Insulation in 5000 homes

Efforts to insulate low-income Northland homes against harsh weather will reach a milestone this month when the 5000th house is retrofitted.

In June, Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau will celebrate the milestone of insulating its 5000th home, making it warmer and drier and its occupants healthier.

The project was established in 2007 with the goal of retrofitting insulation into the homes in five years.

"We are so proud to have achieved that goal and to know that those homes are now warmer, drier and healthier for families," Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau Governance Group chairman and Manaia Health PHO chief executive Chris Farrelly said.

Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau is a joint venture between two Northland community enterprises, the Community Business and Environment Centre in Kaitaia and He IwiKotahiTatou Trust (He Iwi) in Moerewa.

Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau provides free insulation for low-income people who own their own home, and children and families with high health needs who live in rental homes. Priority is given to those with high health needs. In addition a health coordinator works with children and families with high health needs who live in rental homes. A subsidy is available that enables landlords to have houses retrofitted for a fraction of the cost of a standard retrofit.

The 5000 Northland homes have been insulated free thanks to a partnership with a range of supportive third party funders: ASB Community Trust, Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority, Northland PHOs, Northland DHB, Top Energy and Northpower.

"We welcome the announcement in the Budget of more funding for retrofitting and look forward to insulating another 5000 homes in Tai Tokerau. Our goal now is to ensure all low income homes in Northland can be provided with free retrofitted insulation," Mr Farrelly said.

"This project makes so much sense - if we can keep people's homes warm and dry we can prevent illness and have less GP visits, hospital admissions and sick days off work and school. The difference this makes to health means this is one of the best investments we can make."

The project covers all of Northland.