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MAS House Insurance - Real Customer Reviews & Facts

Who is MAS? We explain what you need to know, listing genuine MAS house Insurance reviews from homeowners all over New Zealand. Our guide looks at area replacement vs sum insured, average savings, pros and cons, the claims process, exclusions and switching information
Updated 15 September 2025

​Why We're Sharing Homeowner Reviews
  • Over the past few months, we've received many emails about area replacement for house insurance and how it compares to sum insured coverage, which we believe is driven by increasing weather events and rising rebuild costs.
  • We have asked MoneyHub readers about MAS and also inquired on insurance-specific postings on social media, receiving consistent positive feedback about MAS and its unique approach to house insurance.
  • MAS is a not-for-profit insurer that serves its members (i.e., policyholders). The feedback we gathered from MAS policyholders consistently highlighted experiences of fast claims processing and fair settlements.
  • These reviews prompted us to publish a guide to explain MAS as an insurance option for homeowners, which arguably differs from the likes of AMI, State, AA, etc.
  • Important: These are genuine reviews from real policyholders - we have removed identifying information and corrected spelling, but the experiences and opinions are entirely their own.

Quick Stats from MAS House Insurance Policyholder Feedback:
  • Most praised feature: Area replacement cover (no underinsurance risk by calculating total external perimeter of each floor and any outbuildings correctly)
  • Claims experience: Consistently described as "fast," "fair," and "hassle-free"
  • Customer service: Phone answered quickly, even during major events
  • Key differentiator: Not-for-profit insurer - exists to serve policyholders, not generate shareholder returns
  • Main concerns: Some homeowners find premiums higher than budget insurers, but the benefits and area replacement coverage outweigh this
  • Best suited for: Homeowners wanting comprehensive coverage without rebuild cost worries, homeowners who want hassle-free experiences and lifestyle block owners

To help explain MAS and its house insurance offering further, our guide covers:
​Why Hundreds of Homeowners Throughout New Zealand Are Switching to MAS 
The Two Types of House Insurance:
1) Area Replacement (MAS) - Pays actual rebuild costs, no matter what:
  • Building costs spike 40% after a disaster? Covered
  • Your villa needs heritage materials? Covered
  • Construction inflation runs wild? Still covered
  • Real example: 200sqm house, North Shore = $290/month for complete protection

2) Sum Insured (Everyone Else) - Pays only up to your estimate:
  • You insure for $600,000, rebuild costs $750,000, meaning you pay the $150,000 difference
  • Material costs increase? Your problem
  • Disaster strikes before your annual review? You carry the shortfall

The Reality: Following the Christchurch earthquakes, building costs increased by 40%. Homeowners with sum insured faced massive shortfalls. Those with MAS area replacement were fully covered. The same pattern emerged after Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland floods.

Get Your MAS Area Replacement Estimate (Takes 2 minutes)

Our Analysis:
  • MAS costs 10-20% more than sum insured options - roughly $20 to $30+ extra monthly. But when disaster strikes and building costs spike, that small difference could save you from a $200,000 shortfall.
  • Insurance that could leave you $200,000 short isn't full insurance - it's partial coverage. Area replacement is the only option that truly protects your biggest asset.
  • If you prefer sum insured coverage, Tower and Initio offer competitive options within that model. Please note that you're assuming the risk of the rebuild cost.

Real MAS House Insurance Customer Testimonials From Homeowners New Zealand-Wide

Before diving into what homeowners say about MAS, it's important to understand what makes their insurance unique in the New Zealand market, as a lot of the reviews talk about MAS and how they offer Area Replacement:
  • Most house insurers use "sum insured" You pick a dollar amount (say $600,000) that you think will cover rebuilding your home, usually using a calculator like our estimator.
  • If disaster strikes and rebuilding costs more, you pay the difference. After the Christchurch earthquakes, many discovered their $400,000 sum insured left them $200,000 short when rebuild costs spiked 40% as outlined in this 2016 NZ Herald article.
  • The same has happened after Cyclone Gabrielle (as outlined in this 2024 Stuff article) and the Auckland Anniversary floods, and we expect it to continue happening.

MAS offers "area replacement": Your coverage is based on your home's floor area. When disaster strikes, you’re covered for the SQM size in your schedule.

What MAS Offers
Coverage Options:
  • House insurance with area replacement (their signature offering), or you can select sum insured
  • Contents insurance
  • Legal liability protection
  • Natural disaster cover (standard with all NZ home insurance)

Pricing: MAS typically costs, based on our estimates and research, 10-20% more than budget insurers using sum insured. On a $2,000 annual premium, you could expect to pay an extra $200-400 per year for more comprehensive cover. However, this eliminates your risk of being underinsured by potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Who Can Buy a MAS House Insurance Policy:
  • Originally for medical professionals, now it's open to all New Zealanders - there is no membership or limits
  • Available nationwide for most property types
  • Particularly popular with owners of character homes, lifestyle blocks, and higher-value properties

Why People Choose MAS: The testimonials below consistently highlight three themes - peace of mind from area replacement, quality claims service as a not-for-profit organisation, and understanding of complex properties.

Here's what actual MAS customers tell us:

Area Replacement Cover Feedback

"No more annual revaluations needed"
"Area replacement is a great option because building costs could go up unexpectedly, and it saves having to revalue the place all the time. With other insurers, I was constantly worried about being underinsured."

"Peace of mind after seeing sum insured issues"
"What bugs me about sum insured is that insurers may pay out less for a total loss if they deem your property wasn't worth that. They're basing the premium on the sum insured, but can still shaft you if you actually have to claim. With area replacement, that risk is gone."

"Perfect for unique properties"
"We bought a character home that would be a complicated rebuild. The area replacement cover gives us peace of mind - we don't have to guess what our unique features would cost to recreate."

"The only reason I chose MAS"
"I went directly to MAS specifically for area replacement; I didn't even compare quotes because I just wanted area replacement. MAS was more expensive than my existing provider, but I prefer the peace of mind, and they offer area replacement."

"Insurance for Lifestyle blocks"
"I have been with them for lifestyle block insurance - they understand rural risks and don't treat you like an unusual case."

Claims Experience Feedback

​"Exceptional flood damage response"
"Major water damage claim handled brilliantly. The assessor was professional, understanding, and arrived the next day. They coordinated quality tradies and were accommodating with all requests. No hassle whatsoever - they used top-notch contractors throughout."

"Auckland floods - Night and day difference"
"During the Auckland floods, my roof leaked. MAS picked up immediately. A friend with another major insurer was on hold for 5 hours. The response time difference in an emergency was incredible."

"Multiple lifestyle block claims - consistently excellent"
"Seven years of claims for storm damage, damaged outbuildings and power outage losses. Every single claim was handled efficiently. They understand lifestyle blocks."

"They actually answer the phone"
"MAS are head and shoulders above the competition. When you call them, they actually answer. No long hold times, even during busy periods."

"Real people who understand"
"The person from MAS became an impromptu counsellor during our stressful claim. I can't imagine any other insurance provider where both parties treat each other as reasonable people."

"Outstanding personal service"
"Met with my adviser earlier this year - the service is outstanding. They're knowledgeable and take time to explain everything properly."

"No penny-pinching on claims"
"Made two claims on the car and one on the house - very easy, no penny pinching, and they paid out within 2 days. That's across multiple types of claims."

Why Being a Not-For-Profit Matters Feedback

​"They exist for members, not profits"
​"They're a not for profit organisation, which means they exist for their members, not making profits for shareholders. It's quite a significant difference you can feel in every interaction."

"No overseas shareholders to please"
"All other insurers aim to maximise profits. A not for profit insurer aims to provide the best deal for members. Their job is to make it easy to claim, not fight you to protect shareholder profits."

"Peace of mind is worth the price"
"They charge a little more than other insurers in my case, but the service is worth it at claim time. You know they'll pay rather than find sneaky ways to deny it."

"Not the cheapest, but the most reliable"
"Every time I've compared prices, they've been more expensive than the likes of AA and AMI, but every time I've had an issue, they've been awesome to deal with. I trust them."

"More expensive but worth it"
"Not always the cheapest, but the minor savings elsewhere don't outweigh the personalised service and claims confidence."

​"Premium but reliable"
"MAS is essentially the premium option in NZ home insurance. Yes, you pay more, but you get genuine service and claims support."
Independent Recognition: Why MAS Consistently Ranks #1 by Consumer NZ
  • Consumer NZ's 2024 insurance satisfaction survey of 6,400+ respondents once again ranked MAS as New Zealand's top home insurer, for the ninth consecutive year.
  • While shareholder-owned insurers AMI and State scored "below average" for house insurance and "significantly below average" for value and customer support, MAS achieved 76% satisfaction.
  • This isn't surprising. As a not-for-profit insurer offering area replacement cover, MAS's entire business model differs from traditional insurers. They don't profit from denying claims or capping payouts. Their success depends on member satisfaction, not shareholder returns.
  • The Consumer survey results confirm what our readers tell us. When your insurer exists to serve members rather than maximise profits, it shows in every interaction, from claims handling to genuine coverage that protects you when disaster strikes with area replacement.
  • You can read the full Consumer NZ survey results on the RNZ website

MAS House Insurance: Addressing Common Concerns

We have heard from many users with questions about insuring with MAS. We respond to these questions in detail here:

Is MAS legitimate and financially secure?

Yes - MAS is one of New Zealand's most established insurers with leading credentials:
The key difference: MAS doesn't have overseas shareholders demanding profits. Every dollar saved on claims goes toward maintaining strong reserves, keeping premiums reasonable for members and, supporting communities through the MAS Foundation and other community focussed initiatives.

Why do some people say MAS is expensive?

​MAS premiums can be higher than budget insurers, but there's important context:

What you're paying for:
  • Area replacement cover - Automatically adjusts for building cost inflation, eliminating underinsurance risk
  • Premium service - Claims handlers who advocate for you, not against you
  • Quality repairs - Top-tier contractors and materials, not the cheapest option
  • Financial security - Strong reserves and reinsurance mean they'll be there after major events

The real comparison: When comparing quotes, it's crucial to ensure you are comparing like-for-like. MAS's area replacement cover provides fundamentally different protection than sum insured policies. A $10-50/month difference could save you hundreds of thousands in underinsurance risk.

How does MAS handle major disaster events?

​MAS has a reinsurance program specifies:
  • MAS uses multiple global reinsurers (all A-rated or higher), and no single reinsurer holds more than 20% of the risk
  • MAS has de-risked to ensure its reinsurance handles New Zealand's natural disaster risks
  • MAS regularly stress tests against catastrophe scenarios

Real-world proof:
  • MAS paid claims throughout the Christchurch earthquakes (other insurers, like AMI, had to be bailed out)
  • MAS delivered an immediate response during the Auckland Anniversary floods
  • MAS has, anecdotally, been known for continued operations while other insurers struggled with call centres being overwhelmed during major events

Our View: As a not-for-profit, member-focused organisation, MAS builds reserves for the protection of its members, not for shareholder dividends. They're structured to focus on paying claims promptly in the event of a disaster.

Who are MAS house insurance policies best suited to?

We believe MAS' house insurance policies are suitable for homeowners who:
  • Want certainty that their home is fully covered regardless of building costs
  • Value quality repairs, replacement and advocacy during claims
  • Prefer dealing with a New Zealand-owned, member-focused insurer
  • Own character, high value, or architecturally unique homes
  • Own a well-maintained domestic home
  • Have lifestyle blocks or properties
  • Want comprehensive cover that may come with a slightly higher premium for better coverage

MAS may not suit those who:
  • Are primarily focused on the lowest possible premium
  • Prefer entirely online self-service (MAS uses phone/email primarily, but you can get a quick estimate on the MAS website, or a full quote
  • ​Are comfortable managing sum insured amounts and regular revaluations​

Understanding MAS's Area Replacement vs everyone else's Sum Insured

As outlined above before the policy holder reviews, we believe this is MAS's key differentiator and why many consider the higher premium worthwhile:

To Recap - Area Replacement (MAS):
  • Covers rebuild based on floor area ($/sqm)
  • No risk of underinsurance when correctly calculating the total floor area of your house
  • Peace of mind after disasters when building costs increase

Sum Insured (used by most other insurers):
  • You nominate a fixed dollar amount
  • Your responsibility to keep it updated
  • Risk of underinsurance if building costs rise
  • It may not fully cover the rebuild after major events

Our guide to Sum Insured vs Area Replacement explains what you need to know.

The Bottom Line

After analysing hundreds of reviews and diving deep into what makes MAS different, here's what we found:

MAS isn't trying to be the cheapest insurer in New Zealand - they're trying to make sure their customers' homes are fully covered when disaster strikes. This means that although costs are slightly higher, you get peace of mind that your home is fully covered regardless of building costs. MAS is playing a completely different game than the likes of AA, State or AMI, etc. While others compete on price and shareholders push for profits, MAS focuses on peace of mind and exceptional customer service. 

What's genuinely good:
  • Area replacement is a game-changer - you literally can't be underinsured
  • Most claims get paid promptly (per policyholder feedback)
  • They answer the phone during times of floods and earthquakes
  • Over 100 years in business and still member-owned
  • Their reinsurance setup means they're prepared for the next "big one"​
Our View: 
  • MAS Area Replacement is better insurance for anyone who wants more comprehensive cover or for properties where rebuild costs are unpredictable and shortfalls would be devastating, which we argue is increasingly the case in more areas around New Zealand. If you tick two or more boxes in the "right for you" list, the extra premium is worth considering.
  • ​However, sum insured is still valid insurance, and something that MAS also offers, and if you're disciplined about sum insured updates, works perfectly well.  
Disclaimer: This compilation is based on reader testimonials and publicly available information. Individual experiences may vary. Always compare policies carefully and ensure coverage meets your specific needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is area replacement, and why does it matter?

Area replacement means that MAS covers your rebuild based on your home's floor area (in square meters)
  • Why it matters: Following the Canterbury earthquakes, building costs increased by 40% due to heightened demand. Homeowners with sum insured policies faced massive shortfalls. MAS customers with area replacement were fully covered, as their policies were not restricted to a sum insured value
  • ​Example: Your 200 sqm home might cost $2,500/sq m to build today ($500,000). After a major disaster, if costs spike you will still be covered for your home to be rebuilt to the same square meter area as shown on your schedule, regardless of the cost to rebuild it. Compared to a Sum Insured policy where you would be left with a shortfall.

How does MAS handle claims compared to other insurers?

The not for profit structure fundamentally changes the claims experience compared to some other insurers.
​
MAS approach:
  • Claims handlers act as your advocate
  • Focus on getting you back to pre-loss condition
  • Use quality contractors and materials
  • Flexible and accommodating with reasonable requests
  • Fast response even during major events

Typical insurer approach:
  • Claims handlers minimise payout
  • Focus on the cheapest acceptable repair
  • May use budget contractors
  • Rigid interpretation of policy terms
  • Can be overwhelmed during disasters

Can I switch to MAS mid-policy with another insurer?

Yes, you'll need to follow this process:
  1. Get a full MAS quote or quick estimate and policy start date
  2. Cancel current policy (you'll get a pro-rata refund from your existing insurer)
  3. MAS coverage begins as soon as you accept the quote and the policy is in force
  4. Use the refund toward the MAS premium

Important: Ensure there is no coverage gap - have your MAS policy confirmed before cancelling your existing coverage.

Does MAS offer any discounts?

While not the discount-heavy approach of some insurers, MAS does offer the following:
  • Multi-policy discount: Bundle home, contents and car
  • Claims-free discount

​​Key point: We believe MAS focuses on fair pricing for superior coverage rather than headline discounts that mask coverage limitations.

How do I get a quote from MAS?

Unlike fully online insurers, MAS takes a more personal approach to quoting:

What you'll need:
  • Property address and basic details (year built, size, construction type)
  • Current insurance details for comparison
  • Information about any renovations or unique features
  • Previous claims history (if any)

You can then proceed to get an estimate in a few minutes

Does MAS cover lifestyle blocks?

​Yes, and this is where MAS shines compared to other insurers who either won't touch lifestyle properties, as our research confirms, or charge excessive premiums.

MAS covers:
  • Lifestyle blocks of all sizes
  • All well maintained outbuildings (sheds, barns, stables, workshops)
  • Fencing and retaining walls
  • Water tanks and pumps
  • Solar installations and off-grid systems
  • Stock losses from power outages
  • Tree removal after storms

Our View: MAS' area replacement coverage is especially valuable for rural properties, where rebuilding costs can vary widely and contractors may charge more for remote locations.

What about MAS's financial strength and reinsurance?

​Given what happened with AMI after the Christchurch earthquakes and the sluggish payouts from other insurers, this is a critical question.

MAS's financial position:
  • A (Excellent) rating from S&P Global Ratings Australia Pty Ltd
  • Over $140 million in annual premium income
  • Comprehensive reinsurance with multiple global insurers
  • All reinsurers rated A- or higher by S&P
  • No single reinsurer holds more than 20% of the exposure

Why this matters: The "A" rating means MAS has excellent financial strength. While some competitors have an A+, the difference is marginal - both ratings indicate a very strong ability to pay claims.

How accessible is MAS for questions and policy changes?

MAS maintains a traditional service model that many members prefer, whereby you call them to make changes, and you can also email their team.
​Why Hundreds of Homeowners Throughout New Zealand Are Switching to MAS 
The Two Types of House Insurance:
1) Area Replacement (MAS) - Pays actual rebuild costs, no matter what:
  • Building costs spike 40% after a disaster? Covered
  • Your villa needs heritage materials? Covered
  • Construction inflation runs wild? Still covered
  • Real example: 200sqm house, North Shore = $290/month for complete protection

2) Sum Insured (Everyone Else) - Pays only up to your estimate:
  • You insure for $600,000, rebuild costs $750,000, meaning you pay the $150,000 difference
  • Material costs increase? Your problem
  • Disaster strikes before your annual review? You carry the shortfall

The Reality: Following the Christchurch earthquakes, building costs increased by 40%. Homeowners with sum insured faced massive shortfalls. Those with MAS area replacement were fully covered. The same pattern emerged after Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland floods.

Get Your MAS Area Replacement Estimate (Takes 2 minutes)

Our Analysis:
  • MAS costs 10-20% more than sum insured options - roughly $20 to $30+ extra monthly. But when disaster strikes and building costs spike, that small difference could save you from a $200,000 shortfall.
  • Insurance that could leave you $200,000 short isn't full insurance - it's partial coverage. Area replacement is the only option that truly protects your biggest asset.
  • If you prefer sum insured coverage, Tower and Initio offer competitive options within that model. Please note that you're assuming the risk of the rebuild cost.
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