Search studies, brands and more…⌘ KExplore research

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

Which house insurance companies should I get quotes from in New Zealand?

If I were shopping for house insurance in New Zealand, I’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

State Insurance

Worth comparing alongside AMI, particularly for differences in excesses, optional benefits and the overall annual premium.

Website: 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

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

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

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

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

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

The quickest way to compare prices

Rather than filling in lots of forms individually, start with these two comparison resources:

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?

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

Which house insurance companies should I get quotes from in New Zealand?

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?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

Which house insurance companies should I get quotes from in New Zealand?

AI Overview

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

💡 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.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

Which house insurance companies should I get quotes from in New Zealand?

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?
Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026