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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 contents insurance went up even though we didn't claim. Can we ask for a lower renewal price?

Yes — you can absolutely ask your contents insurer for a lower renewal price in New Zealand, even if you haven't made a claim. You don't have to simply accept the increase.

A clean claims history is worth mentioning, although it doesn't guarantee a discount. Insurers can raise premiums because of factors such as higher repair and replacement costs, changes in risk assessments, reinsurance costs and changes to their pricing.

How to try to get your premium down

  1. Ask for a better renewal offer. Contact your insurer before renewing and explain that your premium has increased despite making no claims.
  2. Ask why it went up. Request a breakdown of the increase, including any changes to the premium, excess, fees or policy terms.
  3. Get competing quotes. Compare other New Zealand insurers using the same contents value, excess and cover limits. Tell your current insurer if you find a cheaper equivalent policy.
  4. Consider adjusting your excess. A higher excess may reduce your premium, but make sure you could afford to pay it if you needed to claim.
  5. Check your sum insured. Make sure the amount of contents cover reflects the cost of replacing your belongings. Don't underinsure yourself just to reduce the premium.
  6. Ask about discounts. Check whether you qualify for a multi-policy discount if you also insure your car or home with the same provider, or for any other available discounts.

Consumer NZ specifically recommends using a cheaper competing quote to negotiate with your current insurer. Its February 2026 research also found that comparing equivalent home and contents policies could reveal substantial savings, although results vary by location and policy. 8 ways to save on insuranceInsurance premiums soar, but big savings can still be made

A message you can send your insurer

Email

Subject
: Request for a review of my contents insurance renewal premium

Hi,

I've received my contents insurance renewal and noticed that my premium has increased, despite having made no claims.

I'd appreciate it if you could review my renewal price and let me know whether you can offer a more competitive premium.

Could you also explain the main reasons for the increase and confirm whether any changes have been made to my excess, sum insured or policy terms?

I'd prefer to stay with you if we can agree on a competitive price, but I'll be comparing quotes from other insurers before renewing.

Thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.

One useful thing to know

Your premium may include government levies and other costs that the insurer can't simply waive, so ask which parts of the increase are due to its own pricing. The Insurance Council of New Zealand explains how these different components contribute to premiums. Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ): General Insurance Body

You can also read Consumer NZ's guide: 8 ways to save on insurance.

If you tell me which insurer you're with and roughly how much your annual premium has increased (for example, from $200 to $260), I can help you work out what to ask for and how best to negotiate.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

Our contents insurance went up even though we didn't claim. Can we ask for a lower renewal price?

Yes, you can ask your insurer for a lower renewal price, and it is quite common to negotiate or shop around when your premium goes up despite having a clean record.

Insurers in New Zealand review and price risks annually. Even if you haven't made a claim, your contents insurance premium can still rise due to macro-level factors like soaring inflation, rising replacement/repair costs for household goods, and increased weather-related claims or weather risks across the country or your specific region.

Actionable Steps to Lower Your Renewal Price

  1. Call Your Current Insurer and Negotiate

    • What to do: Contact your insurance provider before your renewal date. Let them know you’ve noticed the price increase despite having no claims, and ask if they can review the premium or apply any unapplied discounts.
    • Why it works: Insurers often have discretionary wiggle room or retention discounts they can apply to prevent losing long-standing customers.

  2. Shop Around and Compare Competitor Quotes

    • What to do: Use online aggregation or comparison tools (such as Quashed), or check directly with other major providers in New Zealand (e.g., AMI, AA Insurance, Tower, State, Trade Me Insurance).
    • Why it works: Insurance companies frequently rely on "loyalty pricing" (where existing customers slowly pay more over time), while offering cheaper introductory rates to new customers. Having a lower quote from a competitor gives you strong leverage when negotiating with your current provider.

  3. Adjust Your Voluntary Excess

    • What to do: Ask to increase your excess (the amount you pay out-of-pocket when making a claim), for example, moving from a $250 excess to $500 or $1,000.
    • Why it works: A higher excess lowers your overall risk to the insurer, which immediately slashes your annual premium. Just ensure you can comfortably afford that excess if an unexpected event happens.

  4. Review Your Sum Insured Amount

    • What to do: Recalculate the total value of your contents using an online calculator (many NZ insurers provide them).
    • Why it works: Over-insuring items you no longer own or overestimating total replacement values means you are paying for coverage you don’t need. Right-sizing your sum insured can pull the price down.

  5. Re-evaluate Bundling and Payment Frequency

    • What to do: Check if your multi-policy discount (e.g., combining car and contents) is still competitive, and opt to pay annually instead of monthly or fortnightly if possible.
    • Why it works: Paying by direct debit or credit card instalments usually incurs hidden financing fees or administration charges that make the policy more expensive overall.

Next Step: Before your renewal payment processes automatically, get at least two online quotes from competing providers. Take the lowest quote back to your current insurer, ask them to match or beat it, and if they refuse, be prepared to switch providers to secure a better rate.

Would you like help looking into specific ways to calculate your contents sum insured to see if you might be over-insured?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

Our contents insurance went up even though we didn't claim. Can we ask for a lower renewal price?

AI Overview

Yes, you can absolutely ask for a lower renewal price on your contents insurance. In New Zealand, insurance companies often default to higher renewal rates (a tactic sometimes known as a "loyalty tax"), assuming customers will simply let the policy auto-renew.

The fact that you haven't made any claims gives you excellent leverage to negotiate. However, the reason your premium went up despite your clean record is likely due to country-wide factors, including rising inflation, the cost of reinsurance globally, and the increased volume of severe weather events across New Zealand.

Step-by-Step Negotiation Strategy

1. Gather External Quotes First

  • Spend 10 minutes getting online contents insurance quotes from competitors (e.g., Tower, AA Insurance, State, AMI, or digital options like Cove).

  • Ensure the coverage levels (excess amounts, total sum insured) match your current policy so you can make a true comparison.

2. Call Your Current Insurer

  • Do not email; call their customer service line directly, as front-line phone agents often have immediate access to retention discounts.

  • Politely tell them you’ve been a loyal customer, you haven't made any claims, but you have noticed your premium has increased.

3. Present Your Leverage

  • Use phrases like: "I’ve looked at my renewal notice and noticed it went up, even though I haven't claimed. I value being with you, but I've received a cheaper quote from another provider for the exact same coverage. Is there anything you can do to lower my premium or match this price to keep me as a customer?"

Practical Ways to Lower Your Premium Immediately

If the insurer cannot lower the base price directly, ask them to adjust these policy levers to reduce your bill:

  • Increase your excess: Raising your excess (the amount you pay out of pocket if you make a claim) from $500 to $1,000 will instantly drop your regular premium. Only do this if you can comfortably afford the higher excess in an emergency.

  • Consolidate policies for a multi-policy discount: If you have car or house insurance with a different provider, ask your contents insurer what kind of discount they will offer if you move all your policies to them (usually between 10% to 20%).

  • Adjust your sum insured: Review your total contents valuation. If you have sold expensive items or over-estimated the cost to replace your goods as new, lowering your total "sum insured" limit will lower your price.

  • Change your payment frequency: If you currently pay weekly or monthly, check if they charge an installment fee. Paying annually usually removes installment loading fees and saves you money over the year.

To help me tailor this advice, what company are you currently insured with? If you have a target price or know your current excess amount , let me know so we can figure out your best next move.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

Our contents insurance went up even though we didn't claim. Can we ask for a lower renewal price?

Yes, you can always ask your insurance company for a lower renewal price , and it is common practice in New Zealand to contact your provider or shop around when your premium goes up despite having a claim-free year.

Insurers raise premiums for a variety of broader market factors rather than just your personal claims history—such as rising replacement costs, inflation, crime rates, and increased government or natural disaster levies. [MoneyHub NZ]

How to Ask for a Lower Price

  • Contact your current insurer : Call your provider's customer service or retention team. Ask them to explain why the premium increased and request a policy review. Mention that you have been claim-free and loyal, and ask if there are any overlooked discounts or loyalty rates available.

  • Adjust your excess : You can ask to increase your voluntary excess (the amount you pay out-of-pocket when making a claim), which generally lowers your ongoing renewal premium.

  • Review your sum insured : Re-evaluate the total value of your belongings. If your estimate is higher than what you actually own, lowering the sum insured can reduce your cost (though make sure you aren't underinsuring).

  • Remove optional extras : Check your policy for optional benefits or add-ons you may no longer need and ask to remove them. [AMI Insurance]

  • Shop around and compare quotes : Get quotes from other competing New Zealand insurers. If you find a cheaper comparable policy elsewhere, you can use it as leverage to ask your current provider to match or beat it. [MoneyHub NZ]

  • Prepay annually : If you currently pay monthly, ask if switching to an annual upfront payment unlocks a discount. [MoneyHub NZ]

If you'd like, let me know:

  • Which insurance company you are with
  • Whether your premium went up by a large margin

I can give you more specific tips on negotiating or alternative providers to compare.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026