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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

Our Coromandel bach is empty for months at a time. Will ordinary house insurance still cover it?

Not necessarily. In New Zealand, an ordinary house insurance policy may not fully cover your Coromandel bach if it sits empty for months at a time. The key issue is how your insurer defines an unoccupied property and whether you've told them how the bach is used.

A holiday home that's left empty between visits can be treated differently from a permanently occupied home. You may still be insured, but certain claims could be restricted or declined if the policy's conditions aren't met.

What insurers may do

The rules differ between insurers. For example:

  • AA Insurance: Its policy distinguishes between an owner-occupied home and one specifically insured as a holiday home. The holiday-home category continues to have cover when unoccupied, while an owner-occupied policy has an additional excess after 60 consecutive days. Home Insurance PolicyDo I need to tell you if my home is unoccupied?
  • Initio: A holiday home can remain under standard cover when empty for more than 60 days, provided conditions are met, including internal and external inspections at least every 60 days, regular maintenance, and turning off the water supply. Is my unoccupied property still covered?
  • Vero: Advises customers to check their policy and notify the insurer if the property will be vacant for an extended period, as extra terms or excesses may apply. Anybody home? 5 tips for insuring an empty house

These are examples, not a guarantee that your own policy offers the same protection.

What I'd do for your Coromandel bach

  1. Check how it's insured. Is the policy schedule specifically marked “holiday home” or “bach”, rather than “owner-occupied”?
  2. Contact your insurer and explain the actual pattern of use. Tell them it can be empty for several consecutive months each year.
  3. Get confirmation in writing that full cover continues during those absences, including the conditions and any extra excesses.
  4. Ask about water damage, theft and storm damage. Leaks can go undetected for months in an empty house, so check the relevant exclusions and any requirements to shut off the water or arrange inspections.

The Insurance Council of New Zealand also highlights the importance of telling your insurer how a property will be used and whether it will be unoccupied for an extended period. ICNZ_Consumer_Guide_-_Purchasing_Home_Insurance_1_1_FINAL_16122020_Updated

One question that would help

Which insurer currently covers your bach? For example, AA Insurance, AMI, State, Tower, FMG or another provider.

If you tell me the insurer, I can check its specific policy wording for a bach that's left empty for months at a time.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

Our Coromandel bach is empty for months at a time. Will ordinary house insurance still cover it?

Yes, ordinary house insurance can cover a Coromandel bach that sits empty for months, but only if your insurer explicitly knows it is a holiday home.

If you insure a bach under a standard residential house policy as if it were your permanent, year-round primary residence, you could run into major issues when trying to make a claim.

Key Insurance Realities for NZ Baches

  • The Unoccupancy Clause Trap: Most standard New Zealand house policies state that if a home is left unoccupied for a continuous period (typically 60 to 90 days depending on the insurer), full coverage automatically drops or restricts unless arranged otherwise. After this period, standard policies often limit cover strictly to major perils like natural disasters, fire, or storms, while stripping out cover for theft, vandalism, or hidden water leaks.
  • Holiday Home Endorsement: To keep full protection while your bach is empty for months at a time, you must declare it to your insurer as a holiday home. They will note this on your policy schedule, which accounts for the extended vacancy periods.
  • Special Conditions & Excesses: Holiday home policies often come with specific risk-management requirements. Insurers may require you (or a local property manager/neighbour) to inspect the property regularly (e.g., every 30 to 60 days), clear the mail, ensure the water mains are turned off to prevent catastrophic burst-pipe damage, and keep doors and windows deadbolted. Additionally, higher excesses frequently apply to claims involving burglary or malicious damage while vacant.

Action Plan for Your Coromandel Bach

  1. Check Your Current Policy: Pull out your current certificate of insurance and check whether the property is explicitly classified as a holiday home or a residential dwelling.
  2. Call Your Insurer: If it is currently listed as a standard residence, contact them immediately to update its status. Be transparent about how many months of the year it sits empty.
  3. Review Risk Requirements: Ask your insurer for their exact conditions regarding regular inspections, water shut-offs, and security measures to ensure you do not inadvertently breach your policy terms.

Is your bach currently insured under a specific holiday home policy, or is it still sitting on a standard residential policy?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

Our Coromandel bach is empty for months at a time. Will ordinary house insurance still cover it?

AI Overview

No, an ordinary house insurance policy will generally not cover your bach if it is left empty for months at a time.

Under standard New Zealand home insurance policies, strict "unoccupancy clauses" trigger after a property has been empty for a consecutive period—typically 60 to 90 days. If you breach this limit without notifying your insurer, your cover will either be severely reduced (e.g., only covering natural disasters and fire, completely excluding theft, vandalism, and water damage), or your entire policy could be voided under the Contracts of Insurance Act 2024.

How to Maintain Coverage

To ensure your Coromandel getaway stays fully protected, you must transition to a policy explicitly recorded as a holiday home.

  • Declare it as a Holiday Home: You must explicitly tell your insurer that the property is a secondary holiday residence. Major NZ providers like Tower Insurance and AA Insurance will waive the unoccupancy limits and extra excesses only if the home is recorded as a holiday home on your insurance certificate.

  • Meet Strict Maintenance Conditions: Once classified as a holiday home, insurers expect you to mitigate the risks of an empty property. According to standard guidelines from providers like State Insurance and Initio, you must:

  • Inspect the property both inside and out at least once every 60 to 90 days (you can nominate a local neighbor or property manager to do this).

  • Turn off the main water supply every time you leave to prevent undetected gradual pipe leaks.

  • Clear the mail regularly and keep the lawns mowed so the property does not look abandoned.

  • Ensure all doors and windows are locked and secured securely.

Key Limitations to Watch Out For

Be aware that transitioning a policy to a holiday home status can alter your coverage benefits. For example, standard add-ons like temporary accommodation allowances or key/lock replacement extensions are often switched off for holiday homes. Furthermore, if you occasionally rent out your bach on apps like Airbnb or Bookabach when you aren't using it, you must disclose this separately, as standard holiday home policies usually require a specific commercial or short-term tenancy extension.

To help tailor this, who is your current insurance provider , and do you ever rent the bach out to paying guests , or is it strictly for family use?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

Our Coromandel bach is empty for months at a time. Will ordinary house insurance still cover it?

No, an ordinary house insurance policy will typically not cover your bach automatically if it remains empty for more than a consecutive period (usually 60 days, depending on the insurer).

Most New Zealand insurance providers have specific unoccupancy clauses in their standard residential policies. If no authorized person sleeps in the home for a continuous threshold—frequently set at 60 consecutive days —certain coverages can lapse or be severely restricted unless you have declared the property as a holiday home and arranged specific terms with your provider. [Vero Insurance New Zealand]

Key Unoccupancy Impacts and Rules

  • The 60-Day Limit: Many standard policies state that a property becomes "unoccupied" if left vacant past 60 days, meaning risks like vandalism, water leaks going unnoticed, or burglary might have reduced or entirely voided coverage. [Vero Insurance New Zealand]

  • Holiday Home Declaration: If you insured the property specifically as a holiday home/bach from the start, your policy is underwritten to account for periods of vacancy. However, you must still check the maximum continuous vacancy limits, as some policies require someone to visit or inspect the property at regular intervals.

  • Duty of Disclosure: Under New Zealand insurance laws, failing to correctly disclose how a property is used or leaving it vacant beyond standard terms without notifying your insurer can lead to declined claims. [Quashed]

Requirements to Maintain Coverage

  • Notify Your Insurer: Explicitly confirm that your policy covers a holiday home and ask if there is a maximum limit on how many consecutive months it can be left empty.

  • Property Maintenance: Insurers often require you to keep the lawns maintained, mail collected, and security deadlocks engaged to minimize visible vacancy. [Vero Insurance New Zealand]

  • Turn off Utilities: Many insurers advise or mandate shutting off the mains water supply when leaving the property empty for extended periods to prevent major escape-of-water damage. [Vero Insurance New Zealand]

If you can share the name of your insurance provider or check your policy's unoccupied property clause , I can help you find out their exact threshold and what steps you need to take.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026