Warmer Kiwi Homes

Warmer Kiwi Homes was a four-year government programme offering grants covering 90% of the cost of an efficient wood burner, pellet burner or heat pump for the main living area (capped at $3,000), as well as ceiling and underfloor insulation.

Warmer Kiwi Homes grants were available to homeowners (not for rental properties) and cover both:

• 80% of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation. In some areas, such as Auckland, generous funding from community organisations means the cost to the homeowner is even lower for insulation.
• 80% of the cost of a heat pump or efficient wood or pellet burner for the main living area. Grants for heaters are capped at $3000 (including GST). Wood and pellet burners are not available in all areas.

The insulation grant checklist included the following conditions:

• Owns and lives in a home built before 2008.
• The owner has a Community Services Card or lives in an area identified as low-income.
• The home doesn't have ceiling and underfloor insulation

The heater grant checklist included the following conditions:

• Owns and lives in a home built before 2008.
• The owner has a community services card or lives in an area identified as low-income.
• The owner has ceiling and underfloor insulation installed to EECA standards. The home has been insulated through a Government insulation programme.
• The 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 the home has one of these heater types, it is not eligible for a heating grant.

The programme started in 2019 and lasted until 2023. 

Main beneficiaries: low income and energy poor consumers.

The interim report of the programme is available.