Stop Overpaying for
Home Contents Insurance

Home contents insurance covers your personal belongings — everything inside your home that isn't physically part of the building itself. Think of it this way: if you turned your house upside down and shook it, everything that fell out would be your contents. This includes furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing, jewellery, sporting equipment, and personal possessions. Contents insurance protects these items against loss, theft, or damage from events like fire, flood, storm, and burglary.

Yes. Your landlord's house insurance covers the building — not your belongings. If there's a burglary, fire, or flood, your landlord's insurer will pay to fix the building, but you'll be left to replace your furniture, electronics, clothing, and everything else out of your own pocket. The average Kiwi renter owns more than $30,000 worth of contents. Contents insurance costs around $400–$800 per year and is one of the most cost-effective forms of insurance available.

House (building) insurance covers the physical structure of your home — walls, roof, floors, fixed fittings, plumbing, and electrical wiring. Contents insurance covers everything inside that isn't fixed to the building. You need both if you own your home. If you rent, you only need contents insurance, as your landlord handles the building cover. Some insurers offer a combined house and contents package, which can be more convenient and sometimes cheaper.

The sum insured should equal the full replacement cost of all your belongings — not what you paid for them, but what it would cost to replace everything new today. The average Kiwi household has $70,000 or more in contents. Go room by room: bedroom furniture and clothing, living room electronics and furniture, kitchen appliances and cookware, plus any high-value items like jewellery or cameras. Many people significantly underestimate this figure. When in doubt, err on the higher side — the premium difference is usually modest compared to the risk of underinsurance.

Based on Q1 2026 market data, the average cost of contents insurance in New Zealand is around $804 per year ($67 per month). This varies significantly by region: Auckland averages $676/year, Christchurch $790/year, and Wellington $995/year — the highest in NZ due to earthquake and weather risk. Your actual premium depends on your sum insured, excess level, location, and insurer. Premiums for the same level of cover can vary by $400–$700 between insurers, so comparing is worthwhile.

The excess is the amount you pay towards a claim before your insurer covers the rest. Standard excesses across NZ policies range from $250 to $750. Increasing your excess is the fastest way to lower your premium — moving from $250 to $1,000 can reduce your premium by 30% or more. However, you need to be confident you can afford the excess at claim time. For most people, a $500–$750 excess strikes the right balance between affordable premiums and manageable out-of-pocket costs.