- National grant
- 90% capped at $3,450 (EECA)
- Typical share you pay
- $400–$700 EECA estimate
- Bank green top-ups
- 1% p.a. BNZ, fixed 3 years, up to $80,000
- Landlords
- No grant Rentals are excluded
Most people searching for a heat pump subsidy find the Warmer Kiwi Homes page, read "90%" and assume it applies to them. For most households it doesn't. This page sets out who gets the grant, who doesn't, and the cheaper ways to pay that are open to everyone else. Figures were checked against EECA's and the banks' own pages on 27 October 2026; check the live pages before you rely on a number.
Is there a government grant for heat pumps in NZ?
Yes, one: the Warmer Kiwi Homes heating grant, run by EECA. It covers 90% of an eligible heat pump installation up to $3,450, and EECA estimates most people pay $400–$700 themselves. It is aimed at households in most need, so the eligibility rules are narrow. There is no national heat pump rebate for everyone, and no tax credit.
| Your situation | Help you can get | How much |
|---|---|---|
| Own and live in a pre-2008 home, Community Services Card or SuperGold Combo card (or a highest-need area), insulated, no working fixed heater | Warmer Kiwi Homes heating grant | 90%, capped at $3,450 |
| Own and live in a pre-2008 home in a middle-income area | Insulation grant only, no heat pump grant | 50% of insulation |
| Homeowner who doesn't qualify, with a home loan and 20% equity | Bank green home loan top-up | BNZ: 1% p.a. fixed 3 years, up to $80,000 |
| Home built in 2008 or later | No Warmer Kiwi Homes funding | Bank top-up or council scheme |
| Landlord or business-owned home | No grant | Healthy homes standard at your own cost |
Sources: EECA, Warmer Kiwi Homes; BNZ Better Future top-ups. Checked 27 October 2026.
Who qualifies for the Warmer Kiwi Homes heat pump grant?
You need to meet every one of these. Miss one and the heating grant is off the table, even if you still qualify for insulation.
- You own the home and live in it. Rentals and business-owned homes are excluded.
- The home was built before 2008.
- You hold a Community Services Card or SuperGold Combo card, or the home is in one of the areas EECA classes as highest need. Middle-income areas get insulation funding but not heating.
- The ceiling and underfloor are already insulated to EECA's standard, or will be first.
- There is no working fixed heater in the home: no heat pump, wood or pellet burner, flued gas heater or central heating.
- The work is quoted and installed by one of EECA's contracted providers, not an installer you choose yourself.
Our Warmer Kiwi Homes guide covers the insulation tiers, the extra work the grant can include and how to apply.
Why don't most households qualify?
Two rules rule most people out. The first is income: the heating grant is reserved for card holders and the highest-need areas. The second is the existing-heater rule: a home with a working log burner, gas heater or older heat pump already has a fixed heater, so it isn't eligible for another one, however old or costly to run that heater is. EECA has also stopped funding wood and pellet burners, so heat pumps are the only heater the programme now pays for.
What if I don't qualify for the grant?
If you have a home loan, the cheapest money is usually a green or healthy-home top-up from your bank. Several banks lend for heat pumps at a discounted rate when you add the amount to your mortgage. Two that we checked:
| Bank | Rate and term | Maximum | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNZ Better Future top-up | 1% p.a. fixed for 3 years, then refix or floating | $80,000 lifetime at 1% | BNZ Standard home loan, at least 20% equity; fixed or ducted heat pumps qualify; up to $100 top-up fee for existing customers |
| ASB Better Homes Top-Up | Discounted rate fixed for 3 years (see ASB rates page), then variable | $80,000 per property-owning entity | At least 20% equity for an owner-occupied home; single, multi-split or ducted heat pumps qualify |
Sources: BNZ, ASB, checked 27 October 2026. Other banks run similar products; ask yours.
A worked example: a living-room heat pump at $3,200–$4,800 installed, say $4,000, added as a top-up at 1% costs about $40 a year in interest while the balance stays near $4,000. That is cheap money, but it is still a loan secured on your home, and breaking the fixed term early can cost a fee.
Do councils help pay for heat pumps?
Some regional councils do, mostly in towns where wood smoke pushes winter air pollution over the limit. These schemes usually lend you the cost and you repay it through a voluntary targeted rate on your rates bill, sometimes with a subsidy for replacing an old burner. Hawke's Bay Regional Council, for example, offers advice and funding for efficient heating including heat pumps. Search your regional council's site for "clean heat" or "healthy homes", because terms, interest and areas change from year to year.
Can landlords get a heat pump grant?
No. Warmer Kiwi Homes excludes rentals, and there is no separate national grant for landlords. Rentals must still meet the healthy homes heating standard, which often means a heat pump in the main living room. Our rentals guide explains how to size it with the Tenancy Services tool.
How to find out what help you can get
- Check Warmer Kiwi Homes first
Use EECA's online eligibility checker. If you qualify, the grant beats every other option, and grant-funded installs go through EECA's own providers.
- Ask your bank about a green top-up
If you have a home loan and at least 20% equity, ask whether a heat pump qualifies for its discounted green or healthy-home rate.
- Check your regional council
Look for a clean heat or healthy homes scheme repaid through your rates, especially if you are replacing an old wood burner.
- Price the job
Size the room and get a fixed price, so you know exactly how much you are financing.
To put a number on the job, use our heat pump size calculator and see the heat pump cost guide for installed prices by room size.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a heat pump subsidy in NZ in 2026?
Yes. EECA's Warmer Kiwi Homes grant pays 90% of an eligible heat pump, capped at $3,450, but only for owner-occupiers of pre-2008 homes who hold a Community Services Card or SuperGold Combo card or live in a highest-need area, and who have no working fixed heater.
How much is the heat pump grant?
90% of the installed cost, up to a maximum of $3,450. EECA estimates most people pay $400–$700 towards the heat pump themselves.
Can I get a heat pump grant if I already have a log burner?
Not if the log burner works. Warmer Kiwi Homes only funds a heat pump in a home with no working fixed heater, and a wood burner counts as one.
Is there a heat pump grant without a Community Services Card?
Only if your home is in an area EECA classes as highest need. Otherwise the cheapest option is usually a bank green top-up: BNZ lends up to $80,000 at 1% fixed for 3 years if you have at least 20% equity.
Can landlords get a subsidy for a heat pump?
No. Warmer Kiwi Homes excludes rentals and business-owned homes. Landlords meet the healthy homes heating standard at their own cost.
Can I choose my own installer and still get the grant?
No. Grant-funded work has to be quoted and installed by one of EECA's contracted providers. Bank top-ups and council schemes usually let you choose.