fees or interest. Paying your premium in one lump sum annually usually shaves a percentage off the total cost.
  3. Shop Around and Compare: Insurance loyalty rarely pays off in New Zealand. Premiums drift up over time, and different providers price risk very differently. Use comparison tools or direct quotes across a few different insurers to see if you can get the exact same level of cover elsewhere for less.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

We're trying to save money. What contents cover can we cut without leaving ourselves badly exposed?

AI Overview

When looking to reduce your contents insurance premium in New Zealand, the goal is to eliminate unnecessary add-ons or over-insurance without sacrificing protection against catastrophic events like fire, burglary, or major natural disasters.

Here are the specific areas of contents cover you can safely adjust or remove to lower your bills without leaving yourself badly exposed:

1. Drop "Worldwide" or "Mobile" Cover Add-ons

Many policies charge extra to cover items like phones, laptops, or jewelry when you leave the house. If you are careful with your devices or rarely travel with expensive gear, you can remove this optional extra.

2. Remove Optional "Excess-Free" Glass or Gadget Cover

Some policies offer optional add-ons where you don't have to pay an excess for broken window glass or accidentally dropped phones. Removing these add-ons lowers your premium. You can still claim for these items under your standard policy; you will just have to pay your standard excess if they break.

3. Delist Separately Insured Specified Items

Check your policy for "specified items"—such as expensive bicycles, engagement rings, or high-end cameras—that you listed separately to cover their full value. If you no longer own these items, or if you are willing to risk only being paid out up to the standard policy limit (e.g., many policies cap unspecified jewelry at $1,000 to $2,000 per item), you can remove them from the specified list.

4. Adjust to a Higher Voluntary Excess

While not strictly "cutting cover," increasing your excess (the amount you pay upfront when making a claim) from $250 or $500 up to $1,000 or $2,000 will drastically drop your premium. This keeps you fully protected against major losses (like a house fire) while you agree to self-insure against smaller, minor mishaps.

5. Review and Lower Your Total "Sum Insured"

People often overestimate the total value of their belongings. You do not need to insure for the original retail price, but rather what it would cost to replace your essential household items today. Use an online contents calculator (provided by most NZ insurers) to get an accurate estimate. Lowering your total sum insured from $80,000 to $50,000, for example, will immediately lower your premium.

⚠️ What NOT to Cut

To avoid leaving yourself badly exposed, do not cancel the policy entirely and do not opt for "Present Value" (indemnity) cover over "Replacement Value" cover if you can avoid it. Present value only pays out what your old items were worth secondhand, leaving you unable to afford new replacements after a disaster.

If you'd like to see how much you could save, let me know:

  • Who your current insurance provider is

  • What your current excess is

  • If you have any valuable single items listed separately

I can help you figure out the best way to adjust your specific policy.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

We're trying to save money. What contents cover can we cut without leaving ourselves badly exposed?

Trimming your contents insurance without leaving yourself vulnerable comes down to separating catastrophic losses (things that would financially cripple you) from minor or manageable costs (things you could pay out of pocket if needed).

Review these areas to cut or adjust safely in New Zealand:

  • Increase your excess: Raising your voluntary excess (e.g., from $250 to $500 or $1,000) significantly lowers your annual premium. Just make sure you actually have that higher amount sitting in an emergency fund so you can pay it if an unexpected claim happens.

  • Drop or trim "Accidental Damage" for portable/specified items: Many comprehensive policies include portable accidental damage cover for things like dropped phones, spilled wine on a rug, or broken glasses. If you rarely take high-value items out of the house, or if you can live with replacing a cheap pair of sunglasses or repairing a minor item yourself, removing or narrowing this add-on saves cash. Keep standard fire, flood, and burglary protection, which are the real budget-breakers.

  • Audit and reduce your total Sum Insured: People often set their sum insured once and forget to update it, or they over-insure. Walk through your home and realistically calculate what it would cost to replace everything today on a new-for-old basis—minus things you wouldn't actually replace or items you no longer own. Don't leave yourself underinsured, but don't pay to insure $80,000 worth of gear if your actual total inventory is closer to $40,000.

  • Skip inflated add-on benefits: Check your policy for bells and whistles you likely won't use—such as high limits for pet medical costs, excessive unspecified jewellery allowances, or specialized high-end tech add-ons. Streamline the policy back to a clean, standard level that covers the big-ticket basics (furniture, whitegoods, electronics, and clothing).

  • Shop around and compare: Loyalty doesn't pay in the NZ insurance market. Use comparison platforms like Quashed or check multiple major insurers (like Tower, AMI, State, or AA) to see if you are overpaying for your baseline risk profile.

To help narrow this down, could you tell me:

  • Roughly what your current annual premium is?
  • Whether you live in an apartment, standalone house, or rental?

I can give you a more targeted breakdown of what is essential versus fluff for your specific setup.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026