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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

Which contents cover features matter most for a household with children?

For a household with children in New Zealand, the most important contents cover features are those that protect your family from unexpected costs, make claims straightforward, and cover the belongings your family relies on every day.

The best policy isn't necessarily the cheapest or the one with the most benefits. It's the one that fits your family's home, belongings, lifestyle, and financial situation.

The 7 contents insurance features that matter most

  1. Accidental damage

Top priority

Children can spill drinks, break TVs, damage furniture or knock over electronics. Look for cover for sudden, accidental damage caused by household members, not just fire, theft and other major events. Check whether an excess makes small claims worthwhile. How to get the best house and contents insuranceMAS Contents Insurance

  1. New-for-old replacement cover

Make sure eligible belongings can be replaced with new equivalent items rather than receiving only their depreciated value. This is particularly useful for replacing furniture, appliances and other essentials after a major loss. Check age restrictions and item-specific exceptions. How to get the best house and contents insuranceInsurance

  1. Cover for belongings away from home

Look for protection for school bags, laptops, tablets, bicycles, sports gear and other personal belongings taken to school, activities or trips. Check whether cover applies outside the home, throughout New Zealand and overseas, and whether theft from vehicles is restricted. Contents InsuranceContents Insurance - Get a quote and apply online

  1. Temporary accommodation

If a fire or another insured event makes your home unliveable, this can help pay for somewhere else to stay. With children, check the dollar limit, how long support lasts, and whether moving, storage and additional living expenses are included. How to get the best house and contents insuranceDistinction Contents Insurance / Policy wording

  1. Food spoilage and hidden water leaks

These optional or included benefits can be valuable for busy families. Check for spoiled food after a covered power failure and damage caused by a hidden, gradual water leak. Don't assume either is automatically covered. Contents Insurance - Get a quote and apply onlineWhat Home, Contents & Car Insurance Don't Cover (NZ)

  1. Personal liability cover

This may help if you or a covered household member becomes legally liable for accidentally damaging another person's property or causing injury. Check who qualifies as an insured person, the liability limit and exclusions. Intentional damage is generally not covered. How to get the best house and contents insuranceICNZ Consumer Guide 2025

  1. A realistic contents sum insured

Add up the cost of replacing your furniture, clothing, toys, electronics, appliances and other possessions. Families often accumulate more belongings than they realise. Also check individual limits for jewellery, bicycles, computers and other valuables, and specify expensive items where required. House & Contents Insurance: Sum Insured ExplainedContents Insurance - Get a quote and apply online

What should a family prioritise?

If you're comparing New Zealand policies, I'd rank the features like this:

Priority Feature
Essential Accidental damage and appropriate replacement cover
Essential Enough total cover and adequate limits for valuable items
Very important Belongings covered away from home
Very important Temporary accommodation after an insured event
Useful extras Food spoilage and hidden gradual damage
Important protection Personal liability

One important distinction: contents insurance generally protects your belongings, not the building itself. If you own your home, check the separate house insurance as well. If you rent, your landlord's building insurance generally doesn't cover your family's possessions. How to get the best house and contents insuranceICNZ Consumer Guide 2025

My recommendation

For a family with children, I'd start by comparing comprehensive contents policies that include accidental damage, good replacement terms, reasonable excesses and cover for possessions outside the home. Then compare the limits and exclusions rather than choosing based on the premium alone.

You can use the independent New Zealand guide from Consumer NZ: House and contents insurance to help compare policy details.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

Which contents cover features matter most for a household with children?

When planning or buying a home for a family with children in New Zealand, certain property features consistently rank as top priorities. These features address safety, daily logistics, storage, and long-term comfort.

1. Safety and Outdoor Space

  • Fully Fenced Sections: A secure perimeter fence (ideally with a self-latching gate) is essential in New Zealand for keeping young children and pets safe from the street and neighbours.
  • Flat Lawns: Sloping sections can limit outdoor play areas; a flat backyard provides a safe zone for trampolines, swing sets, and running around.
  • Indoor-Outdoor Flow: Safe visibility from the kitchen or living area to the backyard allows parents to supervise children playing outside while handling indoor tasks.

2. Functional Layout and Living Areas

  • Multiple Living Spaces: A separate lounge or second living area gives children space to play or watch media without disrupting the main household or adults working from home.
  • Bathroom Practicality: A bathtub is almost mandatory for bathing young children. Additionally, a separate toilet or a second bathroom prevents morning traffic jams during school and work routines.
  • Kitchen Sightlines: Open-plan kitchens that look into dining and family zones make it easier to keep an eye on toddlers while preparing meals.

3. Practical Storage and Mudrooms

  • Built-In Wardrobes & Hall Closets: Growing families accumulate gear quickly. Adequate hallway storage, bedroom wardrobes, and a dedicated garage or utility space for school bags, sports equipment, and winter coats are critical.
  • Separate Laundry: A dedicated laundry room (rather than a cupboard in the hallway or kitchen) makes washing muddy winter sports gear and school uniforms much easier to manage.

4. Heating, Insulation, and Health

  • Healthy Homes Compliance: New Zealand’s climate can be damp and cold in winter. Properties built or retrofitted to meet high insulation standards, alongside efficient heating sources like heat pumps or double glazing, keep homes warm and dry, reducing the risk of childhood respiratory issues.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

Which contents cover features matter most for a household with children?

AI Overview

For a New Zealand household with children, comprehensive contents insurance —rather than basic or limited cover—is highly recommended. Children are notorious for accidents, meaning policy exclusions and limits matter just as much as the total sum insured.

When comparing providers like AA Insurance, Tower, AMI, and State, the core features that matter most for a family include:

1. Accidental Damage & "New-for-Old" Replacement

Standard policies cover events like fire or burglary, but family homes need protection against day-to-day mishaps.

  • Accidental Damage Cover: Essential for when a toddler throws a toy at the TV or spills juice on an expensive rug. Basic policies usually exclude this, requiring a comprehensive tier.

  • New-for-Old Replacement: Ensures that if a child destroys an item, the insurer replaces it with a new equivalent rather than paying out its depreciated "present-day value".

2. Full Cover for Portables Away from Home

Kids lose and break things outside the house. A good policy will feature NZ-wide coverage that protects items temporarily removed from the home.

  • Mobile Phones & Tablets: Check the specific sub-limits. Some standard policies cap mobile phone claims at a low amount (e.g., $500), while others allow up to $10,000 on premium tiers.

  • Bicycles and Sports Gear: Look for policies covering e-bikes, standard bikes, or sports equipment while in use or stored at school sports days, usually covered up to limits like $3,000 per item.

3. Legal (Public) Liability Cover

If your child accidentally damages someone else's property, you can be held legally liable.

  • What it covers: An example is a child kicking a ball through a neighbour's window or accidentally knocking over an expensive display in a store.

  • The Benefit: Most major NZ contents policies include up to $2 million in legal liability cover , protecting your family from potentially crippling legal and repair costs.

4. "One Event, One Excess"

With children, one accident can cause a domino effect of damage (e.g., knocking over a shelf holding multiple electronic devices).

  • Why it matters: A One Event, One Excess feature guarantees that if multiple items are damaged or destroyed in a single incident, you only pay your excess fee once rather than per item.

5. Specialized Family Extensions

Many insurers build specific extensions into their policies that directly benefit changing family dynamics:

  • Children at Boarding School or University: Major providers like Tower and MAS automatically extend a portion of your contents cover (often between $5,000 and $10,000) to protect your children’s belongings if they move into university halls or boarding schools.

  • Food Spoilage: Kids frequently leave the freezer door open. Look for cover that pays out (typically up to $1,000) for spoiled food resulting from accidental power cuts or appliance breakdowns.

Would you like to explore average pricing for family contents cover in NZ, or do you need help calculating the right sum insured for a full household?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

Which contents cover features matter most for a household with children?

When looking for contents insurance (home and contents policy) for a household with children, you want to ensure your policy covers the high-value, high-wear lifestyle that comes with kids.

Here are the key content cover features that matter most for families:

  • Accidental damage cover : Kids are notoriously unpredictable—crayons on the couch, a toy thrown at the TV, or a juice spill on the laptop. Choosing a policy that includes accidental damage (rather than just defined events like fire or theft) is essential for family life.

  • Child/dependent temporary accommodation : If your home becomes unlivable due to an insured event (like a major flood or fire), you need temporary accommodation that comfortably fits your entire family, including pets if applicable. Check the limits and duration of temporary accommodation payouts.

  • High single-item and overall limits : Between expensive strollers, modern laptops for schoolwork, gaming consoles, and sports gear, family belongings add up fast. Ensure your maximum payout limit and individual item limits reflect the true replacement cost of everything you own.

  • New-for-old replacement : Look for policies that replace older damaged items with brand-new equivalents rather than depreciated second-hand value, which is vital when replacing kids' clothing, school gear, or furniture.

  • Liability cover : Public liability insurance protects you if a family member accidentally damages someone else's property or injures someone (e.g., a child accidentally riding a bike into a parked car or breaking a neighbour's window).

  • Portability (specified or unspecified items) : If your children take expensive items out of the house—such as school tablets, sports equipment, or musical instruments—portable or "away from home" cover ensures they are protected outside your property boundaries.

If you'd like, let me know:

  • Are you looking for contents-only or a combined house and contents policy?
  • Do you have any specific high-value items (like specialty sports gear or electronics)?

I can give you more tailored tips on what to look for in policy sub-limits.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026