Warmer homes for Ngati Whakaue families

FILE

A new project will soon be offering floor and ceiling insulation to more than 250 homes for Ngati Whakaue families.

The Rotorua iwi will benefit from a newly formed partnership between the Ngati Whakaue Assets Trust, Eco Insulation Ltd and the Government's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority home insulation scheme.

Project spokeswoman Katie Paul said Ngati Whakaue Assets Trust was the settlement entity for the CNI forestry claim and the organisation had been looking at ways to distribute the funds received.

"Through a series of hui [meetings] we were told by our people that housing and insulation was a big issue. With the funding we had, we could only insulate about 50 homes, as it is about $3000 to do a house," Ms Paul said.

It was at the Federation of Maori Authority conference last year that Energy Efficiency became involved as they were looking for iwi partnerships and the Conservation Authority's home insulation scheme boosted the total value of the project to $728,000. It is one of only three iwi partnerships in the country.

"We're absolutely chuffed, our settlement wasn't a great deal so we couldn't provide all the needs of the tribe. We aren't able to give individual grants out either otherwise the money would quickly be depleted but this is a tangible and immediate benefit for our families," Ms Paul said.

"With this insulation we can help provide warmer homes which can impact on the number of doctor visits, reducing respiratory illnesses and help lower power bills."

Eligible households will have to be registered tribal members of Ngati Whakaue, on a low income and have either a child, an elderly person or someone with high health issues in the home.

"The project will engage Te Taumata o Ngati Whakaue to administer the project and undertake a comprehensive health and social assessment of participating families to ensure that they are accessing appropriate health and social services," Ms Paul said.

"In addition, the project will support the Tumahaurangi Trade Training cadets to acquire the skills needed to safely install insulation materials into Ngati Whakaue homes."

A planning meeting is expected to be held today.