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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 thinking of buying a house in Manawatū–Whanganui. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

Yes. If you’re looking at buying in Manawatū–Whanganui, there are several regional factors that could affect whether a house is easy to insure, what exclusions apply, and how much you pay. The biggest issues are generally flood risk, earthquake risk, slips, and storm exposure. Manawatū Whanganui CDEM

Things that may affect insurance

1. Flood risk (often the biggest consideration)

The region has many rivers and flood plains, and flooding is one of its most common major hazards. Properties near rivers, streams, drainage channels, or on low-lying land may face higher premiums, higher excesses, additional conditions, or difficulty obtaining full cover. Manawatū Whanganui CDEM

When viewing a property, check:

  • Whether it is on a mapped flood plain
  • Whether it has flooded before
  • Whether the driveway, garage, or lower levels sit below surrounding land
  • Whether the LIM report mentions flooding or drainage issues

A property that has previously flooded may be much harder (or more expensive) to insure than a similar-looking property nearby. Settled.govt.nz

2. Earthquake and ground stability

Manawatū–Whanganui has active faults in and around the region, and earthquakes can also trigger secondary problems such as landslips or ground deformation. Manawatū Whanganui CDEM

Insurers may pay attention to:

  • Older homes with vulnerable foundations
  • Unreinforced masonry or brick features
  • Houses on slopes
  • Retaining walls
  • Signs of previous earthquake or settlement damage

A pre-purchase inspection is particularly useful for foundations, drainage, retaining walls, and structural issues. Natural Hazards Commission

3. Slips and hillside properties

If you’re considering a rural property or a house on a slope, check for:

  • Steep land above or below the house
  • Cracks in retaining walls
  • Drainage problems
  • Evidence of past slips

Landslides can be triggered by heavy rain or earthquakes, and some properties may need extra assessment. Natural Hazards Commission

4. Storm and wind exposure

The region experiences severe weather events including strong winds, heavy rain, and storms that can damage roofs, trees, and infrastructure. Manawatū Whanganui CDEM

Insurers may look at:

  • Roof age and condition
  • Large trees close to the house
  • Outbuildings and sheds
  • Rural access roads that could be affected during storms

Before making an offer, I’d suggest:

  1. Ask an insurer for a quote on the exact address (not just the suburb/town). This can reveal issues that aren’t obvious from the listing.
  2. Read the LIM report for hazard notices, flooding history, drainage issues, and council records. Settled.govt.nz
  3. Check hazard maps through council and the Natural Hazards Portal. Natural Hazards Commission
  4. Ask the seller whether insurance has ever been declined, restricted, or unusually expensive.
  5. Get a building inspection, especially for older homes or anything near waterways or slopes. Natural Hazards Commission

Manawatū–Whanganui is a large region, so the insurance picture can vary a lot between an elevated inland property, a riverside home, and a rural lifestyle block. If you have a specific property (or even just the general type: town house, rural block, river-adjacent, older villa, etc.), I can help you identify the main insurance questions to ask.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

I'm thinking of buying a house in Manawatū–Whanganui. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

When buying a house in the Manawatū–Whanganui region, several region-specific environmental and geographic factors can influence house insurance availability, conditions, and pricing.

Insurers in New Zealand increasingly use granular, address-by-address risk-based pricing. Key factors to watch out for across the region include:

1. Flood and River Risks

  • Waterways and Low-Lying Areas: Manawatū–Whanganui features major river systems (such as the Whanganui and Manawatū rivers) and several flood-prone lowlands. Properties situated close to rivers, streams, or in historical flood plains often face higher risk ratings from insurers.
  • Impact on Insurance: For high-risk flood zones, insurance premiums can be significantly elevated, excess amounts for water damage may be higher, or securing comprehensive cover can require more targeted vetting. Insurers check historical weather event data and local council flood maps for the specific address.

2. Landslips, Slopes, and Erosion

  • Hilly Terrain and Coastal/River Cliffs: Parts of the region feature steep topography, hill country, and soft or erodible soil types (such as loess or mudstone/papa rock country) prone to slips during heavy, prolonged rainfall.
  • Impact on Insurance: Properties built on or near slopes, steep banks, or cliffs will face landslip risk assessments. If a property has a history of instability or features major retaining walls, insurers will closely evaluate these structures. Note that while the government-backed Natural Hazards Commission (NHC, formerly EQC) provides some baseline land cover after disasters, private insurers closely scrutinize land stability before onboarding a risk.

3. Seismic Activity

  • Earthquake Fault Lines: Like much of New Zealand, the region sits across active tectonic zones and fault networks.
  • Impact on Insurance: Earthquake risk is factored into premiums nationwide, but older properties or those with specific structural vulnerabilities (such as unreinforced brick, mixed foundation types, or a lack of modern seismic bracing) may face higher quotes or specific policy exclusions until remediated.

What you should do before buying:

  • Request a LIM (Land Information Memorandum) Report: This will show you if the local council has recorded any hazards, erosion issues, flooding history, or issued any notices (such as a Section 72 notice under the Building Act, which flags known natural hazard risks and can impact future insurance claims).
  • Check the Natural Hazards Portal: Use public mapping tools provided by the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake to check past claims and hazard profiles for the area.
  • Get Insurance Quotes Early: Do not wait until you are unconditional. Because insurers use precise address-level risk modeling, run the specific property address through multiple insurance providers early in your due diligence phase to understand what your ongoing premiums and excess conditions will look like.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

I'm thinking of buying a house in Manawatū–Whanganui. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

AI Overview

Yes, buying a house in the Manawatū–Whanganui region can be affected by specific regional natural hazards—particularly river flooding , landslips , and slope instability —as well as national risk-pricing shifts by private insurers.

Key Factors That Can Affect Insurance

  • Flood and Storm Risks: Parts of the region (such as low-lying areas near the Whanganui River, Manawatū River, or smaller tributaries) have a history of significant flood events. Insurers increasingly use detailed risk-mapping (looking at overland flow paths and flood zones), which can mean higher premiums, specific flood exclusions, or stricter terms if a property is in a high-risk flood zone.

  • Landslips and Slope Instability: Hilly or elevated terrain across Whanganui, the Manawatū Gorge surrounds, or local slopes carries a risk of landslips during heavy rainstorms. Landslides and slope failures are heavily factored into modern risk-based pricing by insurers.

  • Section 72 Notices: If a local council has issued a notice under the Building Act (such as a Section 72 notice) due to natural hazards like erosion, landslips, or inundation, it can restrict or complicate how the Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) Toka Tū Ake or private insurers handle claims or coverage.

  • Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) Cover: Any residential property with a private home insurance policy that includes fire cover automatically receives basic natural hazard protection (NHCover) for earthquakes, landslides, floods, and storms up to $345,000 (incl. GST) for the dwelling. However, NHC flood and storm cover for land has specific limits, and private insurance must top up what the NHC does not cover.

  • Previous Claims and History: Insurers and the NHC track past natural disaster and landslip claims. A property with an active or unresolved claim history can face delays or extra scrutiny.

Practical Steps Before You Buy

  • Check the Land and Hazard Maps: Look up the local council’s Land Information Memorandum (LIM) report and check the property on hazard mapping portals.

  • Get an Insurance Quote Early: Do not wait until after you go unconditional. Speak directly with an insurance broker or insurer to confirm whether the specific address is insurable and what the annual cost or excess will be.

  • Request Past Claim Histories: You can check or request past NHC/EQC claim information for a specific address through the Natural Hazards Commission Portal.

If you'd like, share:

  • The specific town or suburb you are looking at (e.g., Whanganui, Palmerston North, Feilding)
  • Whether the property is close to a river, slope, or coast

I can give you more specific details about the local hazard profile.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

I'm thinking of buying a house in Manawatū–Whanganui. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

Buying a house in the Manawatū–Whanganui region comes with specific regional characteristics that insurance companies will evaluate when pricing or structuring your policy. Insurers in New Zealand increasingly use granular, property-specific risk mapping, meaning the exact location and elevation of the house matter significantly.

Key regional factors that could affect your ability to get house insurance or influence your premiums include:

  • Flood Risk: The region features major river systems, including the Manawatū and Whanganui Rivers, alongside extensive low-lying plains and tributaries. Properties located near floodplains, low-lying areas, or close to riverbanks may face higher premiums, specific flood excesses, or stricter underwriting criteria. Insurers cross-reference regional council hazard maps (such as those from Horizons Regional Council) to assess historical inundation risks.

  • Seismic and Fault Activity: While not sitting directly on the highest-risk coastal fault lines, the region is influenced by active fault systems and regional subduction zones. Seismic risk is factored into all residential building insurance, which also ties into the government-backed Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (formerly EQC) levy included in your policy.

  • High Winds: Parts of the region—particularly areas exposed to the funneling effects around the Manawatū Gorge and open plains—experience severe and frequent gales. Wind-related roof or structural damage is a regular consideration for underwriting. [www.buildingsinsurance.co.nz]

  • Land Stability and Slips: Hilly or rolling rural-residential areas, as well as properties built on or near steep slopes or river cliffs (common throughout parts of Whanganui and interior rural sectors), carry localized landslide or erosion risks that insurers evaluate closely.

Before you put in an offer, would you like advice on how to check a specific property's hazard profile , or steps to get an insurance pre-check before going unconditional?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026