Financial assistance and temporary waivers

You must be:

• The owner and occupier and have a current Community Services Card.

Note: Other evidence of financial hardship is considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us to discuss.

We may request IRD proof of income to demonstrate CSC eligibility.

Health referrals in conjunction with demonstrable low income are also useful.

If you have a SuperGold card, this must be a combo card with the Community Services Card and have the initials ‘CSC’ on the back.

If you are receiving NZ Super and your Community Services Card has expired, you will need to contact Work and Income to reapply.

Tenanted properties are not eligible. Please consider alternative options, for example, Healthier Homes Canterbury (currently on hold), bank loans or explore retailers who offer interest free terms.

Your wood burner must:

• Be a burner that is due for replacement - funding may be used for the purchase and installation of an ultra-low emission burner (ULEB), or for a heat pump; or
• Be a burner that has expired since 25 October 2016,
• Be situated in the main living area.

Note: All funding is subject to availability. 

Where your supplier is arranging the building consent application for the ULEB, funding may be used for this also (Environment Canterbury pays the supplier directly, not the homeowner).

Burners expired prior to 25 October 2016 are not eligible for funding.

If there are other heating sources (e.g. heat pump/flued gas or pellet fire) in the main living area, you may be eligible, especially if these are not adequately heating this area of your home.

Open fires have not been able to be used for several years and are not eligible.

If your current burner has not been in use or has been broken for some time, this is not eligible

Your property must:

• Be located in the Clean Air Zone for Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Christchurch, Ashburton or Timaru and be on a site less than 2ha (most urban properties) (visit Canterbury Maps if you’re not sure); and
• Have not previously received financial support from Environment Canterbury towards a replacement wood burner.

Note: If the property has previously received an interest free Clean Heat loan, it may be eligible.

If the property has previously received a subsidy towards a heat pump and the heat pump is not performing/working, you may be eligible for funding towards a replacement heat pump. The heat pump will need to be assessed by our assessor as part of your application.

If there is a wood burner in the room, this will be required to be removed/disabled as part of the heating replacement. If you are looking to replace the wood burner in this circumstance, you will need to consider alternative options; for example, Healthier Homes Canterbury (currently on hold), bank loans or explore retailers who offer interest free terms.

You should contact:

• Environment Canterbury customer services
• Brightr - if your property is in Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Christchurch or Ashburton
• EnergySmart - if your property is in Timaru, Waimate or Geraldine.

You must be:

• The owner occupier and have a current Community Services Card.

Note: Other evidence of financial hardship is considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us to discuss.

We may request IRD proof of income to demonstrate CSC eligibility. Health referrals in conjunction with demonstrable low income are also useful.

If you have a SuperGold card, this must be a combo card with the Community Services Card and have the initials ‘CSC’ on the back. If you are receiving NZ Super and your Community Services Card has expired, you will need to contact Work and Income to reapply.

Tenanted properties are not eligible. Please consider alternative options, for example; Healthier Homes Canterbury (currently on hold), bank loans or explore retailers who offer interest free terms.

Your wood burner must be:

• A burner that is close to being due for replacement, or one that has recently expired; and
• Be situated in the main living area.

Note: Funding may be used for the purchase and installation of a low emission burner (LEB), an ultra-low emission burner (ULEB), or for a heat pump. Where your supplier is arranging the building consent application for the LEB or ULEB, funding may be used for this also (Environment Canterbury pays the supplier directly, not the homeowner).

If you have purchased the home since 25 October 2016, any existing, older-style burner may not be used. It is considered to be expired. Funding may only be used for a heat pump as a heating replacement (not for a wood burner). Such expired burners will be considered for funding; subject to funding availability.

If you have owned your home since prior to 25 October 2016, and it has an older-style burner, this burner can be used until 1 January 2020 and is not due for replacement until then.

If there are other heating sources (e.g. heat pump/flued gas or pellet fire) in the main living area, you may be eligible, especially if these are not adequately heating this area of your home.

If you currently have an open fire, this is not eligible. Open fires have not been able to be used in Waimate or Geraldine since 2017.

If your current burner has not been in use or has been broken for some time, this is not eligible.

Your property must:

• Be located in the Clean Air Zone for Geraldine or Waimate and be on a site less than 2ha (most urban properties) (visit Canterbury Maps if you’re not sure); and
• Not have previously received financial support from Environment Canterbury towards a replacement wood burner.

Note: If the property has previously received an interest free Clean Heat loan, it may be eligible.

If the property has previously received a $500 subsidy towards a heat pump and the heat pump is not performing/working, you may be eligible for funding towards a replacement heat pump. The heat pump will need to be assessed by our assessor as part of your application.

If there is a wood burner in the room, this will be required to be removed/disabled as part of the heating replacement. If you are looking to replace the wood burner in this circumstance, you will need to consider alternative options; for example, Healthier Homes Canterbury (currently on hold), bank loans or explore retailers who offer interest free terms.

You should contact:

• Environment Canterbury customer services
• Brightr - if your property is in Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Christchurch or Ashburton
• EnergySmart - if your property is in Timaru, Waimate or Geraldine.