Angie Warren-Clark Labour MP

Have you been feeling the cold over the past few weeks? Yeah, me too!

Which is why, for every New Zealander aged 65 and over who receives New Zealand Superannuation or a Veteran's Pension, as well as people receiving a main benefit (about a million people), their first Winter Energy Payment was great timing.

Another recent announcement was the Warmer Kiwi Homes Insulation programme. This is being funded through the government's first budget, where we made a $142 million investment to make Kiwi homes warmer and drier.

People and families who live in low decile areas or with a health condition or a community services card can now warm up with grants covering two thirds of the cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation.

The government has invested in this programme because too many homes are cold and damp, leading to preventable diseases such as rheumatic fever and asthma. Low-income families, young children and older Kiwis are especially vulnerable to the impacts of living in cold, damp homes.

That's a huge personal cost to families, but it also adds cost and pressure to the health system. That's why the government has lifted the level of funding per grant from 25 per cent per fit out to two thirds of the cost.

This will make getting your home insulated more accessible to those who need it most.

To find out if you are eligible for a grant, visit: www.energywise.govt.nz/funding or freephone: 0800 749 782.