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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

Our house renewal is due and nothing major has changed. How should we decide whether to stay?

If your house insurance renewal is coming up in New Zealand and nothing major has changed, I wouldn’t automatically switch insurers — but I wouldn’t automatically renew either. It’s a good opportunity to check whether you’re still getting the right cover at a fair price.

The key question is: If you were buying house insurance for your current home today, would you choose the same policy at the renewal price?

How I’d decide whether to stay

1. Check that your cover is still right

Don't focus on the premium alone. Check:

  • The sum insured and whether it reflects the likely cost of rebuilding your home, including demolition, debris removal and professional fees.
  • Whether your excesses have changed.
  • Cover for natural hazards, retaining walls, driveways, garages and other structures, where applicable.
  • Exclusions, special conditions and any limits that matter to your property.

2. Find out why the price changed

Compare your renewal premium with last year's, including any changes to the excess, sum insured, taxes, levies and discounts. Even if your house hasn't changed, rebuilding costs, insurer pricing and natural-hazard costs may have.

3. Get two comparable quotes

Ask another insurer or broker for quotes using the same property details, sum insured and similar excesses. Compare the policy wording, not just the headline premium. A cheaper policy may have more exclusions or a higher excess.

4. Give your current insurer a chance

If a comparable quote is cheaper, ask your current insurer whether it can review the renewal price or offer a better option. Also consider the quality of its claims service and how easy it is to deal with.

A simple rule for making the decision

If this is your situation What I'd do
Renewal price is competitive and cover is good Stay
Renewal price has increased noticeably Get competing quotes and negotiate
Another insurer is cheaper with equivalent cover Consider switching
Current policy has better protection or claims service Staying may be worth the extra cost
You're unsure whether the house is adequately insured Resolve the cover question before choosing

In New Zealand, it's particularly important not to confuse your home's market value with its rebuild cost. Your sum insured needs to reflect the cost of rebuilding, and cover for retaining walls and other features can vary. See the guidance from Insurance Council of New Zealand and Consumer NZ's house insurance guide. House & Contents Insurance: Sum Insured ExplainedHow to get the best house and contents insurance

Let's make this specific to your renewal

If you share a few details, I can help you work out whether it's worth shopping around or whether staying is the sensible choice.

You don't need to share your exact address. Your insurer, the old and new premiums, and the type of cover are enough to get started.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

Our house renewal is due and nothing major has changed. How should we decide whether to stay?

Deciding whether to stay in your current home when a lease or renewal is due—especially when nothing major has changed—often comes down to balancing comfort against the broader market and your longer-term goals.

When your living situation is stable, it's easy to sign out of habit. Here is a practical framework to help you evaluate whether staying put is truly your best option right now:

1. Run the Financial Check

Even if your rent hasn't dramatically shifted, the surrounding market might have.

  • Compare market rates: Look at recent rentals in your suburb or town for comparable properties (number of bedrooms, condition, and location). Are you paying significantly above market rate out of loyalty or convenience, or are you getting a good deal?
  • Transaction costs of moving: Moving in New Zealand isn't cheap. Factor in the cost of bond transfer, truck hire or professional movers, utility connections, and potential cleaning or minor repair costs if you moved. Staying avoids these upfront expenses.
  • Future financial goals: Are you saving for a home deposit, a major life event, or trying to reduce debt? Stability allows you to keep a predictable budget without unexpected rent hikes or relocation fees.

2. Evaluate the "Friction" vs. "Stagnation"

Stability is a major asset, but it's worth checking if comfort has drifted into settling.

  • The landlord/property manager relationship: In New Zealand, a respectful, responsive landlord or property manager who respects your quiet enjoyment is worth its weight in gold. If you have a good relationship with minimal friction over maintenance, staying is a huge win.
  • Lifestyle alignment: Have your routines, commute, or social connections shifted over the past year? If you find yourself constantly traveling across town for work, hobbies, or family, a change in location might drastically improve your day-to-day quality of life.
  • Property condition: Are there persistent issues (like dampness, maintenance deferred by the landlord, or lack of insulation) that you've simply gotten used to? A renewal is your best leverage point to request healthy homes upgrades or minor cosmetic fixes.

3. Test Your Alternatives

Don't decide in a vacuum. Take a quick look at what's actually available on rental platforms (like Trade Me Property) without committing.

  • If you saw what was available for the same price today, would you pack your bags, or would you breathe a sigh of relief to stay where you are? If looking at the market makes you appreciate your current home, that's your answer.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

Our house renewal is due and nothing major has changed. How should we decide whether to stay?

AI Overview

Deciding whether to renew your lease when your personal circumstances haven't changed is a great opportunity to optimize your housing costs and lifestyle.

To make the right choice, you should weigh the implicit cost of moving against the potential benefits of the wider rental market. Use this step-by-step framework to make your decision:

1. Calculate the "Cost to Move" Threshold

Before looking at alternative properties, establish your financial baseline. Moving houses in New Zealand comes with hidden, upfront costs. Calculate your estimated moving expenses:

  • Physical moving costs: Professional movers ($500–$2,000+) or truck rental and petrol.

  • Overlapping rent: Paying rent on two properties simultaneously for a few days during the transition.

  • Cleaning fees: Professional carpet or exit cleaning to ensure you get your full bond back.

  • Time and effort: The cost of your time spent searching for listings, attending open homes, packing, and changing utilities.

Example: If moving will cost you $1,500 upfront, a cheaper rental would need to save you at least $30 a week just to break even over a new 12-month fixed term.

2. Review Market Conditions and the "Loyalty Discount"

Check active rental listings to see what similar properties in your area are currently fetching.

  • The Loyalty Discount: Landlords generally prefer keeping good, reliable tenants over risking vacancies, letting agency fees, and advertising costs. If your rent is currently at or slightly below market rate, staying puts you financially ahead.

  • Rent Increase Leverage: If your landlord has issued a rent increase notice with the renewal, compare the new amount against the current market. If the increase pushes it above market value, you have strong grounds to negotiate.

3. Evaluate Property Condition and Compliance

Even if your life hasn't changed, the property might have. Use the renewal window to evaluate the physical state of the home:

  • Healthy Homes Compliance: Ensure the property still meets the current standards for heating, insulation, ventilation, and moisture barriers.

  • Outstanding Maintenance: If you have submitted maintenance requests that the landlord or property manager has ignored, renewing your lease locks you into those unresolved issues.

4. Direct Comparison: Staying vs. Moving

Factors Staying (Renewing) Moving (New Lease)
Upfront Cost $0 High (Moving truck, cleaning, overlapping rent)
Cash Flow Predictable, existing rent structure Potential to find cheaper rent, but requires new 4-week bond upfront
Risk High certainty; you already know the neighbors, landlords, and house quirks Unknown variables (hidden house issues, noisy neighbors, difficult property managers)
Time Investment Minimal (signing a digital document) High (weeks of viewing, applying, packing, and sorting utilities)

🗺️ The Mechanical Sequence of Actions

  1. Request market data: Look up similar listings on local property portals to find the average rent for your house size and suburb.

  2. Draft a negotiation email (if rent is increasing): If the renewal comes with a rent hike, reply politely with evidence of market rates and highlight your track record as a reliable, clean tenant who pays on time.

  3. Decide on lease type: If you want flexibility, ask if the landlord will allow the tenancy to roll over into a periodic tenancy instead of signing a new fixed term. This gives you freedom to move later with standard notice periods.

To help tailor this strategy, is your landlord proposing a rent increase with this renewal? Knowing if you are currently on a fixed-term or periodic lease would also help narrow down your options.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

Our house renewal is due and nothing major has changed. How should we decide whether to stay?

When your fixed-term rental agreement is up for renewal and nothing major has changed, you should stay if the current rent aligns with local market rates and moving costs outweigh any benefits, but use the renewal window to evaluate market alternatives and request a shift to a periodic tenancy if you value long-term flexibility.

Factors to Consider When Deciding

  • Market Rent Comparison: Check current listings on platforms like Trade Me Property to see if your rent matches what similar properties are going for in your area. If your landlord is not proposing a rent increase and your rent is fair, staying saves you from a potentially higher-priced market.

  • Moving and Transaction Costs: Factor in the hidden expenses of moving in New Zealand, including truck hire, connection fees for utilities, cleaning costs, and the time required to pack and relocate.

  • The Default Periodic Option: Under Tenancy Services, if you are in a fixed-term tenancy and neither you nor your landlord gives formal written notice between 90 and 21 days before the end date, your agreement automatically rolls over into a periodic tenancy. Letting it roll over gives you ongoing flexibility without signing away another fixed block of time.

  • Property Condition and Maintenance: Consider whether any deferred maintenance issues or Healthy Homes compliance items (such as heating, insulation, and ventilation) need addressing. A renewal time is an ideal moment to request minor fixes or confirm that the property meets standard requirements.

If you'd like, let me know:

  • Whether your current agreement is fixed-term or periodic
  • If a rent increase has been proposed
  • What your ideal timeline or flexibility looks like

I can help you navigate your next steps with your landlord or property manager.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026