Home Insurance

Redwood Insurance Brokers makes contents insurance clear and genuinely useful. We’ll help you choose the cover that matches what you actually own and how you live, explain any trade-offs in plain English, and make sure key items (like laptops, jewellery, tools, and bikes) aren’t accidentally under-covered.

If you ever need to claim, we’ll back you and help drive it through.

Why home insurance matters

Your home is usually your biggest asset, and it’s also where life happens. The right cover helps you bounce back from sudden damage, theft, and the unexpected stuff that loves turning up uninvited.

Our job is to help you get cover that makes sense, avoid nasty surprises, and feel confident you’re not paying for fluff you do not need.

What we help with

We can help you organise:

  • House insurance (building, fixtures, outbuildings where applicable)

  • Contents insurance (the stuff that makes your house a home)

  • Homeowners’ liability options (where relevant)

  • Add-ons and special items (jewellery, tools, bikes, collections, portable items, etc.)

  • Policy structure choices like sum insured vs other settlement types, excess levels, and optional benefits (availability varies by insurer)

We’ll talk through what matters to you, then recommend cover that fits your risk, budget, and tolerance for excess.

Free insurance review

Natural hazards cover in NZ

In New Zealand, most residential house insurance includes access to Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHC) cover (previously known as EQC). It helps with damage from certain natural hazard events and some land damage, subject to eligibility, limits and the rules in legislation.

For example, for events such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic or hydrothermal activity, or tsunamis, NHC coverage generally applies first up to the relevant cap, with your private insurer covering any amount above that up to your policy limits.

NHC also provides limited land cover in certain situations, and the rules vary by cause of loss (including storm and flood impacts on land).

Plain-English takeaway: there are two moving parts. We help you understand how they fit together so you are not guessing during a claim.

The “gotchas” we look for

This is where a broker earns their keep. We check for:

  • Underinsurance (sum insured not keeping up with rebuild costs)

  • Excess choices that look fine until you actually need to use them

  • Gradual damage traps. Many policies exclude damage that occurs over time, such as rot, corrosion, wear and tear, or ongoing leaks.

  • Unclear exclusions/limitations and special conditions that can quietly reduce cover. Limited cover for retaining walls, recreational features etc.

  • Lifestyle mismatches, like running a business from home, AirBnB style hosting, or high-value items that need specified cover (depends on insurer rules)

If there’s a risk gap, we’ll tell you straight and explain your options.

How Redwood does it differently

Independent
We compare options across insurers and recommend the best match for your situation.

Advice, not just a quote
We explain any trade-offs in plain English so you can choose confidently.

A sharper risk lens
We look for gaps, overlaps, and exclusions that can bite later.

Claims advocacy
If you need to claim, we’re in your corner, helping drive it through to a fair outcome.

Fast-moving
You deal with people who can make progress, not a maze of corporate handoffs.

Our process (simple, on purpose)

  1. Quick chat: what you own, how you live, what you want protected

  2. Review: we check your current cover (or start fresh)

  3. Recommendations: clear options, clear trade-offs

  4. Placement: we organise the policy and confirm key details

  5. Ongoing support: updates, changes, renewals, and claims help

If you need to claim

When something goes wrong, the last thing you need is to become a part-time claims manager.
We help you:

  • understand what to do first

  • lodge and progress the claim

  • provide the right info without overcomplicating it

  • keep momentum with the insurer and other parties

FAQ’s

  • Most homeowners do. House covers the building and fixed parts. Contents covers your belongings. The best setup depends on your situation.

  • It affects how claim settlements are calculated. We’ll explain what your policy uses and what that means in real life.

  • Often yes for sudden damage, but cover varies by insurer and event type. Land damage rules can be different again.

  • Often not, and it’s a common surprise. We’ll help you understand how your insurer defines it and what maintenance expectations apply.

  • Usually yes, but some items need to be specified or covered under special terms.

  • No. We also help renters, landlords, and businesses — this page is focused on contents cover advice for home owners and renters in NZ. See our commercial page for what we offer for businesses.

Want a free second opinion on your home insurance?


Bring your current policy (or just tell us what you want covered). We’ll review it, explain what matters, and show you options.

Free insurance review