Industry urges govt to continue successful programme

Media Release

7 May 2013

Industry urges government to continue hugely successful insulation programme

Insulation Association of New Zealand (IAONZ) members are dismayed that the National government is considering reducing the level of support for the EECA Warm Up New Zealand (WUNZ) home retrofit insulation programme.

“WUNZ has delivered a measurable $5-to-$1 return on investment, saving millions of dollars for the New Zealand taxpayer. We literally cannot afford to stop until the remaining 900,000 poorly insulated kiwi homes have been fixed” says Tony Te Au, president of IAONZ.

The WUNZ programme has proven its ability to deliver quality results, insulating over 230,000 New Zealand homes so far, including 45,000 more homes than the original budget allowed for.

Improving family health outcomes, delivering household electricity savings, creating employment and even combatting Rheumatic Fever are all proven positive outcomes of the extremely successful 4-year programme.

The WUNZ programme has become internationally recognised as a leading example of government schemes that successfully combine public funding and industry participation.

IAONZ members estimate they will be required to lay off up to 1,500 trained employees if funding is reduced.

The industry believes WUNZ should receive more support from the government, not the anticipated less.

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