Financial assistance and temporary waivers

We understand replacing old wood burners with new, cleaner forms of heating can be costly. That’s why we provide options like subsidies. We urge anyone struggling to contact us on 0800 329 276 because we don’t want anyone to be cold at home.

Subsidies

Check your eligibility for a subsidy by selecting the drop-down menu for where you live below. If you are eligible, your first step would be to contact either Community Energy Action or EnergySmart (depending on where you live). 

Subsidies of up to $5000 are available and can be used to pay for a new heating appliance (wood burner or a heat pump) and its installation to replace your old wood burner.

Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Christchurch, Ashburton and Timaru
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, bank loans or 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, bank loans or retailers who offer interest free terms.

You should contact:

Geraldine and Waimate

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; bank loans or 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 (we pay 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 could be used until 1 January 2020. It is now considered to be expired.

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, bank loans or retailers who offer interest free terms.

You should contact:

Temporary waivers

Some households facing difficult circumstances may get a temporary waiver, enabling them to use their expired burner for another winter.

This has been referred to as a “leniency” in the past and generally applies to those over 80 years of age and those with serious health concerns. 

To enquire about this possibility, contact customer services on 0800 329 276.

Alternative ways to fund your heating

You may be able to get a loan from your bank or retailer. Some banks allow you to add the cost of home heating appliances to your mortgage without additional fees, and some retailers offer interest-free loans for a certain period. We encourage you to investigate these options as well.

More information