# B-T04-H-01: Which house insurance companies should I get quotes from in New Zealand? Collected 11 October 2026 [Home and contents insurance study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/insurance/home-contents-insurance) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: 9a70cf12-e883-4787-b437-280681729dc7 If I were shopping for house insurance in New Zealand, Iā€™d get at least four quotes from different insurers, plus one comparison through an insurance broker or comparison service if available. The cheapest premium isn't always the best deal here, because natural-disaster cover, excesses, rebuilding costs and policy exclusions can vary significantly. ## House insurance companies to get quotes from These are the providers I'd put on your shortlist to compare. AMI Insurance A good starting quote for a mainstream home insurance policy. Compare its standard cover, excess options and discounts with other large insurers. Website: [ami.co.nz](https://www.ami.co.nz/) State Insurance Worth comparing alongside AMI, particularly for differences in excesses, optional benefits and the overall annual premium. Website: [state.co.nz](https://www.state.co.nz/) AA Insurance A useful quote to include in a broad comparison. Check whether membership or multi-policy discounts apply to your circumstances. Website: [aainsurance.co.nz](https://www.aainsurance.co.nz/) Tower Insurance Another important quote to obtain. Compare its premium and policy wording, especially natural-hazard cover, excesses and settlement terms. Website: [tower.co.nz](https://www.tower.co.nz/) FMG Particularly worth considering if your property is rural, lifestyle-block or farm-related. Confirm that your specific property type is eligible. Website: [fmg.co.nz](https://www.fmg.co.nz/) MAS Worth checking as an additional alternative, particularly if you're eligible for its products. Ask for a quote and compare the exact cover rather than assuming it is cheaper or more comprehensive. Website: [mas.co.nz](https://www.mas.co.nz/) These are a shortlist to approach, not a ranking of the cheapest insurers. Eligibility, availability and premiums depend on your property and circumstances. ## Two more I'd definitely add Initio A strong additional option for an online quote. Include it in your price comparison alongside the major brands. [initio.co.nz](https://initio.co.nz/) Cove Insurance A digital-first insurer worth comparing if you'd prefer to get a quote online. Its home insurance is underwritten by Vero Insurance New Zealand. [coveinsurance.co.nz](https://coveinsurance.co.nz/) ## The quickest way to compare prices Rather than filling in lots of forms individually, start with these two comparison resources: - [Consumer NZ ā€” house and contents insurance comparison](https://www.consumer.org.nz/money/insurance/house-and-contents-insurance/review). Its research compares policy features, excesses and customer satisfaction across nine providers. [Best house and contents insurance](https://www.consumer.org.nz/money/insurance/house-and-contents-insurance/review)[House and contents insurance](https://www.consumer.org.nz/money/insurance/house-and-contents-insurance) - [MoneyHub ā€” house insurance comparison](https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/house-insurance.html). Useful for side-by-side price examples and policy differences across providers. Remember that its published example quotes relate to specific property details and aren't predictions of your own premium. [Best Home Insurance NZ 2026: Compare Quotes & Save](https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/house-insurance.html) ## What to compare before choosing Don't compare premiums alone. Make sure each quote uses the same assumptions for: - Sum insured: enough to rebuild the house, including demolition, professional fees and other rebuilding costs. - Natural hazards: how the policy works alongside New Zealand's Natural Hazards Commission (NHC) cover, and what happens if damage exceeds statutory cover. - Excess: the standard excess and any separate excesses for earthquakes, storms, floods or other events. - Replacement terms: whether you receive rebuilding cover or a cash settlement, and what conditions apply. - Exclusions and limits: particularly retaining walls, driveways, outbuildings, gradual damage, leaks and flooding. - Premium changes: whether the quote includes introductory discounts that may not continue at renewal. ## My recommended shortlist If it were my house, I'd start by requesting quotes from AMI, State, AA Insurance, Tower, Initio and Cove. I'd add MAS and FMG as further options, depending on eligibility and property type. One important point: two brands may be backed by the same insurance group, so comparing a range of providers can be more useful than simply collecting lots of quotes. ## I can narrow this down for your property The best shortlist can change quite a bit depending on the house. Is it an owner-occupied home, a rental property, or a home you're buying? ## Gemini Answer ID: 266a9029-f9ce-4bfd-9d97-04cafe111897 When shopping for house insurance in New Zealand, it is best to get quotes from a mix of major providers and specialized digital insurers to compare pricing, excess levels, and whether they use a **sum insured** or **area replacement** model. Key companies to consider getting quotes from include: * **Tower Insurance:** Known for risk-based pricing and flexible coverage levels (such as Standard, Plus, and Premium) with digital quote options. * **Initio:** Popular for fast, instant online quotes, especially for non-standard or trickier properties. * **MAS (Medical Assurance Society):** A strong option if you qualify for membership, notable for offering traditional area replacement cover rather than a strict sum insured cap. * **AMI and State:** Major traditional insurers owned by IAG, offering robust policies with added benefits like temporary accommodation and repair guarantees. * **AA Insurance:** A widely trusted brand known for customer service and competitive comprehensive packages. *If you like, I can help outline what details (such as your home's floor area, construction materials, and location risk factors) you will need ready to get the most accurate quotes. Do you want me to do that?* ## AI Overviews Answer ID: 4e896093-9081-4ff1-a5e2-d72a6ce78b16 When looking for house insurance in New Zealand, you should request quotes from a mix of **established market leaders, top-rated customer favorites, and digital challenger brands** to ensure you get the best balance of price and coverage. Because Kiwi insurers increasingly use individual address-level risk pricing, quotes can vary drastically for the exact same house depending on the provider. 1\. The Highly-Rated Customer Favorites These companies consistently win the **Consumer NZ People's Choice Awards** and report the highest customer satisfaction scores in the country: * **MAS (Medical Assurance Society) :** Consistently rated number one for customer satisfaction. Notably, MAS is one of the only mainstream providers offering **Area Replacement** cover (paying the actual cost to rebuild based on house square meterage, which protects you if construction inflation spikes). _(Note: While historically restricted to medical professionals, they are widely open to the public)._ * **FMG (Farmers Mutual Group) :** A dominant force in rural and provincial NZ that also offers excellent residential house insurance. They score incredibly high on customer care and claims handling. 2\. The Major Industry Leaders These are the massive household names that write a significant portion of New Zealand's insurance policies: * **Tower Insurance :** A frequent winner of the **Canstar Insurer of the Year** award. Tower relies heavily on risk-based pricing per individual address, meaning if your property is in a low-hazard area (low flood/earthquake risk), they can offer highly competitive premiums. * **IAG Brands (AMI, State, and NZI):** IAG is the largest general insurer in NZ. * **AMI** and **State** allow you to quote and buy easily online. * **NZI** operates exclusively through insurance brokers. If you have a unique, historic, or high-value home, getting a broker to approach NZI or **Vero** on your behalf is a smart move. * **AA Insurance :** Extremely popular, offering solid multi-policy discounts if you already have your car insured with them. 3\. Digital Challengers & Online Specialists If you prefer a 100% online, fast dashboard experience, these tech-forward options are worth pricing out: * **Initio :** A heavily automated online specialist underwritten by IAG. They offer great, instant quotes for standard homes, holiday houses, and have excellent custom policies for landlords. * **Trade Me Insurance :** Offers direct online quoting with quick discounts if you are an active member of their ecosystem. * * * Quick Comparison of Quote Paths Provider Group| Best For| How to Quote ---|---|--- **MAS & FMG**| Premium cover, high customer service, area replacement options| Directly via their online forms or phone **Tower, AMI, State, AA**| Standard properties, multi-policy bundling discounts| Instantly online via their digital quote engines **Initio & Trade Me**| Quick digital signup, holiday homes, rentals| 100% online platforms **Brokers (NZI, Vero)**| Complex risks, historic villas, multi-unit buildings| Via an independent insurance broker šŸ’” Tips Before You Gather Quotes 1. **Calculate Your Sum Insured First:** Most NZ insurers (except MAS) require you to state a exact maximum dollar figure they will pay to rebuild your home. Use a tool like the **Cordell Sum Sure Calculator** to estimate this accurately before getting quotes. 2. **Check for Single-Event Excess:** If you plan to bundle your **House and Contents** together, check if the provider offers a "single excess" rule so you don't pay two separate bills if a single event (like a major storm) damages both the building and your stuff. To give you more tailored suggestions, what **type of property** are you insuring (e.g., a family home, a rental, or a holiday bach)? If you are comfortable sharing any specific **natural hazard risks** (like being near a river or coast), that could also help narrow down the best choices. ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 1ea4f81f-554e-41bd-93d6-a2bcefebda3c When shopping for house insurance in _New Zealand_ , it is wise to get quotes from a mix of major household names, digital-first insurers, and specialized mutual/rural providers. Because pricing in New Zealand is increasingly risk-based (factoring in your specific address, natural hazard risks, and construction type), premiums can vary significantly between companies for the exact same property. Consider getting quotes from the following key providers: Major Direct Insurers & Household Brands * * **AA Insurance:** Frequently top-rated for customer service and claims satisfaction, offering comprehensive policy features and multi-policy discounts. * **AMI Insurance:** One of the country's most established insurers with broad coverage tiers (such as their Plus products) and wide physical/online reach. * **Tower Insurance:** Noted for implementing address-level risk-based pricing and winning industry accolades like Canstar's Insurer of the Year. They offer flexible levels of cover (Standard, Plus, Premium). [Canstar NZ] * **State Insurance:** A major established brand under the IAG umbrella offering robust comprehensive house policies. * Alternative & Online Options * * **Trade Me Insurance:** Operates in partnership with major underwriters to offer competitive, digitally managed policies that often score well for value. * **Initio Insurance:** An online-focused insurer popular for straightforward digital quoting and flexible, comprehensive policy options. * **AMP:** Provides everyday home and contents policies that are worth including in a broad market price comparison. * Specialist & Mutual Insurers * * **FMG (Farmers Mutual Group):** Particularly strong if you live rurally, lifestyle block-adjacent, or in provincial New Zealand, with deep expertise in rural and semi-rural properties. * **MAS (Medical Assurance Society):** Operates on a mutual/member basis and is unique for offering full area replacement cover options rather than strict sum-insured caps (eligibility criteria apply). * **Bank-Offered Insurance:** Major banks like ANZ, ASB, BNZ, and Westpac partner with major insurers to bundle home insurance with mortgages, which can sometimes unlock specific package discounts. * Tips for Comparing Quotes * * Check independent comparison tools like Consumer NZ's House Insurance Review or MoneyHub's Home Insurance Guide to see side-by-side policy differences. * Pay attention to the **excess levels** , **temporary accommodation limits** , and whether the policy is based on a fixed **sum insured** or **full replacement**. * To help narrow down which policies suit you best, could you let me know: * Is your property **urban or rural**? * Do you prefer a **sum insured** or are you looking specifically for **full replacement** options?