Warmer Kiwi Homes 2026: Insulation and Heat Pump Grants

Quick answer: Warmer Kiwi Homes is a government grant run by EECA that pays a large share of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation and an approved heat pump for eligible owner-occupied homes.

When we last checked in mid-2026 it covered up to 90% of the cost for some households, and eligibility depended on the age of the home, a Community Services Card or SuperGold card, or living in a lower-income area. Grant amounts and eligibility change, so check EECA for the current amounts before you apply.

If your power bill climbs every winter and the house never feels warm, this grant could pay for most of the fix. It is one of the biggest savings in our cost-of-living guides, and it is easy to miss.

What the grant covers

There are two parts, and you can get both:

1. Insulation. Ceiling and underfloor insulation is the biggest single change you can make to a cold, damp house. The grant covers a share of the cost that depends on your household. It is also what makes the heat pump grant possible.

2. A heat pump. One approved heat pump for your main living area. It will not heat the whole house, but it makes the room you use most cheap to keep warm.

When we last checked, each part had a cap of a few thousand dollars. Check EECA for the current amounts. Wood and pellet burners are no longer funded for new applications.

Who qualifies

When we last checked, you generally needed all of these:

• you own the home and it is your main residence
• the home was built before 2008
• your household holds a Community Services Card or SuperGold card, or the home is in an area EECA has identified as lower income

EECA widened insulation funding to more middle-income areas in 2026. If you checked before and did not qualify, it is worth checking again.

Insulation comes first. You will not be approved for the heat pump grant unless the home already has adequate ceiling and underfloor insulation. If it does not, the insulation is done first, often with grant funding, then the heat pump.

How to apply

1. Check eligibility on the EECA Warmer Kiwi Homes page, or contact an approved service provider.
2. A provider does a free assessment of your home.
3. They quote the job with the grant already taken off, so you pay only your share.
4. Accredited installers do the work.

You do not pay the grant portion yourself. It comes off the price.

What it saves over a winter

Insulation and a heat pump in the main living area cut your power bill and the time the house sits cold and damp. That usually saves more, for longer, than changing plans, but it is worth doing both. While you wait for an install, switching power company can bring the bill down now, and our guide to the yearly bills people forget helps you plan for the winter peak.

Seeing the saving

The grant fixes the house. The other half is seeing where the power money goes each month, so a cheaper winter shows up as money you keep. Steady connects to your NZ bank accounts and shows your spending by category, including power. If you are running a household on a tight budget, Steady for families shows what that looks like.

_Grant amounts, caps and eligibility are set by EECA and change from time to time. Confirm the current details on the EECA Warmer Kiwi Homes page before you apply._