Search studies, brands and more…⌘ KExplore research

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

What should I compare across NZ contents policies beyond the insured value and premium?

When comparing contents insurance policies in New Zealand, look beyond the insured value and premium to how well each policy would actually protect your belongings, what you would receive after a claim, and how easy it would be to make that claim.

A cheaper policy can end up costing you more if it has higher excesses, tighter exclusions or lower limits on valuable items.

10 things to compare

1. Accidental damage

Does the policy cover everyday mishaps, such as spilling coffee on a laptop, breaking a TV or accidentally damaging furniture? Check whether this is included automatically or costs extra, and whether cover applies inside and outside the home.

2. Limits on valuable items

Compare the individual limits for jewellery, watches, bicycles, cameras, laptops, artwork, collections and cash. A policy can have a generous total sum insured but a much lower limit for a particular category. Check whether expensive items must be individually specified. House & Contents Insurance: Sum Insured ExplainedMake a change to a Contents Policy

3. Cover away from home

Are belongings covered when you take them to work, university, on holiday or overseas? Check the geographical limits, theft conditions, unattended-item exclusions and whether items in a car are covered.

4. Exclusions and hidden gaps

Read the exclusions for gradual leaks, mould, wear and tear, pests, pet damage, unoccupied homes and business equipment. Also check whether resulting damage from a leak is treated differently from the cost of repairing the leaking pipe itself. What Home, Contents & Car Insurance Don't Cover (NZ)How to get the best house and contents insurance

5. Natural disaster cover

Compare cover for earthquake, flood, storm, landslip and other relevant natural hazards. Check whether contents damage is covered, what excess applies and whether any event-specific limits or exclusions exist. Don't assume building insurance arrangements automatically cover your belongings. How to get the best house and contents insuranceAbout natural hazards cover :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

6. Replacement versus present value

If something is destroyed, will the insurer pay for a new equivalent item or its depreciated value? Check which rules apply to electronics, clothing, furniture and older belongings. Some policies offer new-for-old cover only for eligible items. InsuranceHouse & Contents Insurance: Sum Insured Explained

7. Temporary accommodation, moving and storage

If your home becomes uninhabitable, does the policy help with temporary accommodation, moving or storing your belongings? Check limits, qualifying events, waiting periods and how long benefits last. Also compare cover while moving house or using a storage facility.

8. Excesses and claim costs

Compare the standard excess, voluntary excess and any higher excesses for specific events. Ask whether you pay a separate excess for each claim or benefit arising from one incident. A low premium may not be worthwhile if you would struggle to afford the excess. InsuranceDistinction Contents Insurance / Policy wording

9. Personal liability

Compare the liability limit and what it covers if you accidentally injure someone or damage another person's property. Check exclusions and whether family members living with you are covered. Liability protection is distinct from cover for your own possessions.

10. Claims experience and policy flexibility

Compare customer satisfaction, complaints handling, claims support, repair or replacement options, and how easy it is to update cover. Check discounts, payment fees, renewal increases and whether the insurer can change terms at renewal. Customer reviews can help, but look for independent comparisons too. House and contents insuranceHow to get the best house and contents insurance

A practical comparison table

Use this checklist when reviewing quotes. The exact policy wording and schedule matter more than the marketing summary.

Your policy checklist

0 of 10 reviewed

Accidental damageIncluded / optional / excluded

Valuables sub-limitsLimits and specified-item rules

Away-from-home coverNZ / worldwide / restricted

ExclusionsLeaks, mould, pets, vacancy, business use

Natural disastersCovered events and excesses

Settlement basisReplacement / present value / mixed

Extra benefitsAccommodation, storage, moving

ExcessStandard and event-specific

Personal liabilityLimit and exclusions

Service and flexibilityClaims support, renewal, fees

Copy checklist

What matters most in New Zealand?

I would prioritise these four areas when narrowing down your options:

  • The actual payout: replacement cover, item-specific limits and depreciation rules.
  • The big-loss scenarios: fire, earthquake, flood and other insured events, including the relevant excesses.
  • Your lifestyle: portable electronics, jewellery, bicycles, children’s belongings, flatting or working from home.
  • The contract's exclusions: particularly circumstances that could leave you uninsured when you expect to be covered.

For independent guidance, start with Consumer NZ's house and contents insurance buying guide and the Insurance Council of New Zealand's consumer guides. How to get the best house and contents insuranceConsumer Guides

One final tip: compare the policy wording, not just the quote summaries. For each insurer, try the same hypothetical claim — for example, a stolen laptop, a broken television or contents damaged by an earthquake — and work out what you would actually receive after exclusions, limits and excesses.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

What should I compare across NZ contents policies beyond the insured value and premium?

When comparing house contents insurance policies in New Zealand, looking beyond just the insured value (sum insured) and the price (premium) is essential to ensure you are properly protected.

Key policy components to evaluate and compare include:

1. Scope of Cover: Comprehensive vs. Fire & Theft (Essentials)

  • Comprehensive Cover: Typically protects your belongings against a wide range of accidental loss or damage anywhere in New Zealand (and sometimes temporarily in Australia or the South Pacific Islands), including accidental breakage.
  • Fire & Theft / Essentials Cover: A budget-friendly option that usually only covers specific, named events like fire, storm, flood, and burglary, leaving you unprotected against common accidental mishaps inside the home.

2. Settlement Basis: New-for-Old vs. Indemnity Value

  • New-for-Old (Replacement): Replaces damaged or stolen items with brand-new equivalents of similar quality, regardless of how old your original items were. This is standard for most comprehensive policies.
  • Indemnity Value: Accounts for depreciation. If an item is old, the payout will reflect its depreciated, second-hand market value rather than what it costs to buy a new replacement.

3. Sub-Limits and Single-Item Limits

Policies frequently cap payouts for specific categories of high-value goods, even if your overall sum insured is high. Check limits for:

  • Jewellery, watches, and precious items
  • Fine art, collections, and furs
  • Business equipment or tools of trade kept at home
  • Bicycles and e-bikes
  • Note: Items exceeding standard category limits must usually be explicitly "specified" on the policy for an extra cost.

4. Excess Structures

  • Standard Excess: The baseline amount you pay out-of-pocket per claim. Opting for a higher excess lowers your premium, and vice-versa.
  • Special Excesses: Check whether the insurer applies unique or higher excesses for specific types of claims (such as storm, flood, or earthquake risks common to certain regions).
  • Excess-Free Benefits: Some providers waive excesses for specific minor claims, such as replacement keys/locks, spectacles, or dentures.

5. Included "Automatic" Extras and Sub-Limits

Policies often bundle extra benefits that vary significantly between providers. Look out for:

  • Temporary Accommodation: The maximum amount or duration the insurer will pay if your rental or home becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event.
  • Legal Liability: Coverage if you accidentally injure someone or damage someone else's property (often standard up to two million dollars).
  • Gradual Damage: Cover for accidental damage caused by hidden internal water/pipe leaks (some insurers offer up to a few thousand dollars annually).
  • Food Spoilage: Cover for contents in freezers/fridges ruined by power outages or appliance breakdowns.
  • Contents in Transit / Storage: Whether your belongings are protected while moving homes or kept in a professional storage facility.

6. Insurer's Financial Strength Rating

In New Zealand, all licensed insurers must display a Financial Strength Rating (issued by approved agencies like AM Best). Given New Zealand's exposure to major natural disasters and earthquakes, choosing an insurer with a robust, secure credit rating ensures they have the liquidity to pay out large-scale claims.

Would you like to review specific optional add-ons or exclusions that frequently catch policyholders off guard?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

What should I compare across NZ contents policies beyond the insured value and premium?

AI Overview

When comparing New Zealand contents insurance policies, focusing strictly on the premium and total sum insured can leave you severely underinsured. NZ insurers differ heavily in how they handle specific types of claims, hidden costs, and daily-use items.

You should evaluate and compare these critical fine-print factors across NZ providers:

1. Item Sub-Limits (The Fine Print Caps)

Insurers place a "cap" on the maximum amount they will pay out for specific categories of items, regardless of your total sum insured. If you have items exceeding these limits, you must explicitly list (specify) them, which usually increases the premium. 3 Best House Insurance in NZ New Zealand Compared [2026 ]

  • Jewelry and Watches: Typically capped between $1,000 and $3,000 per item or in total per claim unless specified.

  • Bicycles and Sporting Equipment: Often have rigid limits per item, especially if stolen away from home.

  • Electronics and Cameras: Look closely at the per-item cap for laptops, phones, and high-end tech.

2. "Present Value" vs. "Replacement" Cover

Understand how your items are valued during a claim.

  • Replacement Cover (New for Old): The insurer replaces the item with a brand-new equivalent, regardless of its age.

  • Present Value (Indemnity): The insurer pays what the item was worth just before it was destroyed or stolen—factoring in wear, tear, and depreciation.

  • The Catch: Many standard policies drop to "Present Value" for items over a certain age (e.g., clothing, sporting gear, or electronics older than 5 years). Check where each insurer draws that line.

3. Gradual Damage (Slow Water Leaks)

Standard contents insurance covers sudden events like floods. However, standard policies handle hidden, slow-leaking pipes behind walls very differently. 3 Best House Insurance in NZ New Zealand Compared [2026 ]

  • Look for the Gradual Damage extension limit.

  • Most Kiwi policies cap this strictly between $1,000 and $2,000. A policy providing $2,000 or $3,000 is significantly more robust than one providing zero or $1,000, given how quickly plumbing and mold remediation costs escalate.

4. Legal / Personal Liability Cover

If you accidentally cause damage to someone else's property (e.g., you accidentally start a fire in a rental property or cause a flood that damages the apartment below yours), this cover protects you. New Zealand: 1 in 3 tenants lack contents cover - News3 Best House Insurance in NZ New Zealand Compared [2026 ]

5. Hidden Excess Variations

The excess is the amount you pay out-of-pocket when making a claim. Look into how the excess is applied:

  • One Event, One Excess: If an event impacts multiple policies (e.g., a break-in damages your car and thieves steal your contents), look for insurers who waive one of the excesses if both policies are bundled with them.

  • Special Excesses: Some policies apply a higher, specific excess for accidental loss or tech items (like dropping your phone) compared to standard burglary excesses.

6. Temporary Accommodation Limits

If a major fire, flood, or natural hazard makes your home unlivable, contents policies often pay for your temporary accommodation. NZ House Insurance Showdown 2026: Online vs. Broker vs. Phone3 Best House Insurance in NZ New Zealand Compared [2026 ]

Key Comparison Checklist

Feature What to Look For Why it Matters
Unlisted Item Caps Higher limits for jewelry/tech without paying extra. Avoids out-of-pocket gaps on standard items.
Away from Home Cover Items covered anywhere in NZ (e.g., phone stolen at a café). Standard policies sometimes restrict theft cover to the property line.
Unoccupied Days Clause The number of days the house can be empty before cover is voided. Most NZ insurers void or restrict cover if empty for more than 60 consecutive days.
Multi-policy Discounts Savings of 10%–15% if you bundle car or house insurance. Can bring down a high baseline premium significantly.

Before locking a policy in, take a close look at the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or policy wording document rather than relying on the summary page. Are there any specific categories of items you own—like expensive camera gear, e-bikes, or family heirlooms—that you need to make sure are covered?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

What should I compare across NZ contents policies beyond the insured value and premium?

When comparing contents insurance policies in New Zealand , looking only at the insured sum and the annual or monthly premium leaves out critical details that can make a massive difference at claim time.

Reviewing and comparing the following policy features across different New Zealand insurers (such as Consumer NZ or individual provider comparison guides like MoneyHub) helps ensure complete coverage:

  • Basis of settlement (New-for-old vs. Indemnity): Check whether the policy replaces your items with brand-new equivalents ("new for old") or subtracts an allowance for wear, tear, and depreciation ("indemnity" or present value). Most comprehensive policies offer new-for-old, but limited or cheaper tiers may not.

  • Excess amounts: Look at the standard excess you must pay per claim, but also check for special excesses. Some policies apply higher excesses for specific claims, like theft, or lower/zero excesses for certain items like prescription glasses or key replacements.

  • Accidental loss vs. Specified perils: See if the policy covers sudden, accidental physical loss or damage anywhere in New Zealand (e.g., spilling juice on your laptop), or if it only covers named events like fire, storm, and theft (restricted cover).

  • Single-item and category limits: Inspect the maximum caps insurers place on individual luxury items, jewellery, art, watches, or home office equipment. If you own high-value items that exceed these standard limits, you will need to "specify" them separately.

  • Out-of-home and portable cover: Check if your belongings are strictly protected inside the four walls of your house or if the policy extends coverage to items taken out and about (such as laptops, phones, bicycles, or jewelry worn while traveling or at a café).

  • Guests, visitors, and unforced entry exclusions: Read the fine print regarding theft. Many NZ policies exclude claims if items are stolen by someone who was lawfully invited into your home, or if there was no visible, forceful, and violent entry into the house. [MoneyHub NZ]

  • Legal liability cover: Most standard contents policies include up to $1 or $2 million in legal liability cover if you accidentally damage someone else's property (for instance, if you are renting and accidentally cause a fire). Compare the maximum liability limits and what is excluded. [MoneyHub NZ]

  • Additional/sub-benefits included: Review the extra perks bundled into the plan, such as temporary accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable, food spoilage cover if your fridge/freezer fails after a power cut, or student/child boarding cover if they are living away at a tertiary institution. [Tower Insurance NZ]

If you'd like, let me know:

  • Are you renting or living in your own home?
  • Do you have high-value items (like expensive jewelry, bikes, or electronics) that need special protection?

I can help you focus on the exact policy nuances that matter most for your situation.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026