How do I know which insurance is best for me?

Buying the cheapest house and contents insurance can be tempting, but there are a few things to consider before committing to an insurance policy. To compare quotes accurately, it’s worth checking: the policy features and limits – some insurance policy features have limits, so it’s important to compare these and choose the cover that best meets your needs. the financial strength rating of the insurance company – this tells you whether the insurer has the means to pay-out on your claims. This is particularly important in NZ because we can experience widespread damage in areas due to natural hazards.

What does that mean? It’s jargon-busting time.

Accidental loss: Unexpected and unintended physical loss or damage. Claim: A request made to your insurance company to compensate you financially for something covered by your policy. Cover: The protection provided by an insurance policy. Excess: The excess is the first amount of your claim that you must pay. Exclusion: Specific conditions or circumstances that the policy does not cover. Premium: The amount you pay for the financial protection your insurance policy provides. Sum Insured: The maximum amount your insurer will pay for a covered loss.

Home and contents insurance combo.

Save time and get house and contents cover in one policy. Less admin. More life.

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Sum insured calculators

Our best Home and contents insurance policy perks.

A natural hazard event damages your home and stuff.

If Mother Nature sends a storm, flood, earthquake, or landslide your way, we’ll pay to repair or rebuild your house and replace your stuff.

You discover damage from hidden leaks.

If you’ve got a pesky pipe leaking inside your walls, we’ll pay up to $3,000 to fix the damage caused to your home or contents.

You need a temporary place to stay.

If your home can’t be lived in due to something we cover, we’ll pay up to $30,000 for a place for you, your fam, and furry friends.

Grab a quote

This information is intended as a guide only. Exclusions and limitations apply. Talk to us about these or refer to the full policy wording. 

Good at award-winning. Great at insurance.

We're Canstar’s 2025 - 2026 Outstanding Value – Home and Contents Insurance Award winner.

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What’s covered? Download the details.

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All the bells and whistles

Home and contents insurance

Natural hazard damage cover for your home and belongings

Repair or replacement of most belongings accidentally lost, damaged, or stolen anywhere in NZ

Temporary accommodation costs

Up to $30,000 per event

Hidden gradual damage caused by internal plumbing leaks

Up to $3,000 a year

Excess free replacement of keys and locks

Legal liability cover

Up to $2 million

Home replacement for total loss after a non-natural hazard fire for qualifying homes*

Contents insured at both addresses for two weeks while moving house

Replacement of whiteware appliances with a more energy efficient model

Contents with you or your family while overseas in Australia or the South Pacific Islands

Up to $5,000 per trip
(max. 3 week trip)

Water or sewage pipe blockage

Up to $500 a year

Retaining walls on property

Up to $50,000
(higher limit available)

Stress payment after a total loss

$2,000

All the bells and whistles

Home and contents insurance

Natural hazard damage cover for your home and belongings

Repair or replacement of most belongings accidentally lost, damaged, or stolen anywhere in NZ

Temporary accommodation costs

Up to $30,000 per event

Hidden gradual damage caused by internal plumbing leaks

Up to $3,000 a year

Excess free replacement of keys and locks

Legal liability cover

Up to $2 million

Home replacement for total loss after a non-natural hazard fire for qualifying homes*

Contents insured at both addresses for two weeks while moving house

Replacement of whiteware appliances with a more energy efficient model

Contents with you or your family while overseas in Australia or the South Pacific Islands

Up to $5,000 per trip
(max. 3 week trip)

Water or sewage pipe blockage

Up to $500 a year

Retaining walls on property

Up to $50,000
(higher limit available)

Stress payment after a total loss

$2,000

Plain language policy wording

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Home and contents quote

Call 0800 80 24 24

*To qualify, you'll need to choose a sum insured that is equal to or greater than the estimate provided by the Cotality Sum Sure calculator. Or, if your home is worth over $1.5 million, a licenced property valuer.

This is a summary only, for a full list of the benefits as well as exclusions and other terms, check your policy wording.

Cover-it-right calculators.

Home rebuild cost calculator

Use the Cotality Sum Sure calculator to help you work out an estimated rebuild cost for your home. Be sure to read the T&Cs. Boring but important.

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Learn about sum insured

Contents total value calculator

Use the Sum Insured Pty Ltd’s contents sum insured calculator to estimate the total value of your things room-by-room. Be sure to read the T&Cs. Boring but important.

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Learn about sum insured

Tick off insurance-y tasks.

What’s great about State.

Plain language policies.

Our Home and Contents policies are written in plain language. WriteMark accredited. Not such a chore to read.

Enjoy a cover combo.

Save time and hassle by getting home and contents cover in one policy. Less admin. More life.

Get ‘appy. Job done.

No need for opening hours. Download the State app or log in to My State, your online account, to get insurance-y stuff done.

Backed-up by the goods.

Highly commended in the New Zealand, General Insurer of the Year category for 13 years in a row.

Committed to treating you fairly. Proudly displaying our Fair Insurance Code credentials.

Our AA Financial strength rating means we have a very strong claims-paying ability.

Your FAQs answered.

Although going for the cheapest insurance may be appealing, it's important to weigh up several factors before making a decision. To effectively compare different policies, consider the following points:

Policy cover and limits: Insurance policies can vary in what they cover and the level of protection they offer. It’s important to compare limits to ensure you choose the best option for your specific needs.
Insurer's Financial Strength: This rating reflects how capable the insurer is of paying out claims. Particularly in regions like New Zealand, where natural disasters can cause significant losses, ensuring your insurer is financially secure is crucial.

To help you understand insurance better, we've explained some common insurance terms in our glossary. Visit State insurance terms glossary.

Home and contents insurance combo.

Our best Home and contents insurance policy perks.