Rebates for hot water heat pumps, low or zero-interest loans for rooftop solar and batteries and faster consenting for energy-efficient homes are priorities in the Green Building Council’s 2026 election manifesto. Photo / 123rf
Rebates for hot water heat pumps, low or zero-interest loans for rooftop solar and batteries and faster consenting for energy-efficient homes are priorities in the Green Building Council’s 2026 election manifesto. Photo / 123rf
As energy bills soar and energy security concerns escalate, the Green Building Council is calling for a bipartisan approach to solve those problems.
Rebates for hot water heat pumps, low or zero-interest loans for rooftop solar and batteries, and faster consenting for energy-efficient homes are priorities in the council’s 2026election manifesto.
Chief executive Andrew Eagles said the manifesto’s policies were needed to relieve pressure on households, businesses and the electricity network.
About 15% of natural gas and LPG, and 23% of electricity, is used to heat space and water in residential and commercial buildings. On current trajectories, buildings will consume about 26% of New Zealand’s gas supply by 2030.
“We must make urgent progress electrifying New Zealand’s homes and commercial buildings. Many of the steps we’re proposing in this manifesto come at low or no cost to Government,” Eagles said.
“Reasonable changes to update our inadequate Building Code, cutting red tape for energy-efficient investments and improving information requirements when buying or leasing property will all make a big difference.
“Modest expenditure on financial support and subsidies for heat pumps, rooftop solar and Government building to a higher standard will improve our resilience and help save billions for Kiwi families.”
Other proposals include faster consenting for energy-efficient homes and energy labels on buildings so people can see which ones are energy efficient.
The manifesto also includes a wish for better access to rooftop solar and batteries through the introduction of low or zero-interest loans.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke on Wednesday about the importance of energy security and independence in his first pre-Budget speech
“New Zealand’s energy vulnerability is no longer a theoretical risk, it’s a live crisis on full display in the Strait of Hormuz every single day,” Luxon said to a Business New Zealand-hosted lunch.
“It’s not just the rough and tumble impact of globalisation, because on too many occasions, private capital, eager to bolster domestic energy production, has been pushed to the sidelines by overzealous planners and politicians in recent years.
“Several high-profile projects are now getting underway thanks to our reforms like fast track, which I expect will continue to grow in popularity, by leaps and bounds, but the reality is that when faced with energy shock after energy shock, it’s very hard to justify backing the skink over the solar farm.
“Energy independence must be treated as an immediate national security interest instead of a contributing factor to a long-term climate strategy.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has told business leaders that repeated energy shocks "make it hard to justify backing the skink over the solar farm".
Eagles urged all political parties to read the manifesto as they kicked off their election campaigns.
“We have the tech, the knowledge and the evidence is all here – what New Zealand needs now is the political will.
“These are not expensive or radical changes,” he said.
“These measures cut power bills, reduce pressure on energy prices, free up energy for productive industries, improve resilience and deliver healthier, more comfortable buildings. They have been adopted in most OECD countries”
The manifesto is backed by the New Zealand Construction Industry Council (NZCIC), which represents 70% of workers in the construction sector.
“We particularly support cutting red tape for investment in energy-efficient homes and buildings – this has never been more important given the global energy situation,” NZCIC executive director Tommy Honey said.
“Consenting must be quicker and it should make it easier for homes to be built to energy-efficient standards. We call on the Government (itself responsible for more than a quarter of all construction in New Zealand) to be a responsible client and lead the way to a smarter and more energy efficient built environment.”
The Green Building Council has shared the manifesto with all political parties as it seeks a bipartisan approach to the issue.
Katie Bradford is a Senior Correspondent at the Herald. She has been a broadcast journalist for over 20 years and was based in the press gallery for 10 years. She specialises in politics, business and Auckland issues.
