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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

If our contents renewal has jumped, what changes are less risky than dropping cover?

If your home contents insurance renewal has jumped sharply in New Zealand, there are several ways to reduce the premium without giving up cover altogether. The safest approach is usually to adjust the policy, increase the excess carefully, or shop around before cancelling anything.

The key is to reduce the cost of smaller, manageable losses while keeping protection against a major loss, such as a house fire, burglary or extensive water damage.

The least risky changes to consider first

  1. Increase your excess

This is often the first change worth investigating. For example, ask for quotes with excesses of $500, $1,000 and $2,000.

You pay more towards a claim, but retain protection against a large loss. Choose an excess you could afford immediately if something went wrong. 8 ways to save on insuranceInsurance

  1. Check your contents sum insured

Estimate what it would cost to replace your belongings today, including furniture, appliances, clothes, computers and kitchenware.

If you've downsized or your existing estimate is too high, you may be able to reduce the insured amount. But don't cut it arbitrarily: replacing everything after a fire can cost much more than expected. House & Contents Insurance: Sum Insured ExplainedMAS Contents Insurance

  1. Compare a basic policy with your current cover

Ask insurers to quote for both your existing policy and a lower-cost alternative. Check whether the cheaper policy still covers major events such as fire, burglary and serious water damage.

Pay particular attention to replacement versus depreciated-value cover, accidental damage, and limits for jewellery, bicycles and electronics. How to get the best house and contents insuranceWhat Home, Contents & Car Insurance Don't Cover (NZ)

  1. Get competing quotes

Compare at least two or three other insurers, using the same sum insured and excess so you're comparing like with like. Check exclusions, claim limits and service as well as price.

Start with Consumer NZ's house and contents insurance comparison. House and contents insuranceBest house and contents insurance

  1. Ask about payment options and discounts

Ask whether paying annually is cheaper than paying monthly, whether a multi-policy discount applies, and whether any optional extras can be removed without losing important protection.

If cash flow is the problem, ask whether payments can be spread out or renewal dates staggered. 8 ways to save on insuranceConsumer Guides

What I would avoid cutting first

  • All cover for fire or major loss: these are the events that could be financially devastating to recover from yourself.
  • Replacement cover without checking the difference: a policy paying depreciated second-hand values may leave a substantial shortfall when you need new essentials.
  • Cover for valuables you genuinely need insured: check individual-item limits before removing specified cover.
  • The policy altogether, without exploring alternatives: going uninsured transfers the entire replacement cost of your possessions to you.

A practical way to choose

Compare the annual saving with the extra cost you would bear if you made a claim.

For example, if raising your excess from $500 to $1,500 saves $180 per year, you gain $180 annually but accept an extra $1,000 of risk at claim time. It would take about 5.6 years of that saving to equal $1,000, assuming the premium and cover stay unchanged and you make no claim.

The figures are illustrative, not a quote. The higher excess may still be worthwhile if you can comfortably afford it.

Let's narrow it down to your renewal

What has happened to your annual premium, and what is it now?

With those details, I can help identify which changes are most likely to make a meaningful difference while preserving the protection that matters most.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

If our contents renewal has jumped, what changes are less risky than dropping cover?

When contents insurance premiums jump, dropping coverage entirely leaves you completely exposed to the financial shock of theft, fire, or accidental damage. Fortunately, there are several levers you can adjust to lower your premium without taking on the severe risk of being uninsured.

Here are the most common and least risky changes you can make to your contents policy in New Zealand:

1. Increase Your Excess

  • What it is: The excess is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurer contributes to a claim (e.g., raising your excess from $400 to $1,000).
  • Why it's less risky: You remain fully covered for major disasters (like a house fire or total burglary), which is the primary reason to have insurance. You simply take on more risk for small, minor claims that you could potentially pay for out of savings.
  • Risk Level: Low, provided you have an emergency fund set aside to cover the higher excess if something happens.

2. Review and Adjust Your Sum Insured

  • What it is: The maximum payout amount for your contents. People often overestimate the total replacement value of their belongings, or they keep insuring items they no longer own.
  • Why it's less risky: If your sum insured is realistically aligned with what it would actually cost to replace your current belongings brand new today (using an online contents calculator provided by your insurer), you aren't sacrificing coverage—you are just eliminating "ghost insurance" on a bloated valuation.
  • Risk Level: Low to Moderate (only risky if you under-insure to chase a lower price, so ensure you calculate accurately).

3. Remove Optional Add-Ons You Don't Need

  • What it is: Optional extras like "pegs" on your policy, such as portable item cover (insuring expensive jewelry, laptops, or cameras while outside the home) or temporary accommodation allowances if you already have them elsewhere.
  • Why it's less risky: If you rarely take expensive items away from your home, dropping portable item cover slashes your premium immediately without touching your core protection against home-based disasters like fire or storm damage.
  • Risk Level: Low, as long as you carefully evaluate which optional benefits you actually use.

4. Improve Home Security

  • What it is: Installing or upgrading burglar alarms, deadbolts on all exterior doors, and window locks.
  • Why it's less risky: Insurers view secure homes as lower risk and frequently offer premium discounts for verified security measures. You reduce your likelihood of a break-in while lowering your bill.
  • Risk Level: None (this actually reduces your overall risk).

5. Shop Around and Compare Providers

  • What it is: Getting quotes from alternative New Zealand insurers (or speaking to an insurance broker). Loyalty rarely pays in the insurance market; new-customer discounts or more competitive underwriting models can often beat your renewal price.
  • Why it's less risky: You can maintain the exact same level of cover (or better) with a different reputable provider at a lower cost.
  • Risk Level: Low, just ensure you check the policy wording to make sure benefits and standard excesses match or exceed what you currently have.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

If our contents renewal has jumped, what changes are less risky than dropping cover?

AI Overview

When your contents insurance renewal jumps significantly, completely dropping cover leaves you exposed to devastating losses. In New Zealand, the average household avoids this "all-or-nothing" trap by using several lower-risk strategic adjustments to bring premiums back under control.

1. Increase Your Excess (The Fastest Strategic Win)

The absolute quickest way to lower your premium without reducing your overall protection against a major disaster is to increase your excess.

  • How it works: If your current excess is $500, raising it to $1,000 or $2,000 tells the insurer you will absorb minor, everyday costs yourself. In exchange, they drop your premium.

  • The Risk: You must be financially comfortable holding that higher amount in an emergency fund to cover it out-of-pocket if you do need to claim.

2. Switch to an Annual Payment Structure

If your budget allows, pay your premium annually rather than via fortnightly or monthly direct debits.

  • How it works: Most major New Zealand insurers (such as Tower and AA Insurance) add installment fees or interest to monthly billing. Shifting to a lump sum can immediately save you up to 10%–20% on the exact same policy.

3. Shop the Market to Avoid the "Loyalty Tax"

Do not assume your current provider is offering a competitive price just because you have been with them for years.

  • How it works: According to data from New Zealand insurance platform Quashed, Kiwi households that do not shop around pay an average "loyalty tax" of hundreds of dollars a year.

  • Market Shift: While insurers historically offered 10%–15% multi-policy "bundle" discounts, many major providers are phasing these out in favor of strict "risk-based pricing". Using comparison tools to split your policies across different providers often beats a standard bundle discount.

4. Right-Size Your "Sum Insured"

Review the total "Sum Insured" value stated on your renewal notice. This is the maximum cap your insurer will pay out if everything you own is destroyed (e.g., in a house fire).

  • How it works: If you set this number years ago, or it has automatically ticked upward due to inflation indexing, you might be over-insuring.

  • Action Step: Walk through your home and use an online calculator—like those provided by Tower—to realistically calculate what it would cost to replace your actual furniture, clothes, and electronics today. Lowering an arbitrary $100,000 sum insured to a more accurate $70,000 will instantly drop your premium.

5. Strip Out Unnecessary Add-on Benefits

Standard comprehensive policies frequently include premium "bells and whistles" that you can manually ask to remove.

  • How it works: Check your policy wording for optional extensions like mobile phone screen protection, high limits on specific individual items (like single pieces of jewelry worth over $3,000), or identity theft cover. If you do not own luxury goods that exceed the standard policy limits, strip these add-ons out to lower the cost.

Core Risk Comparison

Strategy Premium Savings Financial Risk Level Operational Impact
Increase Excess High Low–Medium (Only impacts you at the moment of a claim) None—retains maximum total disaster payout.
Pay Annually Moderate (10%–20%) None Hits your immediate cash flow once a year.
Shop the Market High None Requires time to compare quotes and switch.
Drop Cover Completely 100% Extremely High Out-of-pocket for total losses; also forfeits vital personal legal liability cover.
Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

If our contents renewal has jumped, what changes are less risky than dropping cover?

When your contents insurance renewal jumps, completely dropping your cover leaves you entirely unprotected against major disasters like a house fire, burglary, or major storm. Instead of taking that massive gamble, you can look at several lower-risk adjustments to trim your premium.

  • Increase your excess: Agreeing to a higher voluntary excess (the amount you pay out-of-pocket before insurance kicks in) lowers your ongoing monthly or annual premium. Just ensure you have that amount sitting safely in an emergency savings fund so you can comfortably afford it if you do need to claim.

  • Review and recalculate your sum insured: Check if you are accidentally over-insuring. Make sure your total replacement value reflects what you actually own today rather than an inflated guess, but be careful not to under-insure.

  • Strip out optional add-ons: Look for optional extras bundled into your policy that you may not actually need—such as specific accidental damage for portable items outside the home, high-end electronic add-ons, or pet cover if they are redundant for your lifestyle. [AA New Zealand]

  • Improve home security: Many New Zealand insurers offer discounts if you install certified burglar alarms, deadlocks, or smoke alarms. Letting your provider know about upgraded security can shave a bit off the cost. [sorted.org.nz]

  • Shop around and compare quotes: Loyalty doesn't always pay in the insurance market. Get quotes from a few alternative providers in New Zealand to see if you can secure a better baseline rate for a similar level of protection. You can check independent guidance via Sorted or tools like Consumer NZ to compare different provider features.

If you'd like, tell me:

  • How much higher the new premium is compared to last year
  • Whether you currently have any optional add-ons attached to the policy

I can help you figure out which specific levers might give you the best savings without leaving major gaps in your cover.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026