Search studies, brands and more…⌘ KExplore research

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

When would a broker add value compared with direct house insurance?

In New Zealand, a broker can add value over buying house insurance direct mainly when your situation is not straightforward or when you value someone else handling the comparison and claims process. For a simple home with standard needs, going direct can often be perfectly reasonable. Consumer NZ

A broker may be worthwhile when:

  • Your property has unusual risks or complexity

    • Older homes, heritage properties, high-value homes, lifestyle blocks, rural properties, holiday homes, properties with major renovations, or non-standard construction can require more careful matching of policy wording and insurers.
    • A broker can help identify risks and compare available cover. Consumer Protection

  • You are unsure how much cover you actually need

    • Working out the right sum insured, replacement costs, special features, and contents limits can be difficult.
    • A broker can help you understand gaps, although you remain responsible for making sure the information provided to the insurer is accurate. Consumer Protection

  • You want someone to compare multiple insurers

    • A direct insurer can only offer its own policy. A broker can compare policies from insurers they work with and explain differences in exclusions, excesses, and benefits. Consumer Protection

  • You want help at claim time

    • A broker may help you navigate the claims process and communicate with the insurer, particularly for complicated or disputed claims. However, the insurer still makes the final claims decision. Consumer NZ

  • You have several insurance needs

    • If you are arranging home, contents, landlord, business, vehicle, or other cover together, a broker may make managing renewals and coverage more efficient.

  • You have limited time or don’t want to compare policies yourself

    • The value may be convenience and expertise rather than a lower premium.

A broker may add less value if:

  • Your home is a standard owner-occupied property.
  • You are comfortable comparing insurers yourself.
  • You can read and compare policy wording, exclusions, excesses and limits.
  • You mainly want the lowest premium and are prepared to manage renewals and claims directly. Consumer NZ notes that for many people buying direct can be a good option, and recommends comparing policies carefully rather than assuming a broker is always better. Consumer NZ

Before using a broker, it is worth asking:

  • Which insurers do you have access to?
  • How are you paid (commission, fees, or both)?
  • What specifically makes your recommended policy better for my situation?
  • Will you help if I need to claim?

A practical rule of thumb: standard house → direct comparison may be enough; complex property or you want an advocate → a broker is more likely to earn their keep. Consumer NZ

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

When would a broker add value compared with direct house insurance?

In New Zealand, buying house insurance directly from an insurer (such as AMI, State, or Tower) works well for standard, straightforward properties. However, an insurance broker adds significant value in situations where policies are complex, properties are unique, or you want professional advocacy.

When a Broker Adds Value

  • Non-Standard or Complex Properties: If your home is heritage-listed, architectural, built with non-standard materials, located in a high-risk natural hazard zone (e.g., flood-prone, slip-prone, or high-risk earthquake zones), or is a lifestyle block/rural property, direct insurers may restrict coverage or decline to quote. Brokers have access to wholesale or niche markets that cater to these risks.
  • Accurate Sum Insured Calculations: Underinsurance is a major risk in New Zealand. Brokers use specialist construction cost calculators and industry data to help you accurately calculate your total rebuild cost—including demolition, council consents, and rising material costs—preventing nasty shortfalls at claim time.
  • Complex Claims Advocacy: If you ever need to lodge a major or disputed claim (such as storm, flood, or landslip damage), dealing with a call centre can be stressful. A broker acts as your advocate, managing the communication, pushing the insurer to keep the process moving, and helping ensure you get the full payout you are entitled to.
  • Access to Wholesale and Broad Policies: Brokers often deal with institutional or commercial-grade insurers (like Vero, Crombie Lockwood, or Abbott) whose policies feature broader definitions, lower standard excesses, or better wordings than standard consumer-facing direct policies.
  • Time Savings and Convenience: If you own multiple properties, a property portfolio, or mixed-use assets, managing multiple renewals, varying policy wordings, and schedules directly is time-consuming. A broker consolidates and manages your portfolio under a unified strategy.

Cost and Considerations in New Zealand

  • How They Get Paid: For most domestic policies, using a broker does not mean paying an extra fee out of pocket. Brokers are typically compensated via commission (a percentage of the premium paid by the insurer), meaning the base price is often comparable to going direct. However, some brokers may charge a service or administration fee for complex advisory work, which they are legally required to disclose upfront under New Zealand financial advice regulations.
  • When Direct is Fine: If you own a standard, modern residential home of standard timber/brick construction on a flat, low-risk section, going direct or using a digital comparison tool is often fast, cheap, and sufficient.

Would you like to explore how to calculate the correct sum insured for your specific property type?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

When would a broker add value compared with direct house insurance?

AI Overview

An insurance broker adds significant value over direct home insurance when a property falls outside the standard "cookie-cutter" risk profile, or when you require professional advocacy during complex claims. While direct insurers (like State, AMI, or Tower) are designed for straightforward, automated online quotes, they often use rigid algorithms that penalize or outright decline non-standard risks.

Key Scenarios Where a Broker Adds Value

Using a broker is highly advantageous in the following situations:

  • High-Risk Geographic Zones: If your property is in an area exposed to natural hazards—such as flood-prone parts of the Coromandel, coastal erosion zones, or high-seismic regions like Wellington—direct insurers may decline cover or charge extreme premiums. Brokers have access to specialist, commercial, or offshore underwriting markets not available to the public.

  • Non-Standard Construction: If the home features complex architectural designs, historical status, multi-unit layouts, or non-standard materials (e.g., straw bale, prominent earth-building, or historical timber), automated direct calculators cannot accurately price the risk.

  • Accurate Sum Insured Structuring: Most New Zealand policies operate on a "Sum Insured" cap. If you under-calculate, you face severe out-of-pocket costs during a total loss. A broker ensures your policy accountably covers hidden costs like specialized demolition, site clearing, and professional architect or quantity surveyor fees.

  • Claims Advocacy: If a major event occurs (such as a fire or landslip), dealing directly with an insurance company's internal claims team can be difficult. A broker acts as your independent legal advocate, leveraging their industry relationship to fight for your payout.

  • Complex Multi-Policy Needs: If you are managing an investment property portfolio, running a business from home, or need to seamlessly coordinate private house insurance alongside natural hazard caps (like Natural Hazards Commission / Toka Tū Ake cover), a broker streamlines your risk management.

Direct Insurance vs. Insurance Broker

Feature Direct Insurance (DIY) Insurance Broker
Target Audience Standard, low-risk, modern suburban homes. Complex, high-value, or high-hazard properties.
Pricing Route Fixed online algorithms; lower upfront administrative fees. Tailored underwriting; may secure bespoke discounts or placement.
Policy Choice Limited strictly to that specific company's branded products. Can compare policy wordings across multiple corporate and niche markets.
Claims Handling You must negotiate directly with the insurer's call center. The broker manages the claim and advocates on your behalf.

If you are evaluating your home insurance options, tell me:

  • What region or environmental risk profile is the property located in?

  • Is it an owner-occupied home or an investment/rental property?

  • Does the building have any unique construction features or a history of prior damage?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

When would a broker add value compared with direct house insurance?

A broker can add significant value compared with buying direct house insurance (going straight to an insurance company), particularly when your situation involves complexity, high stakes, or specialized needs.

Here is when using a broker typically shines versus going direct:

  • Complex properties or non-standard builds: If your home has unique architectural features, is heritage-listed, made of non-standard building materials (e.g., monolithic cladding, specific timber types), or is located in a high-risk natural hazard zone (coastal erosion, earthquake-prone land, or flood zones), standard direct insurers may decline coverage or offer restrictive terms. Brokers know which underwriters specialize in these risks.

  • High-value homes and high net worth: Luxury homes, extensive custom landscaping, high-end interior fittings, or significant collections of fine art and jewelry require bespoke policy wording. Brokers can negotiate tailored indemnity or replacement values and specialized extensions that off-the-shelf direct policies usually exclude or cap.

  • Commercial or mixed-use properties: If you run a business from home, own a residential rental portfolio, or have a commercial/residential hybrid property, direct consumer policies will often invalidate claims. Brokers secure commercial-grade or specialized property portfolios under a single, cohesive arrangement.

  • A complex claims history or past declinations: If you have a history of previous claims, have been declined insurance in the past, or have unspent convictions, automated direct online systems will often flag and reject your application. Brokers can present your situation directly to underwriters, explaining the context to secure coverage.

  • Advocacy during a major claim: When disaster strikes (such as major storm or earthquake damage), navigating the claims process can be exhausting. A broker acts as your advocate , helping interpret policy wording, managing the paperwork, and fighting to ensure you receive a fair settlement from the insurer. Direct insurers represent their own interests; a broker legally represents yours.

  • Time and market comparison: Instead of spending hours filling out multiple separate online application forms with different direct insurers to compare excesses, exclusions, and definitions, a broker does the legwork across the whole market to find the best balance of price and coverage.

If you're weighing your options, let me know:

  • Is your property a standard residential home or something more unique?
  • Have you had any trouble getting coverage or making claims in the past?

I can help you decide whether a direct policy or a broker makes more sense for your specific setup.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026