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Yes. In New Zealand, there are several ways to shop around for home insurance when your house is near a river, without concealing the flood risk or giving up important protection.

The key is to get insurers to assess the same accurate information about your property, then compare not just the premium but also what each policy would actually cover if the river flooded.

1. Try these ways to find better quotes

• Use an independent insurance broker. A broker can approach multiple insurers, explain the property's flood exposure and look for insurers willing to consider it. Ask whether they can access specialist or non-standard underwriting options, not just standard online quotes.
• Approach insurers directly as well. Different insurers can assess flood exposure differently, so a refusal or high premium from one company doesn't necessarily mean every insurer will offer the same terms.
• Ask for alternative policy structures. For example, ask whether the insurer can offer a higher excess for flood damage, a different excess specifically for flooding, or cover with clearly defined flood-related exclusions. Compare the financial risk before accepting a cheaper policy.
• Ask your current insurer for a review. If the premium has increased, ask what is driving the price and whether updated property information, risk-mitigation measures or a different excess would change the quote.
• Compare home and contents insurance separately. A cheaper combined package isn't necessarily better if the contents policy has restrictive flood exclusions or limits.

2. Make your property easier for insurers to assess

Prepare a small information pack before requesting quotes. This can help insurers distinguish between a house that is genuinely exposed to flooding and one that is near a river but has a lower level of risk.

Include, where available:

• Flood history: whether the house or land has flooded, when it happened and the depth of any water.
• Council flood information: flood hazard maps, floor-level information and any available property-specific assessments.
• House details: floor height, construction, drainage and whether living areas or essential equipment are elevated.
• Risk-reduction work: drainage improvements, flood barriers or other measures already installed.
• Previous insurance history: claims, declined applications and any special terms imposed by earlier insurers.

Be factual about what you know, and don't describe an unverified property as flood-free. The Insurance Council of New Zealand specifically identifies flood exposure as a risk that may need to be disclosed. Duty of Disclosure: What to Tell Your InsurerWhat do I need to know about insurance?

3. Compare the cover, not just the premium

What to check	Why it matters
Flood damage to the house	Is river flooding covered, limited or excluded?
Contents cover	Are furniture, appliances and belongings covered after a flood?
Flood excess	How much would you pay yourself for a claim?
Gradual water ingress	Is damage from rising groundwater or ongoing seepage excluded?
Rebuilding costs	Would the sum insured cover rebuilding the house?
Land and retaining structures	What damage is covered, and what is excluded?

Pay particular attention to exclusions that use terms such as flooding, surface water, stormwater, overflow and groundwater. The wording can matter more than the insurer's general description of the policy. What Home, Contents & Car Insurance Don't Cover (NZ)Cover for storm, flood, and landslide damage :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

Also, don't assume that Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) cover will pay for all river-flood damage to your house. Ask your insurer to explain which parts of a flood loss are covered by your home policy and which, if any, fall under NHC cover. Cover for storm, flood, and landslide damage :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeAbout natural hazards cover :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

4. What to say when requesting quotes

You can use this message with a broker or insurer:

Email

Subject
: Home insurance quote request – property near a river

Hello,

I'm looking for competitive home and contents insurance for my property, which is located near a river.

I want to be transparent about the property's flood exposure and ensure that any quote accurately reflects the risks. I'm interested in comparing insurers, premiums, excesses and the actual extent of flood cover available.

Could you please advise:

• Whether you can obtain quotes from multiple insurers, including any that consider properties with flood exposure.
• What property information or flood assessments you need from me.
• Whether river flooding is covered, subject to an excess, or excluded under the available policies.
• Whether any risk-reduction measures or additional property information could affect the premium or terms.

I'd appreciate options that balance affordability with meaningful protection against flood damage.

Kind regards

5. Useful New Zealand resources

• Consumer Protection NZ — Insurance: guidance on brokers, shopping around and disclosure requirements.
• Insurance Council of New Zealand — Consumer guides: guidance on insurance exclusions, disclosure, excesses and pricing.
• Natural Hazards Commission — Storm, flood and landslide damage: explains the role of natural hazards cover.

Let’s narrow down the best approach for your house

One detail would help me make the next steps more specific: has the house itself ever flooded, or is it near a river that creates a mapped or potential flood risk?

That distinction can help guide which documentation to gather, what questions to ask insurers and how to approach a broker.