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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

I'm thinking of buying a house in Hawke's Bay. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

Yes. Hawke’s Bay has several location-specific risks that can affect whether a house is insurable, what cover is available, and how much you pay for insurance. If you're buying in the region, it's worth checking these before you commit to a property, because two houses in the same town can have very different insurance prospects.

The main things to investigate are flooding, coastal hazards, earthquake risk, land instability and the property's history of storm damage. A regional hazard doesn't automatically make a house uninsurable, but its exact location and previous claims can make a substantial difference.

The main insurance risks in Hawke’s Bay

1. Flooding and river risk

High priority

Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023 caused extensive flooding and damage across Hawke’s Bay. Properties near rivers, streams, low-lying land and floodplains deserve particular scrutiny.

  • Insurers may charge higher premiums, impose higher excesses or restrict cover for properties with significant flood exposure.
  • Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has flood hazard modelling, including newer modelling for the Esk Valley.
  • A property that escaped flooding in 2023 may still have a future flood risk.

Check the Regional Council’s flood hazard maps and Cyclone Gabrielle flooding map. Cyclone Gabrielle FloodingFlood hazard modelling

2. Slips, unstable land and retaining walls

Hillside properties, homes on steep sections, and properties with retaining walls may carry additional risk from landslides, soil movement and erosion.

Insurers may want geotechnical reports, details of repairs or evidence that retaining walls are sound. Pay particular attention to land that has slipped before, even if the house itself looks undamaged.

Also check the title for any natural-hazard notices, because these can affect insurance entitlements. Cover for storm, flood, and landslide damage :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeBefore you make an offer on a house :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

3. Coastal flooding, erosion and tsunami exposure

Coastal or estuary-side properties may be exposed to storm surge, sea-level rise, coastal erosion or tsunami hazards. The relevant risk depends on the precise site and its elevation.

Coastal hazard exposure can affect the long-term availability and affordability of insurance, particularly if the risk is expected to increase. Check council hazard information rather than relying on distance from the shoreline alone. Disaster Recovery - ICNZAbout natural hazards cover :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

4. Earthquake risk and older buildings

Hawke’s Bay is earthquake-prone. Older masonry buildings, unreinforced chimneys, certain foundations and earthquake-related land damage deserve attention.

Earthquake cover is available through New Zealand's natural-hazards insurance scheme when eligibility requirements are met, alongside private insurance. However, limits, exclusions, building condition and any existing damage still matter. Cover for storm, flood, and landslide damage :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeAbout natural hazards cover :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

5. Previous claims and the property's history

If a house was flooded, damaged by a slip or repaired after Cyclone Gabrielle, insurers may assess it differently from a comparable house without that history.

They may consider previous claims, the quality of repairs, mitigation work, council hazard information and their own risk models. Insurers don't all make identical decisions. Disaster Recovery - ICNZOngoing insurance

What I'd do before making an offer

The most important step is to confirm that you can actually obtain suitable insurance for the specific property, not simply assume that a standard policy will be available.

  1. Get insurance quotes before you make an unconditional offer. Contact at least two insurers or an insurance broker, provide the exact property address, and disclose any known hazard or previous damage. Ask whether full building cover is available, including flood, landslip and earthquake-related cover where applicable.

  2. Read the LIM report and property file. Look for flood records, natural-hazard notices, council assessments, consented repairs and any land categorisation associated with past events.

  3. Check the Natural Hazards Commission's claims map. Its Natural Hazards Portal can show settled natural-hazard claims for the property. Ask the seller for claim records and evidence of completed repairs, too. Before you make an offer on a house :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

  4. Check what the policy actually covers. Ask about exclusions, special conditions, flood or landslip excesses, retaining walls, driveways and other land improvements. New Zealand's natural-hazards scheme provides only limited cover for certain land around a house; it isn't a guarantee that all land damage will be repaired. Cover for storm, flood, and landslide damage :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū AkeBefore you make an offer on a house :: Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

  5. Protect yourself in the sale agreement. Ask your solicitor about appropriate insurance and due-diligence conditions before signing. If insurance is declined or unaffordable, that could affect both your mortgage and whether the purchase makes financial sense.

The Natural Hazards Commission has a useful official guide: Before you make an offer on a house.

Is Hawke’s Bay still a sensible place to buy?

Absolutely worth considering, but I'd assess the individual property rather than rule out the whole region. Some homes have relatively straightforward insurance prospects; others may face higher costs or more restrictive terms. The regional flood modelling and the insurer's own assessment are particularly important after Cyclone Gabrielle. Flood hazard modellingDisaster Recovery - ICNZ

Which part of Hawke’s Bay are you considering? For example, are you looking around Napier, Hastings, Havelock North, or somewhere more rural? I can explain the main insurance considerations for the area you're interested in, without assuming every property there has the same risk.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand

I'm thinking of buying a house in Hawke's Bay. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

Yes, buying a house in Hawke's Bay requires careful attention to insurance. Following major weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle and the region's historical seismic profile, insurers have become much more data-driven and granular regarding property risk.

Key factors about the area that can affect getting insurance, your premiums, or your coverage include:

  • Flood History and Pockets of Risk: Parts of Hawke's Bay—particularly areas near rivers or low-lying spots like parts of Esk Valley, Wairoa, and Fernhill—were heavily impacted by recent severe weather. Insurers look closely at a property's exact elevation and proximity to waterways.
  • Council Land Categorisation: Following the 2023 severe weather, properties in Hawke's Bay went through a government and council land categorisation process (Categories 1, 2, or 3). Properties deemed high-risk and placed in Category 3 face severe long-term viability issues, and securing standard insurance on them can be extremely difficult or impossible. Always check a property's land category status before buying.
  • Seismic Activity: Hawke's Bay has a significant earthquake history, famously marked by the 1931 Napier earthquake. Insurers factor regional fault lines and soil type (such as liquefaction-prone land) into their risk assessments.
  • Higher Premiums and Excesses: Homes in identified flood or high-risk hazard zones often attract higher premiums, specific natural disaster excesses, or stricter policy exclusions compared to lower-risk parts of the country.

Practical Steps Before You Buy:

  1. Run an Online Insurance Check Early: Use instant risk-assessment tools provided by certain New Zealand insurers or brokers by plugging in the prospective address. This will tell you immediately if the property triggers high-risk alerts.
  2. Shop Around for Quotes: Do not assume all insurers view a property the same way. Risk appetites vary between companies, so get quotes before going unconditional on a house purchase.
  3. Check the Land Information Memorandum (LIM): Order the LIM from the local council (Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, or Central Hawke's Bay District Council) to check for any hazard notations, flood files, or land categorisation details.

Are you looking at a property in a specific town or suburb within Hawke's Bay?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand

I'm thinking of buying a house in Hawke's Bay. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

AI Overview

Yes, buying a property in Hawke's Bay involves critical insurance considerations due to heightened environmental and climate risks. In New Zealand, insurance companies have shifted aggressively toward address-specific, risk-based pricing , meaning two houses on the same street can have vastly different premiums or insurability profiles.

If you are looking to purchase a home in the region, the following key factors will directly impact your ability to secure affordable home insurance:

1. Significant Flood and Sea Surge Risks

Following the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle, insurers now heavily scrutinise Hawke's Bay for flooding and coastal inundation.

  • Severe Weather & Rivers: Areas close to major river systems (like the Esk River) face rigorous updated flood hazard modelling. Properties sitting within high-risk flood zones are experiencing massive premium hikes, high natural-hazard excesses, or explicit exclusions for flood damage.

  • Sea Surge Exclusions: Coastal or low-lying developments face unique hurdles. For instance, major insurers like Tower Insurance have outright declined to offer new policies for specific addresses in newer coastal developments (such as parts of the Parklands estate in Napier) due to modelled risks from sea surges.

2. Council Land Categorisations

Following recent extreme weather events, local authorities established risk categories that heavily dictate insurer behaviour:

  • Category 1: Low risk; properties are generally insurable under normal terms, though premiums still factor in localised flood or landslide data.

  • Category 2 (2C/2P): Managed risk; these properties require community-level or property-level interventions (like raising the floor level or improving local drainage) before insurers will confidently offer standard terms.

  • Category 3: Intolerable risk to life; these areas are subject to voluntary government buy-outs, and getting new insurance on these properties is virtually impossible.

3. High Seismic Activity

Hawke’s Bay sits in a highly active tectonic zone with a well-documented history of major earthquakes. Because of this, the base cost of natural hazard cover (collected via the Natural Hazards Commission, formerly EQC) and private insurer premiums reflect a baseline risk that is notably higher than more seismically stable parts of the country.

Crucial Steps Before You Put in an Offer:

  • Check the Hazard Portals: Use tools like the Hawke's Bay Hazard Portal via the Regional Council to look up the exact address's risk profile.

  • Get a LIM Report early: A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) will officially declare any recorded flooding, erosion, or subsidence risks associated with the land.

  • Make Insurance a Condition of Sale: Do not sign an unconditional contract. Ensure your Sales and Purchase Agreement includes a specific clause making the contract subject to obtaining satisfactory, affordable home insurance.

  • Get Quotes Before Bidding: Enter the exact address into online insurance calculators or speak to a broker before going to auction to verify if insurers are currently writing new policies for that specific location.

If you have a specific suburb or property type in mind, let me know! I can give you more details on local risk mapping or what to look for on a LIM report.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand

I'm thinking of buying a house in Hawke's Bay. Is there anything about the area that could affect getting insurance?

Yes, buying a house in Hawke's Bay comes with specific regional risk factors that can noticeably affect your ability to secure house insurance, the cost of your premiums, and the conditions of your policy. Following significant weather events like Cyclone Gabrielle, the New Zealand insurance market has tightened criteria, particularly regarding environmental and geographical hazards.

Key factors in Hawke's Bay that can impact house insurance include:

  • Flood and Cyclone Risk: Low-lying areas, properties near rivers (such as the Tūtaekurī or Ngaruroro rivers), or neighborhoods that experienced severe inundation or a Category designation during past storms face much tighter scrutiny. Some properties in high-risk flood zones have faced steep premium hikes, higher excess requirements, or in severe cases, refusals or exclusions for flood-related damage from certain private insurers.

  • Seismic and Earthquake Risk: Like much of the East Coast of the North Island, Hawke's Bay sits in a seismically active zone. Insurers evaluate the specific soil type, liquefaction potential, and the age and construction standard of the home (e.g., older unreinforced or character brick homes vs. modern builds).

  • Landslip and Coastal Erosion: Properties built on or near steep hillsides (such as parts of Napier or Hastings hill suburbs) carry risks of landslips during heavy rainfall, while coastal properties face long-term erosion and storm-surge concerns. Insurers closely map these micro-topographies.

  • Rising Premiums and "DIY Insurance" Disappearing: General insurance pricing across New Zealand has trended upward, and regional hazard-prone areas often see sharper increases. Insurers rely heavily on sophisticated geospatial risk-mapping tools rather than broad regional averages, meaning the exact address and elevation matter immensely.

Before making an offer on a property, it is critical to check the property’s hazard history and speak with insurance providers early. You can read more about how public-backed schemes work via the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake.

If you have a specific property or location in mind, let me know:

  • Is the house on low-lying/flat land near a river or on a hillside?
  • What is the construction type and age of the house?

I can share more targeted information on what risks apply to that type of property.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026