The Warmer Kiwi Homes grant and heat pumps in Invercargill
The grant can cover most of the cost of a heat pump if your home and income tick the boxes. Here's how it works and how we fit into it.
The Warmer Kiwi Homes grant, run by EECA, pays 80% of the cost of an approved heating unit up to $3,000 including GST. To qualify you own and live in a home built before 2008, and either hold a Community Services Card or live in a lower-income area. You apply through EECA, not us.
How the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant actually works
EECA runs the scheme. They pay 80% of the cost of an approved heater, capped at $3,000 including GST, and you cover the rest. Insulation can be part of it too, and in some cases that's fully funded.
We're not an EECA-registered provider, so we don't administer the grant or lodge the paperwork for you. You apply directly through EECA, and their approved installer handles the funded work. What we do is straight heat pump installation in Invercargill for homeowners paying their own way, so if the grant isn't right for your situation we can still get you sorted.
Why the right heat pump matters in a Southland winter
Our winters are long, damp and cold, so living-area heating gets worked harder here than almost anywhere in the country. A unit that's the wrong size for the room either struggles on the frosty mornings or costs more to run than it should.
That's why we size the heat pump to the space and the way you live, not to a sticker on the box. A well-matched unit in a Georgetown bungalow or a Clifton villa will hold a steady warmth through the worst of July without hammering your power bill.
Picking a unit that suits older Invercargill homes
A lot of the pre-2008 villas and bungalows around Gladstone, Hawthorndale and Appleby have high ceilings, single-glazed windows and a bit of draught. They warm up slower, so cold-climate performance counts.
We fit Daikin heat pumps and Mitsubishi Electric heat pumps, both of which handle Southland frosts well. If you want to see how the numbers stack up before you commit, our rundown of heat pump installation cost lays out what you'd pay with and without the grant.
How to apply through EECA
Start on the EECA Warmer Kiwi Homes site or by phone. They check your home age, ownership and income details, then confirm what you're eligible for and connect you with an approved installer for the funded job.
If you'd rather just get on with it, or your place doesn't meet the criteria, give us a call on 03 244 7345. We can talk through options for a standard install and whether a heat pump is the best fit for your home.
Not sure if the grant covers you?
We'll point you to EECA for the funded side and quote you fairly if you're paying yourself. Just tell us your suburb.
Common questions about the grant
Who is eligible for the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant?
You need to own and live in your home, and it must have been built before 2008. On top of that, you either hold a Community Services Card or live in a lower-income area that EECA has zoned as eligible. Plenty of owner-occupied homes across Invercargill and Bluff fit those criteria. EECA makes the final call when you apply.
How much does the Warmer Kiwi Homes grant cover?
The grant pays 80% of the cost of an approved heater, up to a cap of $3,000 including GST. You pay the remaining share. Insulation can also be funded under the scheme, and in some cases that part is covered in full. The exact figure depends on the job, so we won't guess a dollar amount for you.
Does the grant cover a heat pump?
Yes, an approved heat pump can be funded as the main living-area heater. It has to meet EECA's requirements and be fitted through their approved provider under the grant. If you're funding it yourself instead, we can install a unit sized for your home either way.
Does my home have to be built before a certain year?
Yes. To qualify for Warmer Kiwi Homes your home must have been built before 2008. Many of the villas and bungalows around Invercargill were built well before then, so they usually meet the age rule. EECA checks this when you apply.
Ready to get a warm room this winter?
Call us on 03 244 7345 or send through your details for a heat pump quote. For the grant itself, apply with EECA first and we'll help where we can.