Warmer Kiwi Homes: what the insulation and heat pump grants cover in 2026

Warmer Kiwi Homes is run by EECA, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. It pays most of the cost of insulating and heating homes for households that need it most. The rules changed recently, and plenty of articles online still quote old figures, so this guide sticks to what EECA's own programme page says as at September 2026. Always check the live page before you rely on a number.

Who is eligible for Warmer Kiwi Homes?

You must own the home and live in it, and it must have been built before 2008. On top of that, you need to hold a Community Services Card or SuperGold Combo card, or live in an area EECA classes as lower income. Rentals and homes owned by businesses are excluded.

How much does the Warmer Kiwi Homes heat pump grant pay?

The heating grant covers 90% of the cost of an eligible heat pump installation, up to a maximum of $3,450. EECA estimates most people pay between $400 and $700 themselves. The heating grant is reserved for people in most need: if your home is in a middle-income area, heating is not included, even if you qualify for insulation.

The grant is designed to give an eligible home an efficient fixed heater, not to fund whole-home systems. If you want more than a single heat pump, for example a multi-split covering bedrooms, ask the contracted installer exactly what is funded and what you would pay privately.

How much does the insulation grant cover?

Insulation funding comes in three tiers. EECA says the average insulation job costs about $4,300.

Does Warmer Kiwi Homes still fund wood burners?

No. EECA has stopped providing grants for wood and pellet burners, so heat pumps are now the heater the programme funds. If you were planning a subsidised log burner, see how much a heat pump costs to run to weigh up the options.

What extra work can the grant include?

Where a home needs insulation or a heat pump, EECA can also fund some of the small jobs that would otherwise block the install:

• Access work, such as creating a way into the ceiling or underfloor space.
• Minor repairs to roof or underfloor leaks.
• Replacing old downlights with LED downlights, so insulation can be laid safely around them.
• Minor repairs to the home's earthing system, so a heat pump can be connected safely.

What does Warmer Kiwi Homes not cover?

• Rental properties and homes owned by businesses. Landlords have separate obligations under the healthy homes standards.
• Homes built in 2008 or later.
• A heat pump for households in middle-income areas.
• A heat pump in a home that already has a working fixed heater.
• Wood and pellet burners.
• Work you arrange yourself with a non-contracted installer.

Why does insulation come before the heat pump?

Because an uninsulated room loses heat so quickly that you would need a bigger, dearer heat pump and pay more to run it. EECA's heat pump rules require ceiling and underfloor insulation to its standard first. Insulating also shrinks the capacity you need, which our sizing guide shows with a worked Dunedin example.

What if I don't qualify?

Most households pay for a heat pump privately, and a 1% bank green top-up or a council scheme is often the cheapest way to fund it: see every way to get help paying for a heat pump. A single high-wall unit for a living area typically costs $3,200–$4,800 installed, and our heat pump cost guide breaks prices down by size and type. We sell fixed-price heat pump installs to private customers, done by a contracted installer, and our packages show what the standard install includes.