More than 12,000 Northland homes warmer and drier thanks to Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau

Ngaire Rae, former Chair of the Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau, right, with some of the healthy homes team who have made 12,000 Northland homes warmer and drier.

A programme to improve the health of Northlanders has reached a new milestone with 12,000 homes now warmer and drier thanks to the Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau (HHTT) insulation programme.

Those behind the programme plan to continue insulating as many Northland homes as possible in the next few years with support of sponsors and funding from Foundation North and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) – long-time supporters of the programme.

Launched in 2007, the scheme has had a hugely positive impact on tens of thousands of Northlanders who otherwise would not have had their homes insulated. The HHTT insulation programme has drastically improved the quality of life for thousands of Northland families, while lessening the dire impact and spread of respiratory illness.

Funding of the insulation programme is thanks to long-term financial contributions from EECA, Foundation North, Top Energy, Northpower, Mahitahi Hauora and Northland DHB.

HHTT is also supported by numerous Northland healthcare and wellbeing entities, with Kaitaia-based community enterprise CBEC (Community Business & Environment Centre) in charge of the insulation installs thanks to the efforts of dedicated installation teams.

Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau is a joint venture between the Community Business and Environment Centre (CBEC) in Kaitaia and He Iwi Kotahi Tatou Trust (He Iwi) in Moerewa.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern chats with Healthy Homes worker Jonte Hanara as he installs under-floor insulation in a home in the Far North earlier this year. Photo / Peter de Graaf

The two trusts have a 30-year history of turning local environmental and social problems into positive local solutions. Healthy Homes Tai Tokerau covers all of Northland, employing six install teams from local skilled labour and only using the highest quality NZ-manufactured polyester insulation products.

CBEC's teams insulated 829 homes in Te Tai Tokerau last year – 248 in the Far North, 296 in the Mid North, 215 in Whangarei, 39 in Kaipara and 31 in the southern areas of Northland. By the end of June 2021, 539 homes had been insulated (178 in the Far North, 130 in the Mid North, 162 in Whangarei, 36 in Kaipara and 33 in lower Northland).

CBEC's operations assistant manager Hone Fowler is proud of the work his team are doing.

"They are so committed to making homes in Tai Tokerau warmer, drier and healthier and the mahi they do is pretty hard," Fowler said.

"We get so much positive feedback from people who have had their homes insulated because of the difference it makes to their lives in making their house warmer and improving their health. It is a privilege to be involved in this kaupapa."

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited a home in Awanui that was being retrofitted by HHTT when she visited the Far North in July, to see how the programme was being rolled out.

For more information ring 0800 738 763 or check out https://givealittle.co.nz/org/healthyhomes or https://www.healthyhomesnorth.co.nz/about-us-2/