Objectives

Warmer Kiwi Homes provides grants covering up to 90% of the costs to purchase and install insulation and an efficient heater, to help lower income homeowners improve health, reduce energy use and emissions, and save money on their power bills.

Eligibility

  • You own and live in a home built before 2008.
  • You (the owner) have a Community Services Card or live in an area identified as low-income.

What the grants cover

  • 80-90% of the total cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation installed in your home. In some areas the cost to you may be even lower, thanks to generous funding from community organisations.
  • Up to 80% of the cost of an approved heater installed in your home. This could be a heat pump or an efficient wood/pellet burner for the main living area. Heater grants are capped at $3000 including GST

Application process

Applying for funding is quick and easy. You will need to answer some questions to confirm your eligibility. If you are eligible, the online form will suggest service providers who will contact you to arrange the next steps.

Apply now

More homes are now eligible

You and your family deserve a warm, dry, healthy home. More than 110,000 installations of insulation and heaters have already happened all around Aotearoa New Zealand, making tens of thousands of families happier in their homes.

In August 2023, the government expanded the eligibility criteria for insulation grants, meaning they're available to around 58,000 more home owners, and you may be eligible for 80-90% off the cost.

Don't just throw on another jersey to beat the cold — read on to find out how you, or your family, may be eligible for a Warmer Kiwi Homes grant.

Are you eligible?

Checklist for an insulation grant

  • You own and live in a home built before 2008.
  • You (the owner) have a Community Services Card or live in an area identified as low-income (visit the application form to check your address)
  • Your home doesn't have ceiling and underfloor insulation. (If you had an insulation grant for a previous house, no worries, you can apply for a grant at your current home.)

Checklist for a heater grant

  • You own and live in a home built before 2008.
  • You (the owner) have a community services card or live in an area identified as low income.
  • You have ceiling and underfloor insulation installed to EECA standards. If your home has been insulated through a Government insulation programme, we'll confirm it when you apply for a heater grant. Otherwise an EECA insulation provider will do a quick check — at no cost to you.
  • Your home doesn't already have one of the following fixed heaters that is operational in any living area of the house: heat pump, wood or pellet burner, flued gas heater or central heating system. If your home has one of these heater types, it is not eligible for a heating grant.

Watch what recipients have to say

“It made a huge difference, just being warm”

1 minute

Chloe talks about the difference getting a heat pump installed through Warmer Kiwi Homes made.

“You want to make sure your kids are warm and healthy”

1 minute

Amanda talks about how getting insulation and heating installed benefited her family.

What will I have to pay?

We’ve included the expected costs remaining after the grant funding below, but in many areas, community organisations offer extra funding to top up Warmer Kiwi Homes grants, which could mean you pay even less, or nothing at all. If this is available in your area, we’ll let you know when you apply.

  • Insulation — In most situations, expect to pay between $280 and $800, depending on the size of the house and whether you need ceiling or underfloor insulation, or both.
  • Heat pump — Expect the amount you need to pay to be $400-$700. This will depend on the size and brand of the heat pump. Heat pumps provide instant heat and temperature control with a thermostat, and have low running costs if used properly. Your unit will be sized to heat the room it’s installed in, not the whole house.
  • Wood burner — Expect the amount you pay to be $1000-$3000. The price will depend on the type of wood burner – some regions require ultra-low-emission burners, which are more expensive than low-emission burners. Wood burners require dry firewood stored in a sheltered space, ideally for at least 12 months, and have low running costs, even if you need to buy firewood.
  • Pellet burner — Expect the amount you pay to be $1000-$3000. The price will depend on the type of pellet burner - some regions require ultra-low-emission burners, which are more expensive than low-emission burners. A pellet burner provides instant heat and temperature control with a thermostat. You will need to buy pellets and store them in a dry space.

Learn more about what kind of heater would suit you best(external link)

What happens next?

  1. 1

    Check your eligibility

    Fill out our Warmer Kiwi Homes form to check your eligibility. It’s quick and easy. It will tell you if you can get insulation, a heater, or both, and connect you with an installer.

    Check your eligibility

  2. 2

    The installer will provide a quote

    They will contact you to arrange a free, no obligation quote and let you know about payment options or extra funding available to you.

  3. 3

    Arrange installation

    Arrange a time directly with the installer. You’ll need to sign a contract and pay the non-funded portion of the cost directly to them.

Some details worth knowing

  • If your house can't be insulated — for example if there's no space under the floor or ceiling — you may still be able to get a grant for a heater. An insulation provider contracted to EECA will have to assess your home — request this through the Warmer Kiwi Homes tool or call 0800 749 782.
  • You're only committed to go ahead with insulation or a new heater when you sign a contract with the installer.
  • If you need building consent for a wood or pellet burner, the installer can apply on your behalf.
  • There may be other payment options to help you pay the rest of the cost - talk to an insulation and/or heater installer contracted to EECA to find out more.
  • Right now, you can expect installation to take up to 4 months, due to supply chain constraints and availability of installers. Once you’ve applied, your service providers will keep in touch with you to let you know timelines.

Please note

  • Funding is limited, and grants may not be available in some remote locations and islands. Use the Warmer Kiwi Homes tool to see what's available in your region.
  • Grants for wood and pellet burners are not available in some areas. The Warmer Kiwi Homes tool will tell you if there's a contracted insulation and/or heater installer in your region.
  • Wall insulation isn't included.
  • The grant can only be used for the home you own and live in — not a bach or holiday home.
  • Need some help?

    For questions about Warmer Kiwi Homes, call us on 0800 749 782.