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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

My roof is leaking after a storm. Can I get someone to fix it now, or do I need to talk to my insurer first?

You can usually get someone to make your roof safe and stop the leak straight away — you generally don’t need to wait for your insurer’s permission to arrange urgent temporary repairs. In New Zealand, the best approach is to contact your insurer as soon as possible while taking reasonable steps to prevent further damage.

What to do right now

  1. Make the area safe

Keep away from sagging ceilings, water near electrical fittings, and any unstable roof areas. Don't climb onto a wet or storm-damaged roof.

  1. Take photos and videos

Photograph the leak, water damage, and anything visibly damaged by the storm before moving or repairing things, provided it's safe to do so.

  1. Call your insurer's emergency claims line

Tell them the roof is leaking after a storm. Ask whether they have an emergency roofer or preferred repairer and what temporary repairs they will cover. If you can't get through promptly, don't delay essential steps to prevent further damage.

  1. Arrange an emergency roofer if needed

Ask for urgent temporary weatherproofing, such as a safe temporary cover or patch, rather than a full roof replacement before the insurer has assessed the damage. Keep invoices and receipts.

Will insurance pay for the emergency roofer?

It may. If the storm caused sudden damage, your policy may cover eligible repairs, but payment depends on your policy and the insurer's assessment. Don't assume every emergency call-out or repair will be reimbursed. New Zealand's Natural Hazards Commission advises contacting your insurer before urgent work starts and keeping evidence of the work and its cost. Making urgent repairs :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeHome and contents insurance: How to make a claim

  • Temporary repairs: usually the priority is making the home safe and weathertight and preventing more damage.
  • Permanent repairs: wait until the insurer has assessed the damage and explained the next steps.
  • If you can't reach your insurer: if water is actively entering, take reasonable, safe steps to limit further damage and document what you do. Don't put yourself at risk.

Official guidance: Natural Hazards Commission — Making urgent repairs.

Let me help you work out your next step

One quick question: Is water actively leaking into your house right now, or has the leak stopped since the storm?

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

My roof is leaking after a storm. Can I get someone to fix it now, or do I need to talk to my insurer first?

When your roof is leaking due to a storm, your immediate priority should be to prevent further damage (a "make-safe" action), but you should also contact your insurer as soon as possible.

You do not necessarily have to wait for a full insurance adjuster site visit before taking emergency action, but you should avoid starting major permanent repairs until your insurer has logged and assessed the damage.

1. Take Urgent "Make-Safe" Action Immediately

Under standard New Zealand home insurance policies, you have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to mitigate or minimize further loss. If water is actively pouring into your house:

  • Protect your interior: Move furniture, electronics, and valuables away from the leak, and set up buckets or towels to catch water.
  • Safety first: If water is near electrical fittings or switchboards, turn off the power at the mains.
  • Temporary emergency repairs: If it is safe to do so (such as from inside or ground level), you can use a temporary tarp or arrange an emergency call-out from a roofer to patch the hole.
  • Keep all receipts: Take photos/videos of the damage first, and keep every receipt for emergency call-outs, tarps, or temporary fixes—these urgent costs are usually covered or reimbursable by your insurer.

2. Contact Your Insurer Promptly

Do not delay notifying your insurance company. Most NZ policies require you to report an event that may lead to a claim as soon as practicable.

  • Call your insurer’s claims line or lodge a claim online.
  • Let them know you have an active leak from the storm. They will advise you on whether they want to dispatch their preferred emergency tradespeople or if you can use your own contractor to get a quote.

3. What to Avoid Doing Right Now

  • Do not start permanent repairs: Avoid booking a full roof replacement or permanent structural repairs before your insurer has inspected or approved the scope of work. Doing unauthorized permanent work can complicate or invalidate your claim.
  • Document everything: Take clear, time-stamped photos and videos of both the exterior roof damage (if safely viewable from the ground) and the interior water damage (ceilings, insulation, walls) before you clean anything up.

Summary Action Plan:

  1. Stop the water: Use buckets, tarps, or call an emergency contractor immediately to prevent interior damage.
  2. Document: Take extensive photos/videos and save all receipts for temporary fixes.
  3. Notify: Call your insurer right away to start the claim process and check their preferred procedure for permanent repairs.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

My roof is leaking after a storm. Can I get someone to fix it now, or do I need to talk to my insurer first?

AI Overview

You can—and should—arrange immediate temporary repairs to make your home weathertight without waiting for your insurer’s approval. New Zealand insurance providers (such as AMI, AA Insurance, and Tower) explicitly expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage to your home and belongings.

However, you must hold off on permanent repairs until your insurer has assessed the damage and formally approved your claim.

🛠️ What You Should Do Right Now

  • Call an emergency roofer: Contact a local professional to perform "make-safe" or temporary work, such as tarping the roof or applying temporary seals to stop active leaking.

  • Do not climb the roof yourself: Storm-damaged and wet roofs are incredibly dangerous. Leave the inspection to a qualified tradesperson.

  • Document everything first: Before the roofer puts down a tarp or fixes anything, take extensive photos and videos of the damage from ground level, as well as the interior water stains and leaks.

📋 The Insurance Process

To ensure your costs are fully reimbursed, follow these steps while managing the emergency:

Step Action Required Why It Matters
1. Take Photos Capture wide and close-up views of the internal/external damage before any work begins. Serves as your primary evidence; once a tarp is down, the original damage is hidden.
2. Temporary Fix Have a professional make the home safe and weathertight. Keep the invoices. Insurers will generally reimburse reasonable emergency costs to prevent further structural damage.
3. Contact Insurer Lodge your claim online or via phone as soon as possible. Give them your policy number and details. This kicks off the formal assessment process and generates your claim number.
4. Professional Quote Get a detailed written report and quote from the roofer for the permanent repair. Your insurer or loss adjuster will review this to approve the final payout.

⚠️ Important Warnings

  • Gradual vs. Sudden Damage: Insurance covers sudden storm damage (like lifted iron or a fallen branch). It usually excludes gradual damage caused by wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or pre-existing rust. The roofer's report will help establish that the storm caused the breach.

  • Keep All Records: Retain every text, email, quote, invoice, and receipt from the emergency tradesperson. You will need to submit these to get your out-of-pocket emergency costs back.

If you would like help with the next steps, let me know what region of New Zealand you are in so I can recommend emergency roofing services, or tell me which insurance provider you use so I can find their direct claims contact details.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

My roof is leaking after a storm. Can I get someone to fix it now, or do I need to talk to my insurer first?

You can—and should—take immediate action to stop further damage , but you need to document everything carefully before permanent repairs begin.

  • Take immediate photos and video: Capture wide and close-up shots of the damage inside and outside (only from safe, accessible areas like the ground) before moving anything or starting emergency work.

  • Arrange urgent/emergency repairs: You do not have to wait for an insurer's formal sign-off to prevent further destruction (e.g., getting a roofing contractor to put a temporary tarp over a hole or stop an active indoor leak). Insurers expect you to mitigate loss.

  • Keep all receipts and invoices: Save every bill, quote, and report from the tradesperson who helps secure your roof.

  • Contact your insurer promptly: Notify your private house insurer as soon as it is safe and practical to do so. Let them know if you've already had to hire someone for an emergency temporary fix, provide them with your photos, and ask for their approval before any large-scale or permanent repairs commence.

If you'd like, let me know:

  • What type of roof you have (tile, iron, etc.)
  • Which insurer your policy is with

I can provide more specific guidance on their typical emergency repair protocols.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026