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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

I'm thinking of buying a house in Wellington. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

Yes. Wellington has several location-specific risks that can affect whether you can insure a house, what the premium will be, and how much excess you pay. If you're buying in Wellington, the important thing is to check the insurance position of the specific property and its land before you commit to the purchase.

The main issues are earthquake risk, landslides, flooding, coastal hazards and the condition of the ground beneath the house. Two homes on the same street can have very different insurance outcomes depending on their construction, foundations, elevation and exposure to hazards.

The main insurance risks in Wellington

1. Earthquakes and ground conditions

Wellington is exposed to earthquake risk. Insurers may pay particular attention to the house's age, construction, foundations, previous earthquake damage and the ground it sits on. Low-lying reclaimed land and areas susceptible to liquefaction deserve extra investigation.

Insurance concern: higher premiums or excesses, restrictions on cover, or difficulty obtaining cover for a property with significant unresolved damage or structural concerns. Understanding the impact of natural hazardsHome Buyers’ Guide 2

2. Landslides and steep hillsides

Many Wellington homes are built on hills or below steep slopes. Heavy rain and earthquakes can trigger landslides, and a neighbouring slope can affect a property even if the house itself looks sound.

Insurance concern: retaining-wall failures, unstable ground, previous slips and difficult access for repairs can complicate underwriting and claims. Check who owns and maintains any retaining walls. Check natural hazard risks when house hunting :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeHome Buyers’ Guide 2

3. Flooding and stormwater

Low-lying properties, homes beside streams and places with poor drainage can be exposed to surface-water flooding or overflowing waterways. A property can have flood risk even if it has never flooded during the current owner's time there.

Insurance concern: higher premiums or excesses, flood-specific exclusions, or stricter terms in higher-risk cases. Standard private home insurance generally deals with damage to the house, while the Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) provides limited cover for eligible residential land affected by flooding. What should I tell my insurance company?Cover for storm, flood, and landslide damage :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

4. Coastal erosion and tsunami exposure

Homes close to the shoreline, on exposed coastal land or near cliffs may face coastal erosion, inundation and tsunami hazards.

Insurance concern: future premium increases, exclusions or withdrawal of cover as risks change. Don't assume that standard natural-hazards cover protects against every type of coastal damage; coastal erosion is a particular gap to investigate. What property buyers need to know about insuranceWhat do I need to know about insurance?

What this means for getting insurance

New Zealand's public natural-hazards scheme helps, but it does not guarantee that a private insurer will offer you a policy on acceptable terms.

If your house insurance includes fire cover, you generally gain access to NHC cover for eligible natural-hazard damage. The NHC provides the first layer of cover for the home and certain residential land, while your private insurer covers the remainder of the building loss as set out in your policy. Flood and storm damage to the house is treated differently from damage to the land. About natural hazards cover :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeCover for storm, flood, and landslide damage :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

The key distinction is between:

  • Getting a policy: Will an insurer accept the property at all?
  • Getting suitable cover: Are earthquake, flood and landslide risks covered without problematic exclusions?
  • Affordability: Are the premium and hazard excesses reasonable?
  • Future insurability: Could the terms become less favourable if risk assessments change?

A bank with a mortgage will generally require acceptable house insurance, so an inability to obtain it can also jeopardise your purchase. Before you make an offer on a house :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeWhat property buyers need to know about insurance

How to protect yourself before buying

I'd follow this checklist for every Wellington property you're seriously considering.

  1. Get an insurance quote early

Give the insurer the exact address and ask for a quote before making an unconditional offer. Disclose known hazards, prior damage and claims. Ask specifically about earthquake, flood and landslide cover, excesses and exclusions.

  1. Read the LIM and council property file

Look for flood maps, slope instability, liquefaction, building consents, notices relating to natural hazards and previous damage. Greater Wellington explains the regional hazard information available through its LIM hazard information page. Greater Wellington

  1. Check previous natural-hazard claims

Search the address on the Natural Hazards Portal. Its claims map includes settled natural-hazard claims dating back to 1997. Ask for claim documents, repair scopes and evidence that repairs were completed properly. Buying or selling a home with previous claims :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

  1. Arrange an independent building inspection

Pay particular attention to foundations, earthquake damage, drainage, retaining walls, slope movement and any unconsented alterations. Consider a structural engineer or geotechnical specialist if the site warrants it.

  1. Protect your offer

Ask your solicitor about making the purchase conditional on satisfactory insurance and due diligence. If the property has a natural-hazard notice on its title, get legal and insurance advice before proceeding. Before you make an offer on a house :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeUnderstanding the impact of natural hazards

Where to check Wellington's hazards

These are useful starting points for researching a property:

My biggest piece of advice

Don't rule out a Wellington house simply because it sits on a hill or falls within a mapped hazard area. The real question is whether that particular house can be insured on terms you can afford, and whether the remaining risk is acceptable to you.

If you have a property in mind, share its listing or address. I can help you work through its likely hazard concerns and the insurance questions to ask before you buy. I can't guarantee an insurer's decision, but we can identify the main red flags before you spend money on the purchase.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

I'm thinking of buying a house in Wellington. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

Yes, buying a house in Wellington introduces several region-specific factors that can significantly affect your ability to get house insurance, as well as the cost and terms of your policy. Insurers carefully evaluate geographical and structural risks in the capital due to its unique topography and seismic activity.

Key factors to consider include:

1. Seismic and Earthquake Risk

  • High Exposure: Wellington sits in one of New Zealand's most active seismic regions, intersected by major fault lines (such as the Wellington Fault) and close to the Hikurangi subduction zone.
  • Impact on Premiums and Excesses: Because of this background risk, earthquake-related considerations are built into insuring any property in the region. Furthermore, all residential property insurance in New Zealand automatically includes a government-backed Natural Hazards Commission (NHCover) levy, which provides the first tier of cover for earthquake and natural landslip damage (up to a capped building amount), with private insurers covering the rest.

2. Landslip and Stability Risks

  • Topography: Wellington is famous for its steep hillsides. Properties built on slopes—or sitting immediately above or below steep banks—carry a higher risk of landslips during heavy rain events.
  • Insurance Implications: Insurers closely look at a property's geotech reports, retaining wall conditions, and historical landslip data. If a property or its immediate area has a history of movement or poor drainage, you may face much higher premiums, steeper natural disaster excesses, or exclusions for land/retaining wall damage. In severe cases, coverage can be difficult to secure without remediation work.

3. Flood and Weather Vulnerability

  • Microclimates and Infrastructure: Wellington's geography can funnel wind severely, and heavy downpours can quickly overwhelm older stormwater or local drainage systems, putting low-lying areas (such as parts of Kilbirnie, low-lying coastal spots, or specific valleys) at risk of surface flooding.
  • Policy Conditions: Insurers evaluate flood maps closely. If a property is deemed prone to surface flooding or coastal storm surges, you may encounter specific flood exclusions or higher excesses specifically for water-related damage.

4. Soil Types and Liquefaction

  • Certain parts of the region—particularly areas built on reclaimed land (such as parts of the Central Business District or low-lying coastal margins)—have higher liquefaction susceptibility during major seismic events. Insurers factor soil composition into their risk modeling, which can influence pricing.

What you should do before buying:

  • Check Insurance Early: Never wait until unconditional status or settlement to check insurance. Obtain quotes or provisional cover while you are still due-diligence testing the property.
  • Request Past Claims History: Ask the vendor if they have ever made natural hazard or storm/flood claims on the property, and check if it's currently insurable without heavy caveats.
  • Use an Insurance Broker: If you are looking at older homes, properties with complex retaining walls, or hillside sections, consulting an insurance broker can help you navigate which providers are actively writing policies for specific risk profiles.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

I'm thinking of buying a house in Wellington. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

AI Overview

Wellington is currently the most expensive region in New Zealand for home insurance, and securing a policy there involves navigating strict address-based risk pricing due to compounding natural hazards. Because of its unique geography, private insurers heavily scrutinize individual properties before offering cover.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the region, several major factors can affect your ability to get insurance and dictate how much you will pay:

1. Compounding Natural Hazards

Insurers evaluate Wellington based on three major environmental threats:

  • Seismic Activity & Liquefaction: Wellington sits directly on major fault lines. Low-lying areas and properties built on reclaimed land or soft soils (such as Miramar , Rongotai , Petone , and parts of the Hutt Valley) face high liquefaction risks, which can dramatically drive up premiums.

  • Landslips & Slope Stability: Due to the steep terrain of many popular suburbs (such as Wadestown , Brooklyn , Karori , and Ngaio), landslips and retaining wall failures are common during severe weather. Properties on steep slopes or those reliant on aging retaining structures face strict underwriting.

  • Flooding & Sea-Level Rise: Low-lying coastal or valley suburbs (like Kilbirnie , Lyall Bay , and Tawa) are prone to both flash flooding and long-term coastal erosion.

2. High Premium Costs

According to data from the Quashed Index and Consumer NZ, the median cost for house and contents insurance for a standard home in Wellington has hovered around $3,824 to over $4,589 per year. This is significantly higher than other major centres like Auckland or Christchurch.

3. The "Insurance Retreat" Risk

Government climate reports indicate that thousands of homes across high-risk zones in New Zealand could face partial or total "insurance retreat" (where insurers refuse to open new policies or completely withdraw cover) within the coming decades. In Wellington, some buyers already report being unable to get instant online quotes for specific properties, requiring a manual, phone-based review by underwriters.

How Suburbs Stack Up Across the Region

Risk Category Example Suburbs Primary Hazards Insurance Impact
High Risk Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, Petone, Miramar , Oriental Bay Flooding, coastal exposure, liquefaction High premiums; risk of automated quote rejection; stricter policy limits.
Moderate Risk Karori, Wadestown, Brooklyn, Ngaio, Hataitai Hillside landslips, extreme wind, retaining wall subsidence Structural inspections or retaining wall declarations often required.
Lower Risk Khandallah ridges, Upper Kelburn, Churton Park Stable elevated ground, newer infrastructure Standard pricing applies, though still subject to general Wellington seismic surcharges.

Crucial Steps Before You Make an Offer

  1. Never sign an unconditional contract: Ensure every property offer you make has a specific "subject to satisfactory insurance" clause. Do not rely on the current owner's policy transferring to you automatically.

  2. Order a LIM and Check Hazard Maps: Review the property's Land Information Memorandum (LIM). Cross-reference the address with the Greater Wellington Regional Council Hazard Maps to identify flood or fault zones.

  3. Get an engineering/building report: If the home is on a slope, ensure a qualified inspector checks the health of the foundations and any existing retaining walls.

  4. Understand NHCover: Remember that the government's Natural Hazards Commission (Toka Tū Ake) covers the first $345,000 (plus GST) of natural disaster damage, but your private insurer must cover the remainder of your total sum insured.

Are you looking at a specific suburb or a particular style of home (e.g., an older hillside villa vs. a modern townhouse)? I can give you more details on how insurers treat those specific properties.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

I'm thinking of buying a house in Wellington. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

Buying a house in Wellington comes with specific regional and topographical factors that heavily influence home insurance availability, conditions, and premiums.

  • Earthquake Risk and Fault Lines: Wellington is one of the most seismically active regions in New Zealand, sitting across multiple major fault lines. Insurers carefully evaluate the seismic rating, foundation type, and age of a building. All standard residential property insurance in New Zealand includes a government-backed natural hazards levy and first-layer cover via the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHCover, formerly EQC), but private insurers factor the broader earthquake risk into their policy terms and excesses.

  • Steep Topography and Landslips: Many Wellington suburbs feature steep hillsides and elevated sections. Properties built on or below steep slopes carry a higher risk of landslips during heavy rainfall events. Insurers may require specific geotechnical reports, limit cover for retaining walls, or increase excesses for landslip damage.

  • Coastal Hazards and Flooding: Low-lying coastal suburbs and areas prone to heavy stormwater pooling or tidal inundation face rising premiums or tighter restrictions due to long-term climate change, sea-level rise, and coastal erosion concerns.

  • High Winds and Weather Exposure: Wellington's famously high winds mean roofs, cladding, and outdoor structures experience more aggressive wear and tear, which insurers consider when assessing roof age and maintenance history. [MoneyHub NZ]

  • Premium Costs and Sum Insured: Due to these combined natural hazard profiles, insurance premiums in Wellington can be noticeably higher than in lower-risk regions of New Zealand. Insurers also scrutinise the "sum insured" to protect against underinsurance or surging post-disaster rebuild costs. [MoneyHub NZ]

If you want, let me know:

  • The suburb or specific street you are looking at
  • Whether the house is flat or on a steep hill
  • The age and construction type of the home

I can give you a more tailored breakdown of what to check with insurers.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026