What Kiwis worry about losing the most

What would you be most worried about losing if a burglar broke into your home? Photo/Getty Images.

More Kiwis would be upset if they lost their lap-top or phone than if their jewellery was stolen, research has revealed.

Canstar Blue, a firm which tracks consumer views on financial products and services, found - perhaps unsurprisingly - that people would be most upset if they had photographs stolen with a third of people citing that as their biggest loss.

But following closely behind those precious memories was the loss of a lap-top with 28 per cent saying it would be their most inconvenient loss.

Losing a mobile phone was the third biggest worry at 19 per cent while just 12 per cent were worried about having their jewellery taken.

Jose George, general manager of Canstar New Zealand, said the focus on technology over jewellery was a sign of societal change and the importance people placed on being connected through online social networks.

"Jewellery is becoming a far less important element."

George said he suspected younger generations in particular would see mobile phones as more precious than jewellery.

The research also revealed a gender split with photographs especially important to women while a laptop was significantly more important to men.

Around three quarters of New Zealand households have house and contents insurance but the survey found a growing level of people were concerned they may not have enough insurance.

Over the past four years the number of people surveyed who said they had enough cover had dropped from 83 per cent to 72 per cent.

Having the right amount of insurance cover is important; particularly in the case of substantial or total loss. Review your cover regularly to make sure that it accurately reflects your needs and is still up to date.

Jose George

Aucklanders were the least confident with just 64 per cent believing they had enough cover.

George said the rising cost of insurance was having an impact with some people cancelling their policies or reducing cover to make it more affordable.

That was a concern because people could end up missing out if it came to making a claim, he said.

George said if people were concerned about the cost of their annual premium they could opt for a higher excess and shop around.

Aucklanders were also the most likely to have a burglar alarm with 56 per cent of those surveyed in Auckland having one compared to the national average of 40 per cent.

Only 18 per cent of those surveyed from Otago had an alarm.