Grants and subsidies are available for many Kiwis
Experts agree that having a warm home provides many health benefits. The NZ government has heard and responded to this rationale by providing several grants to qualifying households, including the possibility of subsidised insulation and/or a heat pump.
While insulation is the best way to keep heat inside the home, you need a good, efficient source of heat to begin with. Fortunately, modern-day heat pumps are excellent because they combine heating and cooling into a single unit. The heat pump subsidy will cover at least two-thirds of the heat pump and installation, up to 95% of the total cost. As a grant, this money does not have to be paid back.
Who is eligible for a grant or subsidy?
Any homeowner who has a Community Services Card is automatically eligible. If the homeowner doesn’t have one, they may still be eligible depending on where they live. Certain parts of Southland may still qualify. To find out if your home is eligible, simply ring 0800 WARM SOUTH and we’ll let you know if your home qualifies.
Warmer Kiwi Homes Subsidies
Awarua Synergy, with its partners Southland Warm Homes Trust and EECA’s Warmer Kiwi homes, provide a range of insulation & heating subsidy packages. Through the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme and the Southland Warm Homes Trust, our customers are able to receive a subsidy to cover up to 85% for the cost of insulation and up to 95% of the cost for a Heat Pump. Find out about the eligibility criteria below:
What can you expect?
Insulation Subsidy
Up to 85% of the cost of installing insulation. 80% from EECA and 5% from SWHT.
Heating Subsidy
Up to 85% of the total cost of installing a heat pump in your living area. 80% from EECA (capped at $3,450 incl GST) and 5% from SWHT (capped at $562.50 incl GST).
Healthy Homes Initiative
The Healthy Homes Initiative provides low-income families living in cold, damp, and unhealthy homes with support. If you live in Southland and have young kids or elderly living with you, or you are a pregnant mum or have a new born you may be eligible for support. Healthy homes services are for children aged 0-19-year, pregnant people/women (and their whanau living) within the designated geographical region who fit the below criteria.
There are four target population groups for the HHls (which need to meet additional criteria to be eligible for the service).
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Group A: 0- to 5-year-olds hospitalised with specified housing-related indicator conditions.
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Group B: Priority population of 0 to 5-year-olds, all families/whanau/aiga with children aged 0 to 5-years-old for whom at least two of the following risk factors apply: Oranga Tamariki finding of abuse orneglect; caregiver with a corrections history; mother with no formal qualifications; long-term benefit receipt.
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Group C: Pregnant people/women and new-born babies.
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Group D: Rheumatic fever – including a child (0-14yrs) hospitalised overnight with an indicator condition, a person in the house is eligible to receive monthly penicillin injections as a result of a past episode of rheumatic fever or three or more episodes of GAS pharyngitis within a household within a three-month period.
Meridian Energy Well-Being Programme
Are you a Meridian Customer? Are you having trouble paying your electricity bills. If you can answer yes to both of these questions you may be eligible for the Meridian Energy Wellbeing Programme, providing support for vulnerable customers to keep their power on. The programme can help with the cost of installing a number of solutions to reduce your power bills and provide a warmer, healthier home.
Take the first step toward your drier, healthier home – call your expert team at Awarua Synergy today on 0800 WARM SOUTH
Frequently Asked Questions about home heating and insulation subsidies
What if I already got the insulation grant? Can I still get a subsidised heat pump?
Even if you already have received subsidised insulation, you can still apply for the grant for a heat pump. As long as you still meet the eligibility guidelines, you can still apply for and receive a subsidised heat pump.
Do I need insulation to get the Heat Pump Subsidy?
Yes; in most cases. As insulation is the most effective climate control option, installing insulation is the priority for the grant programme. However, in rare cases, putting in insulation may not be possible due to the home structure or parts of the property being inaccessible, or if there is no space in the ceiling or under the floor.
If your property is one of these, you can still get the heat pump subsidy if you are eligible. However, this requires more than simply stating that insulation cannot be put in due to inaccessibility; the decision must be made by a company licensed for installing insulation. Awarua Synergy is one of these companies.
What kind of heat pump will I get?
Warmer Kiwi Homes has a list of approved heat pump models that the grant covers. An appropriate heat pump for the layout and size of the property will be selected from that list and then installed.
Act now while the grant is still in effect! To get a free, no-obligation quote, call or contact Awarua Synergy today.
