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If you’re an eligible New Zealand homeowner, you could pay as little as a few hundred dollars for a professionally installed heat pump that would normally cost several thousand. The Warmer Kiwi Homes programme has funded over 170,000 installations of insulation and heaters around New Zealand, yet a significant number of eligible homeowners still haven’t claimed. What’s available in 2026, who qualifies, and how to access it through an approved provider like Varcoe?
The Warmer Kiwi Homes programme is managed by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and is the primary government funding mechanism for heat pump installations in New Zealand. It exists to help homeowners in lower-income households or areas access efficient heating and insulation at significantly reduced cost.
The programme provides a 90% grant capped at $3,450 including GST for an approved heat pump installed in the main living area of your home. If eligible, the amount you need to pay out of pocket is typically $300 to $700 depending on the size and brand of the heat pump. That’s a significant reduction on a standard installation cost of $3,000 to $4,500.
Importantly, from 9 January 2026, Warmer Kiwi Homes no longer accepts new applications for grants for wood and pellet burners. Warmer Kiwi Homes grants continue to be available for heat pumps, which generally provide better energy efficiency and health outcomes for most households. If you were considering a wood burner with grant support, heat pumps are now the funded pathway.
Eligibility for the Warmer Kiwi Homes heating grant requires meeting all of the following:
You must own and live in a home built before 2008. You must have a Community Services Card, SuperGold Combo Card, or live in an area identified as low-to-middle income (the EECA eligibility checker confirms whether your address qualifies). Your home must have ceiling and underfloor insulation installed to EECA standards or be assessed as unable to have it installed. Your home must not already have an operational fixed heater in any living area meaning if you already have a heat pump, wood burner, flued gas heater, or central heating system in the living area, you are not eligible for a heating grant.
The address-based eligibility is worth checking even if you don’t hold a Community Services Card. If your address falls in an area labelled as low-to-middle income under EECA’s mapping, you may qualify regardless of card holder status.
The grant covers 90% of the cost of an efficient heat pump for the main living space, capped at $3,450 including GST. This covers supply and professional installation by an approved provider. The heat pump itself must meet EECA’s energy efficiency standards not all models are eligible, so it’s important to work through an approved provider who supplies eligible units.
In some areas, community organisations offer additional funding on top of the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant, which could reduce your out-of-pocket cost even further. This varies by region, so it’s worth asking your approved provider whether any top-up funding applies in your area.
It’s also worth noting that the grant covers the main living area only. It sizes and installs one unit for that space not a whole-home system. If you want additional rooms covered, that’s a separate cost outside the grant.
The Warmer Kiwi Homes programme also covers insulation separately from heating grants. On average, an insulation retrofit costs about $4,300. With a 50% grant, you could pay around $2,150; with an 80 to 90% grant, expect to pay between $280 and $800 depending on the size of the house and whether you need ceiling or underfloor insulation or both.
Insulation and heating grants are assessed together but are separate grants. You can qualify for both if your home meets the relevant criteria for each. In fact, if your home lacks insulation, getting it done first or concurrently makes the heat pump significantly more effective a well-insulated home holds heat better and reduces running costs for the pump.
Funding is also available for situations that would normally prevent insulation installation, such as creating access to inaccessible ceiling or underfloor areas, and for repairing minor leaks in a roof or underfloor space. There is also funding available for the replacement of older-style downlights that cannot be covered by insulation with newer, safer, LED versions.
The process is straightforward. Check your eligibility using the EECA’s online eligibility checker at eeca.govt.nz it takes about five minutes and requires your address and some basic information about your home. If you’re eligible, EECA will connect you with approved providers in your area.
As an approved Warmer Kiwi Homes provider, Varcoe handles the process from there. The team will contact you to arrange a free, no-obligation quote. If you decide to go ahead, you sign a contract and pay the non-funded portion directly to the installer the grant is handled between the provider and EECA. You don’t need to claim anything back yourself.
Varcoe’s Warmer Kiwi Homes page covers the programme in more detail and is the easiest starting point for Auckland homeowners.
The heat pump installed under a Warmer Kiwi Homes grant must meet EECA’s energy efficiency standards. Selected capacities in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic GS and AP High Wall ranges are available through the programme, offering real value while delivering energy-efficient heating and cooling. Daikin and Panasonic models also qualify under the scheme. Your approved provider will confirm which specific models are eligible at the time of your quote.
Beyond Warmer Kiwi Homes, there are a few other avenues worth knowing about.
Some Auckland community organisations and health providers offer additional co-funding for households not covered by the standard Warmer Kiwi Homes criteria, particularly where cold, damp housing is contributing to health issues. These are administered locally and vary by area an approved provider like Varcoe can advise on what’s available in your suburb.
For rental properties, New Zealand’s Healthy Homes Standards require landlords to provide a fixed heating device capable of heating the main living area to 18 degrees Celsius. This is a compliance requirement rather than a grant, but tenants in properties that don’t meet the standard have grounds to request the landlord address it. Warmer Kiwi Homes funding does not apply to rental properties; it is for owner-occupiers only.
There are currently no specific grants for commercial heat pump installations, though the energy efficiency advantages of modern commercial systems can be considered for business operating expense purposes. See Varcoe’s commercial air conditioning page for more on commercial options.
The Warmer Kiwi Homes programme has delivered more than 170,000 installations of insulation and heaters across New Zealand. Many more eligible homeowners haven’t yet claimed. If you own your home, live in it, and it was built before 2008, the eligibility check takes five minutes and could reduce your heat pump installation cost by over $3,000.
The grant covers 90% of the cost of an approved heat pump, capped at $3,450 including GST. After the grant, most eligible homeowners pay $300 to $700 depending on the size and brand of the unit. In some areas, additional community funding may reduce this cost further.
The heat pump must meet EECA’s energy efficiency standards. Eligible models from Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin, and Panasonic are available through the programme. Your approved provider will confirm which specific models qualify at the time of your quote.
The heating grant covers one heat pump for the main living area only. Additional rooms are not covered. If you want climate control beyond that, Varcoe can quote additional systems separately.
If your home already has an operational fixed heater in any living area, including a heat pump, it is not eligible for a heating grant. However, you may still qualify for an insulation grant if your home meets the other criteria. Check the EECA eligibility checker for your address.
Once eligibility is confirmed, an approved provider like Varcoe will arrange a free quote. If you proceed, installation is typically scheduled within a few weeks. The installation itself takes around 3 to 4 hours for a standard single-room heat pump. The grant is processed between Varcoe and EECA, so you only pay the remaining balance on the day.
Varcoe is an approved Warmer Kiwi Homes provider covering all Auckland suburbs. The team will check your eligibility, arrange a free quote, and handle the grant process from start to finish.
Check your eligibility and get a free quote or call 0800 088 888 Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Grant amounts, eligibility criteria, and programme terms are subject to change. This article reflects EECA’s Warmer Kiwi Homes programme as of 2026 verify current details at eeca.govt.nz or contact Varcoe directly.
Most homeowners don’t realize they could be eligible for the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant. That’s up to $3,450 off a professional heat pump installation. Let us check if you qualify.
