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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

Do I need a broker to get house insurance, or can I buy it directly?

No, you don't need an insurance broker to get house insurance in New Zealand. You can buy it directly from an insurer, often online.

The New Zealand Government's Consumer Protection guidance confirms that you can arrange insurance directly or use a broker. Some insurers only sell through brokers, while others deal directly with customers. InsuranceInformation sheet: Property insurance for standalone houses

Which option is best for you?

Buy direct

Good for straightforward homes

You get a quote from an insurer, choose your cover and manage your policy yourself.

  • Simple and convenient, often with online quotes.
  • You can compare insurers yourself.
  • You deal directly with the insurer for questions and claims.

Use a broker

Useful for complex properties or insurance needs

A broker can help you compare policies, identify risks and find suitable cover.

  • Helpful for unusual properties or difficult-to-insure homes.
  • Can save you time comparing different insurers.
  • May be particularly useful for rental properties, heritage homes or properties with previous damage or natural hazard issues.

How I'd approach it

  1. Get quotes directly from a few insurers.
  2. Compare the policy wording, exclusions, excess and premium — not just the cheapest price.
  3. Check your sum insured is enough to rebuild your home, including demolition and other rebuilding costs.
  4. Pay particular attention to natural hazard cover, flooding, landslips and retaining walls where relevant.

Consumer NZ generally recommends shopping directly with insurers to find the best price, while noting that a broker may provide useful support if you need to make a claim. How to get the best house and contents insurance

Where you can start

These are examples of providers offering direct house insurance options in New Zealand:

  • AMI
  • AA Insurance
  • Tower
  • State
  • Initio

You can also compare policies through Consumer NZ's house insurance comparison.

One important exception: if you're buying a house with a mortgage, your lender will generally require you to have suitable house insurance. That doesn't mean you must use a broker.

To help you decide whether direct insurance is likely to be straightforward in your case: is the house you're insuring your own home, a rental property, or a house you're about to buy?

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

Do I need a broker to get house insurance, or can I buy it directly?

No, you do not need a broker to get house insurance in New Zealand. You can easily buy it directly.

Most New Zealanders purchase their house (sum insured/home) insurance directly from insurers online or over the phone. However, both options—buying direct or using a broker (insurance adviser)—are readily available.

Buying Directly

Many major providers in New Zealand (such as AMI, State, AA Insurance, Tower, and online-focused specialists like Initio) allow you to get a quote and purchase a policy directly through their websites in just a few minutes.

  • Pros: Complete control over the process, fast turnaround, easy online comparison using consumer tools or direct site visits, and no need to schedule consultations.
  • Cons: You are entirely responsible for figuring out the correct sum insured (rebuilding cost), reading the fine print on policy exclusions, and handling any complex claims yourself.

Using a Broker (Insurance Adviser)

You can choose to work with an insurance broker who specializes in domestic property and general insurance.

  • Pros: Brokers assess your specific risk profile, help calculate an accurate replacement sum insured to avoid underinsurance, recommend policies tailored to your needs, and act as your advocate if you ever need to make a claim. For standard domestic policies, brokers are typically compensated via commission from the insurer rather than charging you an upfront fee (though you should always check their disclosure statement).
  • Cons: The process takes longer because it involves consultations, and some insurers only distribute specific products through broker networks rather than direct-to-consumer.

Summary Recommendation

  • Go direct if your property is standard (e.g., a standard residential home), you are comfortable reading policy wordings, and you prefer managing your quotes and policies independently.
  • Use a broker if your property has unique complexities (e.g., heritage features, lifestyle blocks, commercial elements, or a history of previous damage/claims) or if you simply want professional guidance and someone to handle advocacy at claim time.

Are you leaning toward a standard residential policy, or does your property have unique features that make you consider a broker?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

Do I need a broker to get house insurance, or can I buy it directly?

AI Overview

No, you do not need a broker to get house insurance in New Zealand; you can buy it directly from standard retail insurance brands.

While going direct is the most common path for standard residential properties, using an independent insurance broker is a highly viable alternative—and is increasingly recommended for complex, historic, or high-risk properties.

Buying Directly vs. Using a Broker

Feature Buying Directly Using an Insurance Broker
How it works You deal straight with the insurance company online or over the phone. A professional acts as a middleman between you and multiple insurers.
Typical Brands AA Insurance, State, AMI, Tower, MAS. Firms like Aon, Crombie Lockwood, or members of IBANZ.
Cost Structure Standard premium; no extra advisor fees. Often free to you (paid via commission from the insurer) or an added fee.
Best For Standard homes, new builds, and budget-conscious buyers. High-risk zones, heritage homes, or unique construction types.
Claims Support You manage disputes directly with the insurer. The broker advocates on your behalf to get claims approved.

Hidden Costs & Underwriting Trends

  • The Climate Premium: NZ insurers are transitioning aggressively to risk-based pricing. If a property sits near a coastal area, flood zone, or unstable cliff, direct online quoting engines may outright decline cover.

  • Toka Tū Ake EQC Co-dependencies: In New Zealand, government natural disaster cover (via the Natural Hazards Commission/EQC) strictly piggybacks on your private home insurance policy. If you cannot secure direct private cover due to high risk, you lose government cover entirely.

  • Broker Access: Brokers often have access to specialized or corporate underwriting pools that direct consumers cannot access, which is crucial if a property is deemed a "hard-to-insure" risk.

Recommended Strategy

  1. Check direct options first: Run the property address through direct online calculators (like AA or Tower) to establish a benchmark price and check for instant red flags.

  2. Pivot to a broker if flagged: If the direct insurers require specialized assessments, charge an exorbitant premium, or refuse to quote, engage a broker immediately to navigate the commercial market.

If you are currently looking at a specific property, let me know its general age , if it has any known natural hazard risks (like being near water or a slope), or if you have other assets (like vehicles) you want to bundle, so I can suggest the best route.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

Do I need a broker to get house insurance, or can I buy it directly?

No, you do not need a broker to get house insurance in New Zealand. You can easily buy it directly from most insurance providers online or over the phone.

  • Buying Direct: You can go straight to consumer insurers (such as AA Insurance, Tower, or banks like ANZ/Vero) to get a quote and purchase a policy yourself in just a few minutes.

  • Using a Broker: While not mandatory, you can choose to use an insurance broker or adviser. Brokers don't typically charge upfront fees (they are paid via commission from insurers), and they can be helpful if your property has unique risks, a complex build, or if you prefer professional guidance on setting your sum insured.

Would you like help comparing direct insurers versus using a broker , or are you looking for recommendations on how to calculate your rebuild cost?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026