Repairs and winter warming

All three Councils are leading a winter warming programme to support people to undertake emergency repairs. The emergency repairs are ensuring homes are weathertight and have a primary heat source. About 250 vulnerable households have been helped across the three districts under the winter warming Find and Fix programme.

All three Councils are leading a winter warming programme to support people to undertake emergency repairs. The emergency repairs are ensuring homes are weathertight and have a primary heat source. About 250 vulnerable households have been helped across the three districts under the winter warming Find and Fix programme.

The programme is working alongside households to identify the steps they can take to make their homes weathertight, help with understanding insurance entitlements and to engage tradespeople to undertake the repair work. Works have included: blocking up exposed fire places and chimneys where loose material is still falling; fixing door latches to ensure the property is safe and secure; patching holes in walls and ceilings; easing doors and windows; topping up ceiling insulation; ensuring there is a heat source (fire wood, gas, electricity); and reinstating underfloor heating.

The New Zealand Red Cross in partnership with Community Energy Action is helping the councils deliver the programme by providing support to people experiencing hardship. Each council is working with the Red Cross to identify households in need of this support. The Red Cross contributed $1.2 million for the winter warming programme. The National Recovery Office also contributed funds for this purpose.