Every question, every answer, every source

When comparing contents insurance in New Zealand, the most important thing is to find out exactly what each insurer means by “flood cover”. Two policies can both advertise contents insurance but treat flooding, stormwater, groundwater and gradual water damage very differently.

I’d ask every insurer the same questions, preferably by email or online chat, so you have written answers to compare against the policy wording. Don't rely solely on a sales representative saying you're “covered for flooding”.

1. The essential questions to ask

What types of flooding are covered?

• Does the policy cover my contents if water enters my home from surface flooding, overflowing rivers or streams, heavy rainfall, or overwhelmed stormwater drains?
• Am I covered if rainwater flows downhill from neighbouring properties or roads into my home?
• Is flooding from a blocked public drain, sewer backup or overflowing gully trap covered?
• What about groundwater rising through the floor, or water entering through foundations?
• Is flooding from a burst water pipe covered under a different section of the policy?
• Does the policy distinguish between a storm, flood, storm surge and coastal inundation?

Why this matters: An insurer may cover sudden storm damage but exclude certain types of surface water or groundwater flooding.

What if my home has flooded before?

• Will you insure my contents if the property has flooded previously?
• Do you impose special exclusions, higher excesses or lower payout limits because of previous flooding?
• If my home has never flooded but is in a mapped flood-risk area, will you still provide full cover?
• Do you use council flood maps, previous claims, property elevation or other risk information to decide whether to insure me?
• If I disclose a known flood risk when applying, will the policy still cover a future flood event?

Ask the insurer to confirm any property-specific restrictions in writing before you purchase the policy.

What restrictions apply during and after a flood?

• Is there a waiting period when I first take out cover? Does it apply to flood damage, and how long is it?
• If I change insurers, could the new policy have a waiting period even if I already have continuous cover?
• Are there restrictions if I leave the property unoccupied for an extended period?
• Would you cover contents damaged by floodwater that contains sewage, mud, silt or contaminants?
• Are cleaning, drying, decontamination and disposal costs covered?
• If floodwater damages some contents and I need to move the rest to safety, are the removal and storage costs covered?

Waiting periods are particularly worth checking: some policy wordings have a 48-hour restriction on new cover for storm or flood damage, subject to stated exceptions. NZI Distinction Contents Insurance Policy WordingContents Insurance Policy

2. How much would I actually receive after a flood?

Ask each insurer:

• What is the maximum total payout for flood-damaged contents?
• Are there separate limits for electronics, furniture, clothing, jewellery, appliances and other valuables?
• Are contents covered for replacement at today's cost, or for their depreciated value?
• Is there a separate flood excess, or does the standard contents excess apply?
• If floodwater damages several rooms or causes repeated damage over a few days, is that one claim or multiple claims?
• Are alternative accommodation costs covered if the home becomes uninhabitable, even if the building itself is insured by someone else?
• Does the policy cover the cost of removing and replacing damaged contents, or only their value?

Practical tip: Calculate the approximate replacement cost of everything you own, including furniture, appliances, clothing, computers and household items. A policy with a cheaper premium may not provide enough cover for a major loss.

3. What happens if my home is in a flood-risk area?

If flooding is a particular concern, these questions can be more important than the headline premium.

• Do you assess flood risk at an individual property level?
• Would a council flood-risk designation affect my eligibility, premium, excess or claims?
• Can you insure the property without excluding flood damage?
• Will you impose a flood-specific exclusion or a maximum payout for flood losses?
• If you offer cover with special conditions, can you list every condition in writing?
• Could my flood cover be reduced, restricted or withdrawn at renewal?
• If the property's flood risk increases in the future, how would that affect my policy?

If you've been told that a property is in a flood zone, give each insurer the same information and ask for a quote based on that exact risk. Don't assume that a policy is suitable simply because an online quote is available.

4. Understand the New Zealand natural-hazards distinction

In New Zealand, the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake provides NHCover for eligible homes and certain residential land affected by specified natural hazards. This is not a substitute for private contents insurance. Ask your contents insurer specifically how your belongings are covered in a flood. Cover for storm, flood, and landslide damage :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeNatural hazards insuranceInsurance and claims :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

You should also ask:

• If the flood damages both the building and my belongings, do I make separate claims?
• Who handles the contents claim if my landlord, body corporate or another party insures the building?
• If a flood damages the building and contents at the same time, are there separate excesses?
• Does the policy cover contents in a garage, shed, basement or other outbuilding?
• Does it cover belongings stored at ground level, in a low-lying room or in a basement?

These questions are particularly relevant to renters and people living in apartments, where building insurance and contents insurance may be held by different parties.

5. Compare insurers using the same checklist

Use this table while requesting quotes. You can fill in the answers for each provider.

Flood insurance comparison checklist

0 of 10

Surface flooding and heavy rainfallDoes the policy explicitly cover water entering from outside?

Stormwater and overflowing drainsAre blocked drains, runoff and sewer backup covered?

Groundwater and coastal floodingAre rising groundwater and coastal inundation covered?

Previous flooding or flood-zone restrictionsAre there exclusions, extra excesses or lower limits?

Waiting periodIs there a new-policy restriction or an exception for continuous cover?

Flood excessWhat amount would I pay towards a claim?

Total contents payoutIs the overall limit enough to replace my belongings?

Replacement valueAre items replaced new-for-old or settled at depreciated value?

Cleanup and temporary accommodationWhich related costs are covered and what are the limits?

Written confirmationAre all flood conditions documented in the policy or endorsement?

Copy questions for insurers

6. A message you can send to each insurer

Email

Subject
: Questions about flood cover under your contents insurance

Hello,

I'm comparing contents insurance policies in New Zealand and would like to understand your flood cover before choosing a policy.

Could you please confirm the following in writing?

1. Whether your policy covers contents damaged by surface flooding, heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers, stormwater runoff and overwhelmed drains.
2. Whether sewer backup, groundwater entering through the floor or foundations, and coastal inundation are covered.
3. Whether previous flooding or a property being in a mapped flood-risk area affects eligibility, excesses, payout limits or exclusions.
4. Whether there is a waiting period for flood cover, including when switching from another insurer.
5. The standard contents excess and any additional flood-specific excess.
6. The maximum contents payout and whether individual item limits apply.
7. Whether damaged belongings are replaced at new-for-old value or settled at depreciated value.
8. Whether flood cleanup, decontamination, disposal, storage and temporary accommodation costs are covered.
9. Whether any special flood exclusions or restrictions would apply to my property.

Please also direct me to the relevant sections of your current policy wording and let me know whether any property-specific conditions would apply to my quote.

Thank you.

My recommendation

Prioritise three things when choosing: clear cover for the types of flooding that could affect your property, no unexpected flood-specific exclusions, and a payout limit that would genuinely replace your belongings.

A low premium is less valuable if the event you're most concerned about is excluded.

For authoritative background, the Natural Hazards Commission's guide to storm, flood and landslide damage explains the scope of government natural-hazards cover and its limitations. For your decision, the private insurer's current contents policy wording and any special terms attached to your quote are what you need to check.