3. PESETA SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy and Resources
How many New Zealand homes have been retrofitted through the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme, and is he satisfied with the quality of that retrofit work?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Energy and Resources) Link to this
I am advised by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority that 30,003 homes have been insulated in the 7 months since the scheme began. That is 30,000 homes that are warmer and drier for thousands of New Zealand families. All retrofits have been subject to a 100-point audit. The checkpoints range from safety issues to the removal of debris. I am assured by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority that all installations have been checked and rechecked to ensure that all safety requirements have been met. The audit is rigorous, and New Zealand families can be assured that the Government wants and expects high-quality work from installers. I am satisfied that they are making every effort to comply with that.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga Link to this
Has the Minister seen reports regarding faults in the Australian home insulation scheme?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
Yes, and I can assure New Zealand families that we do not use either macerated paper or foil installation in the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart scheme. We use fibreglass batts and wool installation, both of which have a much higher fire-retardant capacity.
Charles ChauvelIs the Minister aware that according to the New Zealand Herald this morning, 359 of the 570 houses initially audited, or fully 63 percent, were found to have insulation problems, half of which were described as serious; if so, what will he do to find out whether 63 percent of the entire 30,003 homes retrofitted so far that he has just mentioned—some 19,000 Kiwi homes—have received shoddy insulation jobs, and to help those householders get a remedy?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
I think the report this morning, although factual, does not take account of the fact that we are working off a 100-point audit document. We have, right from the start, made sure that there was high quality in the system; for example, debris left on a site would mean that, on a quality issue, the audit failed. We are doubling the number of audits. We have made it very clear to installers that if they fail an audit on more than three occasions, then they will be out of the scheme. We hold back payments until audits are sent in. The check-audit system, as I said before, is being doubled. Some firms will be required to pay a $300 fee for a further audit. I say to New Zealanders who have had insulation installed under the scheme that, firstly, we have checked to ensure that there are no safety issues, and, secondly, if they have concerns they should phone their installer. If, after that, they are still unsatisfied, they should phone the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.