The Warmer Kiwi Homes grant for heat pumps in Napier
If you own an older Napier home with no fixed heating, the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant can cover most of the cost of a heat pump. Here's how it works and where we come in.
The Warmer Kiwi Homes grant pays 90% of the cost of a heat pump, up to a set cap, for eligible homeowners. You apply through EECA. Your home usually needs to be built before 2008, be your own home, and meet a low-income test. We fit the heat pump.
How the grant works and who runs it
The Warmer Kiwi Homes grant is run by EECA, a government agency. We're not an EECA provider, so we don't process the grant or hand out the money. You apply to EECA directly, they check your eligibility, and if you're approved they point you to an approved installer for the funded portion.
That's the honest split. The grant side sits with EECA. Our side is the actual heat pump installation in Napier: sizing the unit, fitting it, and getting it running before your first frosty night. If you want to know the full price of a job whether or not a grant is involved, our page on heat pump installation cost lays out what goes into it.
Why plains homes in Napier feel it most
The coast stays milder, but inland suburbs on the Heretaunga Plains get properly cold and frosty on winter nights. Older state houses around Maraenui and Camberley, and a lot of pre-2008 homes across Flaxmere, Onekawa and Marewa, were built with no fixed heating at all. A plug-in heater and a jumper only gets you so far.
A single well-placed heat pump changes how one of these homes feels. It'll take the damp edge off a lounge and hold a steady temperature overnight without you feeding coins into a portable heater. That's exactly the gap the grant is meant to close for homes across the areas we cover in Napier.
The units we fit for grant-funded homes
For a single living area we usually recommend a high-wall heat pump from a brand with a solid track record and easy parts supply. We install Mitsubishi Electric heat pumps and Panasonic heat pumps, both of which have efficient models that meet the standard EECA looks for.
What matters most is sizing. A unit too small will run flat out and never quite warm the room on a cold night. Too big and it short-cycles and wastes power. We measure the room and size it properly rather than guessing.
- Efficient models that meet EECA's heating standard
- Sized to the actual room, not a rule of thumb
- Brands with parts and support available locally
- Fitted to warm your main living space first
What happens once you're approved
Once EECA approves you, get in touch and we'll book a time to look at the room, confirm the right unit and set up the install. We fit the heat pump, tidy up, and show you how to run it so it's cheap to keep going.
If you're not sure whether you'll qualify, it's still worth calling us on 06 242 4129. We can talk through the options and give you a straight price either way. To go further, read up on the different types of heat pump and the full cost breakdown before you decide.
Not sure if you qualify?
Give us a call and we'll talk it through in plain terms, then quote your install.
Common questions about the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant
Who is eligible for the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant?
You generally need to own and live in the home, and it needs to have been built before 2008. On top of that you usually need to meet a low-income test, either by holding a Community Services Card or SuperGold combo card, or by living in an area EECA has identified as lower-income. EECA makes the final call when you apply.
How much is the Warmer Kiwi Homes heating grant?
The grant covers 90% of the cost of an approved heater, up to a set cap that EECA publishes. You pay the remaining share. We won't quote a dollar figure for your out-of-pocket cost here because the cap and your exact install price both matter, and the final numbers come from EECA and the quote for your room.
Does my home need insulation to get the heating grant?
Yes, in most cases your home needs ceiling and underfloor insulation to a set standard before a heating grant is approved. The good news is Warmer Kiwi Homes can also fund insulation, so if yours is missing or thin, you can often get both sorted through the same programme. EECA checks this as part of your application.
Which heat pumps qualify for the Warmer Kiwi Homes subsidy?
The subsidy covers energy-efficient fixed heaters that meet EECA's standard, which includes high-wall heat pumps from reputable brands. The unit also needs to be the right size for the room it's heating. When we quote a grant-funded job, we choose a qualifying model and size it to your space.
Get your Napier heat pump quote
Tell us your suburb and the room you want warm, and we'll sort a fixed price for the install.