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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

How can I estimate a realistic rebuild sum insured for my house without confusing it with market value?

A realistic rebuild sum insured is an estimate of what it would cost to demolish, clear, consent, and rebuild your house to a similar size and quality after a major loss. It is not the same as market value. In New Zealand, the market value usually includes the value of the land and location; the rebuild sum insured generally covers the physical improvements only. NZI Site

A practical way to estimate it

1. Start with the house itself

Estimate:

Floor area (m²) × rebuild cost per m²

The rate depends heavily on:

  • construction type (timber, concrete, masonry, etc.)
  • quality of finishes
  • number of storeys
  • design complexity
  • access to the site
  • slope and ground conditions
  • whether it is a standard home or architecturally designed

A simple three-bedroom home and a bespoke home of the same size can have very different rebuild costs. @VERO

2. Add items that are easy to forget

A realistic sum insured should usually consider costs such as:

  • demolition and removal of debris
  • council fees and compliance costs
  • architect, engineer, project management and other professional fees
  • GST
  • garages and carports
  • decks, fences, paving and driveways
  • retaining walls
  • pools, sheds, solar systems and other special features (depending on your policy) Police Association

3. Use an NZ rebuild calculator as a starting point

Many NZ insurers point customers toward the independent Cotality Sum Sure calculator (formerly associated with Cordell) to estimate rebuild costs. These calculators use property details and construction cost data to produce a starting estimate, but you should check that the details about your home are accurate. NZI Site

4. Adjust for your specific house

Increase the estimate if your home has features such as:

  • high-end kitchens or bathrooms
  • custom joinery
  • unusual materials
  • heritage features
  • difficult access
  • steep sections
  • extensive landscaping or retaining structures

For a large, high-value, architect-designed or unusual home, a quantity surveyor or other building-cost professional may be more appropriate than a basic calculator. Police Association

Things not to use as your rebuild sum insured

Avoid using:

  • your purchase price
  • your council rating valuation (RV/CV)
  • a real estate appraisal
  • the current market value
  • your mortgage amount

Those figures answer “what could the property sell for?” — not “what would it cost to rebuild the house?” NZI Site

A quick checklist before you settle on a figure

Ask:

  • Do I know my actual floor area?
  • Does the estimate include the garage and outdoor structures?
  • Are demolition and professional fees included?
  • Does it reflect my home’s build quality?
  • Have I updated it after renovations or major building-cost changes?
  • Have I reviewed it at renewal time?

If you share your house size (m²), approximate age, number of storeys, construction type, and any major features (garage, decks, retaining walls, high-end finishes), I can help you build a rough NZ rebuild estimate without mixing it up with market value.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

How can I estimate a realistic rebuild sum insured for my house without confusing it with market value?

Estimating a realistic house rebuild sum insured without confusing it with market value is one of the most critical steps for New Zealand homeowners. Underinsuring can leave you facing major funding shortfalls after a disaster, while tying your insurance to your property's sale price means you are likely paying for coverage you don't need.

Why Market Value and Rebuild Sum Insured Are Different

  • Market Value: This is what a buyer would pay for your property on the open market. Crucially, market value includes the value of the land.
  • Sum Insured: This is strictly the cost to completely demolish, clear, and rebuild your physical house (the "sticks and bricks") from scratch to its current standard. Because land does not burn down or wash away, land value must be entirely stripped out of your insurance calculation.

Example: If your Auckland home has a market value of $1,200,000, a large portion of that figure (e.g., $500,000) represents the underlying land. Your sum insured should only reflect the structure and site costs, which might be closer to $700,000. Insuring your home for its full market value means you are essentially paying insurance premiums on the dirt beneath your house.

Step-by-Step Guide to Calculating a Realistic Rebuild Sum Insured

1. Use Independent Rebuild Calculators

Most major New Zealand insurers (such as AA Insurance, Vero, and AMP) provide or endorse the Cordell Sum Sure Calculator.

  • How it works: You enter your address and property details. The tool pulls regional data to estimate a standard baseline rebuild cost per square metre based on your home's size, roof and wall materials, and slope of the land.
  • Actionable tip: Be precise with your measurements (including attached garages and total floor area) and features.

2. Ensure All "Hidden" Rebuild Costs Are Included

A common pitfall is only counting raw building materials. Your sum insured must explicitly incorporate these secondary expenses:

  • Demolition and Debris Removal: Clearing away twisted framing, burnt debris, or unstable foundations.
  • Professional Fees: Architects, structural engineers, and quantity surveyors required for modern council consents.
  • Council Consents and Compliance: Regional and district council fees.
  • Site Access and Slope: Difficult-to-reach sections, tight urban sites, or steep banks require specialized labour and machinery, which dramatically push up costs.
  • Outbuildings and Extras: Standalone garages, carports, swimming pools, retaining walls, paved driveways, and heavy fencing often need to be added explicitly depending on your policy limits.
  • GST (15%): Ensure your final figure factors in Goods and Services Tax on all construction and labour.

3. Factor in Regional Building Inflation

Construction costs fluctuate due to supply chain pressures and labour demands. Standard modern builds across New Zealand typically sit around $4,000/m², while high-spec or architectural finishes can easily exceed $5,000 to $8,500+/m² (with metropolitan centers like Auckland and Queenstown leaning higher). Always build in a buffer for inflation, as building costs rarely stay flat year-on-year.

4. Consider a Professional Valuation for Complex Homes

If your property is custom-built, heritage-listed, architecturally complex, or has an estimated rebuild value exceeding $2 million, online calculators may lack the granularity required. In these cases, hire a registered quantity surveyor or property valuer to perform a formal insurance replacement valuation.

Recommended Action Plan

  1. Run the numbers: Go to an independent tool like the Cordell Sum Sure Calculator and input your exact property features and floor area.
  2. Audit external structures: Walk your boundary lines and make sure features like retaining walls, decks, and fences are accounted for in the total sum.
  3. Review annually: Re-check your sum insured figure every 12 months (or immediately after undertaking home renovations) to prevent underinsurance caused by rising inflation.

Would you like help mapping out what specific property variables (like cladding or floor area) affect your regional build bracket?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

How can I estimate a realistic rebuild sum insured for my house without confusing it with market value?

AI Overview

To calculate a realistic rebuild sum insured, you must disregard what your house is worth on the market and focus entirely on what it would cost to build it from scratch today. In New Zealand, a "fixed sum insured" policy places a strict cap on what the insurer pays. If your house costs $900,000 to rebuild but your sum insured is set at $600,000 based on a outdated figure or market perception, you are responsible for the $300,000 shortfall.

Why Rebuild Cost ≠ Market Value

Feature Rebuild Sum Insured Market Value (or RV/GV)
Land Value Excluded. Land doesn't burn down or blow away. Included. Land often drives most of the value.
Hidden Costs Demolition, debris removal, council compliance, architects. None.
Driver Local construction materials, labor shortages, modern standards. School zones, supply/demand, emotional buyers.

Step-by-Step Estimation Framework

1. Gather Accurate Physical Specs

Do not guess your home’s footprint or mimic old policy paperwork without checking.

  • Verify Square Meterage: Measure accurately or check official council plans.

  • Audit External Assets: Walk the property. Your sum insured must cover everything: fences, driveways, detached garages, retaining walls, sheds, and swimming pools.

2. Estimate via the Core Paths

Choose your level of accuracy based on budget and property complexity:

  • The Free/Standard Path (Online Calculators): Most NZ insurers provide links to specialized algorithmic calculators like Cordell SumSure. Enter your address, verify materials (e.g., brick vs. monolithic cladding), and ensure it adjusts for local site conditions. Warning: Industry experts note standard online calculators can under-calculate unique or complex hillside builds by 35% to 50%.

  • The Precision Path (Professional Valuation): For non-standard homes, multi-story architectures, sloping sites, or character villas, hire a Quantity Surveyor (QS) or a registered valuer. They provide a formal reinstatement valuation factoring in modern compliance rules, special structural design fees, and exact local labor constraints.

3. Layer on Hidden Rebuild Costs

If calculating manually, your total sum must reflect the actual process of disaster recovery:

  • Demolition & Debris Clearing: Safely leveling a damaged structure and removing tons of waste to a landfill is incredibly expensive.

  • Modern Council Compliance: Rebuilding a 1950s house today means complying with current Building Code standards (better insulation, seismic engineering, revised plumbing), which costs significantly more than the original build style.

  • Professional Fees: Architect, structural engineer, and project management fees typically scale up the final invoice by 10% to 15%.

If you want to refine this further, let me know:

  • What is the approximate age of your house?

  • Is the property on a flat or sloping section?

  • Are there major external assets like large retaining walls or long driveways?

I can help you pinpoint specific regional risk factors to keep in mind.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

How can I estimate a realistic rebuild sum insured for my house without confusing it with market value?

Estimating a realistic rebuild sum insured means calculating what it would cost to clear the site and completely reconstruct your house from scratch at current industry rates.

The fundamental difference is that market value includes the price of the land and real estate demand (location, views, local school zones), which doesn't get destroyed in a fire or earthquake. Conversely, rebuild cost focuses strictly on physical materials, labour, compliance, and site clearance.

Step-by-Step Approach to Calculate Your Rebuild Cost

  1. Use an online construction cost calculator
    Most major New Zealand insurers and banks (such as AMP or Vero) provide free access to the Cordell Sum Sure Calculator (powered by CoreLogic). Entering your property address and specific architectural features generates a localized reconstruction estimate based on current regional building data.
  2. Measure your floor area accurately
    Calculate the total external square metre floor area of your home, including attached garages, structural decks, and outbuildings. Do not guess; pull up original council architectural plans or measure the perimeter if necessary. [AMP New Zealand]
  3. Account for all hidden reconstruction expenses
    A realistic sum insured must factor in elements that go beyond basic raw materials:
  • Demolition and debris removal: The cost to bulldoze and cart away damaged structural remnants.
  • Professional fees: Fees for architects, structural engineers, and obtaining new local council consents.
  • Regulatory compliance: Upgrades required to meet modern building codes (e.g., increased insulation or seismic requirements that older homes didn't originally have).
  • site access and logistics: Difficult sloping terrain, tight urban spaces, or remote regional delivery challenges that drive up labour costs.
  1. Factor in inflation and rising construction costs
    Building and labour costs fluctuate frequently due to supply chain pressures and inflation. Review and recalculate your sum insured figure annually or at every policy renewal.
  2. Consider a professional valuation for unique homes
    If your property is a high-specification architectural build, a heritage home, or complex to value, online calculators may fall short. Engage a registered property valuer or quantity surveyor to conduct a formal residential insurance cost assessment.

If you'd like, let me know:

  • The approximate floor size and number of levels of your house
  • The primary construction materials (e.g., brick, weatherboard, tile roof)

I can help you outline what specific cost categories you need to feed into a calculator.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026