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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 prefer sorting out house insurance online. Which NZ house insurers should I look at?

If you prefer arranging house insurance online in New Zealand, I’d start by comparing Tower, AMI, AA Insurance, State and Initio. They’re good places to begin because you can get quotes online, compare cover and, depending on the insurer and property, complete the purchase digitally. Consumer NZ also has an independent comparison of nine house and contents insurance policies, updated in February 2026. How to get the best house and contents insuranceBest house and contents insurance

NZ house insurers to compare

1. Tower Insurance

Best starting point for comparing cover levels

Tower offers three levels of house insurance cover, an online quote tool and a rebuild-cost calculator. A useful first quote to benchmark against others. Compare House Insurance NZ - Quote & Buy Online

Get a quote from Tower

2. AMI

Worth checking for online convenience and bundled cover

AMI offers online house and contents quotes, online claims tracking and optional extras. Check the current policy wording and any online promotions before buying. Home Insurance | Quote & Buy Home InsuranceHome & Contents Insurance

Get a quote from AMI

3. AA Insurance

Worth checking if you’re an AA Member

AA provides online home insurance quotes, and eligible AA Members may receive discounts. Compare the actual quote with Tower and AMI rather than assuming membership guarantees the cheapest price. Insurance from the AA

Get a quote from AA Insurance

4. State

A useful mainstream alternative

State is another established option to include in your price comparison. Check its house cover limits, excesses and natural-hazard provisions against the other quotes.

Visit State Insurance

5. Initio

Best fit if you want a digital-first experience

Initio is particularly worth a look if you want to handle the process online. You can get an instant quote using your property address without first creating an account, then customise cover and buy online. House InsuranceGet started with initioSee how initio makes insurance easy

Get a quote from Initio

Two more options worth checking

What to compare before buying

Don't choose on premium alone. For each quote, check these five things:

  • Rebuild cover: Is the sum insured enough to rebuild the house, including demolition, professional fees and other associated costs?
  • Natural hazards: What applies to earthquake, flood, landslide and storm damage? Check the excesses and exclusions for your property.
  • Excess: How much would you have to pay towards a claim?
  • Additional structures: Are garages, sheds, fences, retaining walls and other features covered, and are there limits?
  • Online claims and support: Can you lodge and track claims online, and can you speak to someone when needed?

Consumer NZ explains why getting the sum insured right is particularly important: most policies cap payouts at the amount specified in your policy. How to get the best house and contents insurance

My recommendation: get quotes from Tower, AMI, AA Insurance and Initio first, using the same rebuild value and comparable excesses. Then use Consumer NZ's house and contents comparison to help assess the cover, not just the price.

One question that would help narrow this down: is the house your own home that you live in, or a rental investment property? That affects which policies are appropriate.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

I prefer sorting out house insurance online. Which NZ house insurers should I look at?

When looking to sort out your house insurance entirely online in New Zealand, several major providers and digital-first insurers allow you to get quotes, customize your policy, and manage claims seamlessly through their websites or apps.

The top options to look at depend on whether you prefer a sum insured model (where you pick a fixed maximum payout limit) or an area replacement model (which covers full rebuilding costs regardless of inflation spikes), as well as how streamlined their online platforms are:

1. Digital-First and Direct Online Insurers

  • Initio: A proudly Kiwi, digital-first insurance provider known for having one of the fastest and slickest online quote-and-buy processes in New Zealand. Their platform handles standard homes as well as trickier properties (like rentals, holiday homes, or properties with flatmates) entirely online without forcing you onto a phone call.
  • Tower: Highly rated for its user-friendly digital experience (My Tower). Tower uses risk-based pricing (assessing specific natural hazard risks for your exact address) and offers a quick online quoting system, flexible tiers of cover (Standard, Plus, and Premium), and handy tools like an online sum insured calculator.

2. Major Mainstream Insurers with Strong Online Portals

  • AA Insurance: Consistently voted among New Zealand's most trusted general insurers. You can easily quote, buy, update details, and manage claims online via their customer portal, and they offer comprehensive benefits like full repair/rebuild cover extensions under specific terms.
  • AMI: One of New Zealand's largest and longest-standing insurers. Their My AMI portal and mobile app let you get quotes, buy policies, and track claims end-to-end online. They also offer features like temporary accommodation and sustainability upgrade cover.
  • State & NZI: Both are part of the IAG group (alongside AMI) and provide robust online quoting and customer self-service portals, though their specific policy wordings and optional extras vary slightly.

3. Specialist / Alternative Options

  • MAS (Medical Assurance Society): While traditionally known for servicing specific professional groups, MAS is widely recognized by independent consumer finance guides (like MoneyHub) for offering comprehensive protection—including area replacement coverage, which covers the full cost to rebuild your home even if construction inflation spikes significantly. You can initiate inquiries and engage with them digitally.

Tips for Shopping Online in NZ:

  1. Sum Insured vs. Area Replacement: Check whether the online quote is a sum insured policy (where you are capped at a specific dollar amount if the house is destroyed) or area/full replacement (which protects you against unexpected surges in building costs).
  2. Use Rebuild Calculators: Most of these sites (like Tower or Cordell-powered calculators) provide free built-in estimators to help you figure out an accurate rebuild sum insured so you don’t accidentally under-insure your home.
  3. Check the Natural Hazards Cover: Keep in mind that all residential house policies in New Zealand work alongside the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHC, formerly EQC) for natural disaster damage, but private insurers handle the claims process on their behalf.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

I prefer sorting out house insurance online. Which NZ house insurers should I look at?

AI Overview

Sorting out your house insurance online in New Zealand is highly efficient, as almost all major and challenger insurers now provide digital quote-and-buy engines.

Because NZ providers use highly localized, address-specific risk-pricing , the provider that is cheapest for your neighbor might be the most expensive for you. It is best to gather 3 to 4 digital quotes to compare.

Here are the key NZ house insurers to look at online:

The "Big Three" Direct Insurers

These main direct-to-consumer brands allow you to quickly punch in your address, calculate your estimated rebuild value using integrated tools like the Cordell Sum Sure calculator, and purchase immediately.

  • Tower Insurance : Often features highly targeted online promo codes (such as $200 off a new policy) and offers layered options (Standard, Plus, and Premium tiers) so you can adjust your coverage limits digitally.

  • AA Insurance : Highly rated for customer satisfaction, offering digital perks like member discounts, up to $40,000 for temporary accommodation, and replacement cover that can exceed your sum insured for specific non-natural disaster events.

  • AMI Insurance : Part of the large IAG network, AMI has a streamlined online system and frequently incentivizes digital sign-ups with competitive sign-on rewards, such as digital gift cards.

Challenger & Digital-First Brands

If you want a pure, ultra-fast online interface with minimal jargon, check out these nimbler options:

  • Initio : A digital-first property specialist backed by IAG underwriting. They specialize in 100% online setup and a self-service customer dashboard, making them a top favorite for both homeowners and landlords looking for speed.

  • State Insurance : Known for plain-language policies and a simple, "no small talk" online account setup designed for rapid digital approvals and claim tracking.

  • Trade Me Insurance : Operates completely online. If you live in an area verified as low-hazard by their mapping tools, they often pass the savings directly on to you via lower premiums.

Bank-Branded and Mutual Options

  • Your Main Bank : Major banks like ANZ (partnered with Vero), ASB , and Westpac (underwritten by Tower) let you manage and buy house insurance directly inside their online banking apps or web portals, making it easy to bundle with your mortgage details.

  • FMG (Farmers Mutual Group) : While famous for rural properties, they offer excellent online quote options for urban and semi-rural residential homes across NZ.

Shortcutting the Search

Instead of typing your address into five different websites, you can use Quashed , a free NZ digital platform. Their "Market Scan" allows you to plug your details in once and see online quote estimates from multiple providers stacked side-by-side.

To narrow this down, are you looking to buy a standalone home policy , or are you planning to bundle it with contents and car insurance for a multi-policy discount?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026