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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 buying my first house and haven't arranged house insurance before. Which NZ house insurers should I look at?

For a first home in New Zealand, I’d suggest getting quotes from a mix of the big direct insurers and (if relevant) a broker-based option. There isn’t one “best” insurer for everyone — premiums, exclusions, excesses, claims experience and how they assess your particular property can differ. Consumer NZ

Here are the main NZ insurers I’d put on your shortlist:

  • AA Insurance — A large NZ home insurer with a direct online quote process. It’s worth comparing, particularly if you already use AA services or want to bundle policies. Canstar
  • AMI Insurance — A common choice for home and contents cover, with online quoting and a broad range of standard home policy features. AMI Site
  • State Insurance — Another major household-name insurer; often included in first-home comparisons. Consumer NZ
  • Tower Insurance — A NZ-listed insurer offering home insurance with different cover options. Tower Insurance NZ
  • FMG — Particularly worth considering if you’re buying a rural property, lifestyle block, or have farming-related needs. ICNZ | Insurance Council of New Zealand
  • NZI — A long-established insurer often accessed through brokers and sometimes considered for higher-value or more complex properties. ICNZ | Insurance Council of New Zealand
  • Vero Insurance New Zealand — Often available through brokers and worth checking for properties where standard online options don’t fit well. ICNZ | Insurance Council of New Zealand

What I’d compare as a first-home buyer

Don’t just choose the cheapest premium. Check:

  1. Sum insured

    • This is the estimated cost to rebuild your home, not what you paid for it.
    • Make sure it includes demolition, debris removal, professional fees and current building requirements. AMI Site

  2. Excess

    • A lower premium often comes with a higher excess.
    • Consider what excess you could comfortably pay after an unexpected event.

  3. Natural disaster cover

    • In NZ, check how earthquake, landslip, flood and other natural hazards are handled, including any limits or exclusions. AMI Site

  4. Replacement vs capped cover

    • Understand whether the insurer will rebuild under certain conditions or only pay up to your insured amount.

  5. Claims reputation

    • A cheap policy is less useful if the claims process is difficult. Customer satisfaction and claims handling are worth weighing alongside price. Canstar

A simple first-home shopping approach

I’d probably get:

  • 3–5 online quotes (for example AA, AMI, State, Tower)
  • 1 broker quote if the property is unusual (older home, high-value, rural, unusual construction, flood/coastal risk)
  • A contents quote at the same time if you want everything bundled

Before settlement, your bank will usually want evidence that the house is insured from the settlement date, so don’t leave arranging it until the last minute.

If you tell me the type of house (new/older, standalone/townhouse/apartment), approximate value, and whether it’s in a high-risk area (coastal, flood-prone, hillside, etc.), I can suggest what to pay particular attention to when comparing policies.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

I'm buying my first house and haven't arranged house insurance before. Which NZ house insurers should I look at?

Congratulations on buying your first house! Sorting out house insurance for the first time can feel a bit overwhelming, but comparing options early ensures your biggest asset is properly protected before you move in.

In New Zealand, the house insurance market is broadly split between major nationwide insurers, direct-digital options, and specialized mutuals. The key providers to look at include:

1. The Major Household Brands (Sum Insured Models)

Most mainstream insurers in NZ operate on a "sum insured" basis. This means you and the insurer agree on a maximum fixed dollar amount it would cost to completely rebuild your house from scratch if it were destroyed.

  • AA Insurance: Frequently voted one of New Zealand's most trusted insurers, they offer comprehensive policies, helpful online management, and a reputation for smooth claims handling.
  • AMI & State: Both are major brands owned by IAG (New Zealand’s largest general insurer). They offer extensive coverage options, robust temporary accommodation limits, and widespread repair networks.
  • Tower: Known for competitive, risk-based pricing and easy digital quote-and-buy tools. They provide various tiers of cover (such as Standard, Plus, and Premium) and frequently run online sign-up promotions.

2. Independent & Online Specialists

  • Initio: A popular independent online insurer known for providing fast, transparent digital quotes—even for non-standard or trickier properties—often with competitive pricing.
  • Trade Me Insurance: Underwritten through partnerships (such as Tower), they offer straightforward digital policies geared toward online management.

3. Specialty Providers

  • MAS (Medical Assurance Society): Distinct from most other mainstream insurers because they are a mutual society offering area replacement coverage (rather than a strict fixed sum insured). This means if building costs spike drastically after a disaster or your home requires specialized materials (like a heritage villa), your actual rebuild costs are covered regardless of inflation. Note: While historically tailored toward specific professional groups, membership criteria have opened up.
  • FMG (Farmers Mutual Group): Particularly relevant if your first home is a lifestyle block, rural residential property, or located in a regional/semi-rural area, as they specialize in rural and provincial risks.

Key Decisions for a First-Home Buyer:

  1. Sum Insured vs. Area Replacement:
    • Sum Insured (offered by most insurers like AA, AMI, Tower, and Initio) requires you to accurately estimate your rebuild cost. If you underinsure, you could be left covering the shortfall. Most insurers provide online calculators (like Cordell Sum Sure) to help you estimate this.
    • Area Replacement (like MAS) covers the actual cost to rebuild the house footprint no matter how high construction inflation spikes, though premiums can reflect that extra security.
  2. Natural Hazards Commission (NHC / Toka Tū Ake) Cover:
    Regardless of which private insurer you choose, your house insurance automatically includes government-backed NHC cover (formerly EQC) for natural disasters like earthquakes, landslips, and volcanic activity, up to a statutory cap.
  3. Check Additional Benefits:
    Compare what each policy includes as standard versus optional extras. Look closely at limits for temporary accommodation (if your house is uninhabitable while being repaired), gradual hidden water damage (leaking internal pipes), and sustainability upgrades.

Next Step: Take 5 to 10 minutes to run online quotes with two or three of these providers using the exact specifications (floor area, building materials, and address) of your new home to compare pricing and policy inclusions side-by-side.

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

I'm buying my first house and haven't arranged house insurance before. Which NZ house insurers should I look at?

AI Overview

When buying your first home in New Zealand, the top insurance providers you should look at include MAS (Mutual Assurance Society) , FMG (Farmers Mutual Group) , Tower Insurance , and AA Insurance.

Because your mortgage provider will require proof of house insurance before your home purchase settles , sorting this out early is a critical step in the buying process.

Top NZ House Insurers to Consider

Insurer Key Highlights & Awards Best For
MAS • Consistently wins the Consumer NZ People's Choice award.
• Offers "Area Replacement" cover. Full peace of mind against unexpected rebuild price spikes.
FMG • Regularly scores highest alongside MAS for customer satisfaction.
• Renowned for top-tier customer service and claims handling. First-home buyers wanting highly rated customer care.
Tower • Awarded Canstar's Home & Contents Insurer of the Year.
• Employs risk-based pricing per individual address. Tech-savvy buyers looking for multi-tier choices and quick online setups.
AA Insurance • Extremely trusted brand with an established customer support network.
• Offers multi-policy discounts if you move your car insurance over. Bundling policies to secure loyalty discounts.

Note: Digital-first challenger brands likeInitio and Trade Me Insurance are also highly competitive online alternatives worth checking for fast quotes.

Crucial Concepts for First-Time Buyers

  1. Sum Insured vs. Area Replacement
  • Sum Insured (Most Common): You set a specific maximum dollar cap (e.g., $600,000) that the insurer will pay to rebuild your house. If building materials and labor costs surge after a major natural disaster, you are responsible for any deficit.
  • Area Replacement (Offered by MAS): You insure the house based on its total square meters. If it is destroyed, MAS pays the actual cost to rebuild it to its original size, regardless of inflation or spikes in building costs.
  1. The Natural Hazards Cover (NHC)
  • Every residential house insurance policy in New Zealand automatically includes government-backed natural disaster cover (formerly known as EQC).
  • This provides the first $300,000 (+GST) of cover for damage caused by earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity, or tsunamis. Your private insurer covers any damage that exceeds this limit.
  1. Address-Level Risk Pricing
  • New Zealand insurers price premiums based on the exact risks associated with your specific property address. Houses sitting on steep hillsides, in low-lying flood plains, or in high-earthquake zones (like Wellington) will attract significantly higher premiums.

Pro-Tips to Save on Your Policy

  • Increase your excess: Opting for a higher excess (the amount you pay out of pocket during a claim) will immediately lower your regular premium payments.

  • Bundle your coverage: Insuring both your new home and your car or contents with the same company usually qualifies you for a multi-policy discount of 10% to 20%.

If you would like to narrow this down, could you tell me what region the house is in and roughly how old the property is? I can give you more specific advice on regional pricing risks or building-age considerations.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

I'm buying my first house and haven't arranged house insurance before. Which NZ house insurers should I look at?

Buying your first home in New Zealand is an exciting milestone, and getting your head around house (building) insurance is a crucial step—especially since your bank will require proof of insurance before they will release the funds for settlement.

The major house insurance providers operating in New Zealand offer a mix of traditional full-service companies, direct-to-consumer digital options, and mutual societies.

Major NZ House Insurers to Look At

  • Tower — A prominent digital-first insurer that has frequently taken out industry accolades, such as Canstar’s Home & Contents Insurer of the Year. They offer flexible tier-based policies (Standard, Plus, Premium) and an easy online quoting system.

  • AMI & State — Both are major brands under the IAG New Zealand umbrella (one of the country's largest general insurers). AMI has a massive footprint and high brand trust across NZ with local branches, while State is another widely used sister brand offering comprehensive online and phone-based management.

  • AA Insurance — A joint venture between the New Zealand Automobile Association and Vero Insurance, AA consistently scores well for customer service and satisfaction in local consumer satisfaction surveys.

  • MAS (Medical Assurance Society) — A mutual society originally for health professionals but now open more broadly. MAS is well-regarded for offering unique "Full Area Replacement" policies rather than a fixed sum insured, which can protect you better against building inflation, and they frequently rank high in Consumer NZ People’s Choice awards.

  • Initio — A popular online-only, modern insurer known for quick digital policy setups and competitive pricing, making it a favorite for straightforward digital comparisons.

  • Bank-Partnered Insurers — Many major banks (like ASB, ANZ, BNZ, or Westpac) partner with underwriters like IAG or Vero to offer home insurance directly through your mortgage manager or banking app, which can sometimes net you a multi-policy bundle discount.

Key Decisions for First-Home Buyers

  1. Sum Insured vs. Full Area Replacement
  • Sum Insured: You pick a maximum capped dollar amount it would cost to rebuild your home. Warning: You are responsible for calculating this accurately to avoid being underinsured if building costs spike. You can use calculators like Cordell Sum Sure to estimate this.
  • Area Replacement: The insurer covers the full cost to rebuild your home to a similar size and standard, regardless of a strict cap (offered by providers like MAS).
  1. The Natural Hazards Levy
    Every residential building policy in New Zealand includes a government levy for the Natural Hazards Commission (formerly EQC), which provides baseline natural disaster cover up to a certain limit, with private insurance topping up the rest. [MoneyHub NZ]
  2. Get Multiple Quotes
    Premiums can vary significantly depending on your home's location (e.g., flood zones, soil types, or earthquake risk profiles), construction year, and roof type. It pays to run quotes across at least three different providers.

If you'd like to narrow this down, tell me:

  • What decade was the house built in? (e.g., pre-1930s villa vs. modern new build)
  • Where roughly is it located? (e.g., a high-wind or flood-prone region)

I can give you more specific tips on what type of policy or exclusions to watch out for.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026